Service learning as community development? Local resident perspectives of community-engaged educational travel
There is strong body of literature exploring community member and resident perspectiveson tourism that has emerged from numerous locations across the globe. Yet, virtuallynone of this writing explores the role of repeat community-engaged service learning withlocal communities. What theory does exist on the topic indicates that increased rates ofcommunity member participation yield more positive viewpoints on community-programpartnerships. Engagement in this form of tourism development in communities may havean influence on participation in the community institutions that have the most ability toinfluence local development outcomes. This qualitative, ethnographic study fills this gapin the literature by analyzing community members’ emic perspectives of a recurringeducational service learning program to a lesser-developed region of Costa Rica.Surprisingly, community residents do not view educational service learning as a form oftourism, though they do see it as valuable for setting the stage for desired tourismdevelopment in the future. Findings also indicate community members’ involvement inkey institutions makes it more likely that they perceive the impact of students’ in thecommunity positively. As the first paper to analyze educational service-learning travelfrom a community development and resident perspective, this work will provide avaluable theoretical contribution relevant to those engaged in this form of travel acrossthe Global South.