‘Making a Difference’ Through Volunteer Tourism

This book contains an edited collection of papers presented at the Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference 2009 (THRIC). This annual conference provides an invaluable opportunity for Irish and international tourism and hospitality academics and practitioners to debate the key contemporary challenges facing the sector. Based on this selection of conference papers a broad range of issues are addressed in the following chapters. These are issues, which are pertinent not only for Irish tourism and hospitality academics, policy makers and industry, but also resonate with international counterparts. Contributions to this book are made by an eclectic mix of highly established and published academics and those who are conducting their PhD research. The areas explored in this book span sociology, business and tourism and deal with issues as diverse as performance management, transport, sustainability, city breaks, sports, volunteer and dark tourism. Rather than thematically group chapters we have left them as stand alone contributions, however common threads and linkages are highlighted in the introductory chapter.