| dc.description.abstract | Volunteer tourism, also dubbed voluntourism, is a relatively new form of tourism with
growing popularity. Volunteer work at a wildlife organization in Southern Africa is especially
sought after. Although the impact of these volunteer programs is debated, it is generally
considered a good alternative to usual tourism to positively link tourism and nature
conservation.
Every kind of organization needs to be held accountable for their policies. Asserting
accountability is part of good governance, and happens more frequently through online
measures. Assumptions have an impact on an organization's policies and accountability
efforts. Important components of accountability are impact measurement and communication.
The former is about measuring organizational and financial performance, the latter about
answerability and transparency.
The wildlife organizations assume that the volunteer programs aid in financial matters,
provide necessary manpower and raise awareness. In regards to impact measurements,
organizations get basic data and feedback on the program but an organized system is lacking.
The majority of organizations use online tools to communicate and engage with their
stakeholders. However, improvements can be made in regards to disclosure of official
documents and financial transparency.
In conclusion it is found that these wildlife organizations in Southern Africa assert fairly
extensive accountability efforts on their volunteer programs, but there is room for
improvement. | |
