Volunteer tourism is a form of alternative tourism combined with a special form of tourism called voluntourism (Tomazos & Cooper, 2012; Wearing, 2001; Wearing & McGehee, 2013). However, in tourism field, most studies relating to voluntourism do not re ...
Volunteer tourism is a form of alternative tourism combined with a special form of tourism called voluntourism (Tomazos & Cooper, 2012; Wearing, 2001; Wearing & McGehee, 2013). However, in tourism field, most studies relating to voluntourism do not reflect that volunteer travels are taken mainly in the form of groups. A focal point of voluntour experiences is that various interpersonal factors, such as relationships with team members and a leader within a group, can affect the participants' psychological changes. Therefore, it is appropriate to analyze the positive psychological capital of volunteer travelers through the organizational behavior approach. Positive psychology is one of many concepts that describes organizational behavior, focusing on positive organizational behavior created under the influence of positive psychology (Luthans, 2003; Luthans & Youssef, 2004; Youssef & Luthans, 2007). Luthans and his colleagues (2007) developed the notion of positive organizational behavior to create four dimensions, self-efficacy, hope, optimism and resilience. Positive psychology is a part of organizational behavior and its explanation has been proven through various domestic and international studies (Avey, Werrnsing, & Luthans, 2008; Luthans et al., 2007; Youssef & Luthans, 2007). Therefore, in this study, the concept of positive psychological capital is applied to vouluntourism experience. Voluntourism is usually teamed up and looked at by individual team members. Since studies of positive psychological capital have supported that it can also affect psychological well-being or satisfaction with life, we have analyzed the impact of voluntourism on positive psychology to provide positive experiences that can lead to satisfaction of travel and satisfaction in life. According to the analysis, voluntourism experiences have had a significant impact on self-efficacy and resilience among the measures of positive psychology, while the four dimensions of positive psychological capital have a positive influence on travelers' satisfaction with life. Based on these results, when it comes to voluntourism, a positive psychological capital he or she earned from team relationships going on a trip with him or her affect the overall satisfaction and satisfaction of the trip. Research on the effects of travel experience on the psychological changes of travelers is still at a very early stage. This research is expected to serve as a clear stepping stone for the development of research on psychological changes that travel experience affects travelers in that it combines the special types of tourism called volunteer tourism with positive psychological changes. In particular, it is not easy to find an example of applying the theory of positive psychological capital in terms of travel experience. Therefore, it is expected that this study will expand the scope of the positive psychology theory to the travel experience as well as reveal other factors besides factors that affect the travel satisfaction identified so far through previous studies. This study contributes greatly to the psychological effects of the travel experience as well as to the development of research and development of voluntourism. Many voluntourism studies are trying to determine how the experience of volunteering has affected travelers through the process. However, little research has paid attention to the fact that voluntourism experiences mainly take the form of group travel and have focused only on factors related to individuals. This study can contribute to the development of tourism as well as voluntourism by applying the theory used in organized behavior to voluntourism. The study also contributes greatly to the development of voluntourism research by identifying specific causes for travelers as it seeks to discover the impact of voluntourism, which causes positive psychological changes in travelers. In particular, participation in and research on voluntourism programs around the world is on the rise, but the interest in voluntourism in Korea is very low. An active study of the positive effects of voluntourism experiences will also lead to the development of practical voluntourism.