‘Orphanage Tourism’ in Cambodia When Residential Care Centres Become Tourist Attractions Tess Guiney Abstract: Cambodia’s recent history of instability has garnered it international notoriety as a place of genocide, cor- ruption and insecurity. Currently, this perception of Cambodia has resulted in an influx of tourists seeking to volunteer at and visit orphanages throughout the country hoping to combat the perceived poverty and suffering. With only 21 state-run orphanages in Cambodia the remaining 248 (although it is potentially even more) rely significantly on over- seas donations with many advertising and heavily encouraging ‘orphanage tourism’. Although touted as an altruis- tic, beneficial experience, awareness of the darker side of ‘orphanage tourism’ has recently grown and the negative impacts that such practices can have on a vulnerable section of society have become evident. Orphan numbers in Cambodia are at their lowest point in decades, whilst orphanage numbers have undergone a 76 per cent increase in the last five years, coinciding with a 76 per cent increase in tourist numbers. This research investigates the forms that ‘orphanage tourism’ takes in Cambodia and the impacts of this popular phenomenon on those who are purported to benefit: orphanages and orphans. Key Words: Orphanage tourism; ‘voluntourism’; Cambodia; orphans [Submitted as Scientific Paper: 12 March 2012, Acceptance of the revised reviewed manuscript: 2 May 2012] ‘Orphanage tourism’ (visiting, volunteering and performances at orphanages for tourists) has become a burgeoning tourism form in countries throughout the world, however, it is yet to un- dergo rigorous examination in existing literature. This research focuses on the interaction bet- ween tourists and orphanages in Cambodia which, with its history of instability, has become an important site for voluntourism and poverty tourism, of which orphanage tourism is a dominant form. This article seeks to illustrate the pervasiveness of orphanage tourism in Cambodia and the significant impact it is having on those centres participating. Firstly, the methodology of this research will be explained before moving on to examine the existing literature and the gaps that this research seeks to fill. A brief outline of tourism in Cambodia is then given before moving on to examine the form that orphanage tourism in Cambodia takes. Finally, the impacts (both positive and negative) of orphanage tourism will be examined to illustrate the significance of such a phenomenon in a nation such as Cambodia. School class close to Siem Reap © Reinhold Waibel 2010. Waibel © Reinhold School class close to Siem Reap Pacific News #38 • July/August 2012 9 Methodology Nevertheless, one was from Takeo and on orphanage tourism. This gap fails The research methodology for this another from the surrounding Takeo to reflect that community welfare pro- project was qualitative in nature. The area which are more removed from grammes, including orphanage volun- constructivist component of qualita- the main tourist trail. However, it is teering, is the most popular form of tive methodology is particularly rele- intended that this will be extended in volunteer tourism (Callanan & Tho- vant to my research topic, as a signi- 2012 during a second research trip to mas, 2005). ficant portion of my data collection include a wider range of orphanages, Other literature does examine or- will focus on personal opinion and including more in rural areas. phanage tourism in some form. Lacey perception about volunteer tourism et al (2012) examine the potential for and Cambodia as a destination. These Existing literature understanding the ‘other’ that can be are not objective accounts, but rather Tourism since the 1980s has diversi- gained while volunteering at an orpha- the impressions and interpretations of fied greatly and there has been an in- nage. Tomazos and Butler (2008) also specific people (see Sarantakos, 2005). creased interest in alternative tourism use an orphanage volunteering project The orphanages interviewed differ options (Callanan & Thomas, 2005). as their case study, though it is not to greatly from each other making quan- Niche tourism approaches are often specifically examine orphanage volun- titative data collection impossible as seen as more sustainable, less envi- teering but rather the motivation to not all parameters are the same. Semi- ronmentally or socially damaging and volunteer. Barbieri et al (2011) simi- structured interviews as well as focus more responsive to tourist and host larly use a case study of volunteering at groups were conducted due to their needs (Robinson & Novelli, 2005; an orphanage to illustrate the need for usefulness in determining opinions Wearing, 2004). Callanan and Thomas greater managerial actions and trans- and information about various orpha- (2005, 183) depict the late 1990s and parency; however, it is limited in its nages and about volunteer experiences. early 2000s as experiencing the ‘volun- actual examination of the orphanage They also allowed flexibility as not all teer tourism rush’ and this has led to and the orphans themselves. Also, alt- questions were applicable in all situa- tourist activity in previously unknown hough volunteering is an integral part tions. Complete anonymity of both re- areas, as has poverty tourism which of orphanage tourism, my study seeks presentatives and orphanages will be has taken tourism’s reach into previ- to go further than this to also examine maintained throughout this article as ously avoided areas. ‘Orphanage tou- orphanage visits and cultural perfor- it is not my objective to give a road- rism’, encompassing both volunteer mances which have transformed many map of unscrupulous organisations in tourism and poverty tourism, is by no orphanages from homes into tourist Cambodia; also I was concerned that means unique to Cambodia; it is oc- attractions and are reflective of po- without complete anonymity many is- curring throughout nations in Africa, verty tourism in many countries. In ad- sues would not be freely discussed. Latin America and Asia (Birrell, 2011; dition, no data currently exists about Interviews and focus groups with 42 Richter & Norman, 2010; Kelto, 2010). orphanage tourism in Cambodia spe- key informants were conducted from However, it is an under-researched cifically. March until May 2011. These key in- area within the existing literature. Alt- formants included representative from hough a vast amount of literature fo- My research seeks to examine four fifteen different orphanages (22 or- cuses on volunteer tourism (see Wea- key questions: phanage representatives, sixteen vo- ring, 2001; Guttentag, 2009; Tomazos lunteers), a spokesperson for Friends & Butler 2009, 2010; Callanan & Tho- 1. What are the primary forms of International (who work with margi- mas, 2005; Lyons & Wearing, 2008 to tourism interaction with orphanages? nalised urban children and youth), and name but a few) there has been a fai- 2. How are tourist interactions with three representatives for a responsible lure to examine orphanage tourism to orphanages regulated and are there tourism organisation in Siem Reap. a significant extent. standards in place? Several internet searches identified The most substantial study on or- 3. How is Cambodia, as a tourist de- the majority of orphanage key infor- phanage tourism comes from Richter stination, perceived and framed and mants, although several were identified and Norman (2010) in their examina- what contribution do orphanages through snowball sampling, as was the tion of ‘AIDS orphan tourism’ in sub- make to this? responsible tourism organisation in Saharan Africa. They note that the 4. What are the benefits and prob- Siem Reap. Volunteers were identified global perception of an AIDS orphan lems associated with tourist interac- when visiting different orphanages and crisis has created a recent explosion of tions with orphanages? interviewing volunteers present during tourist attention and predominantly those visits. Due to the web-based western desire to travel and help care I feel that these research questions method used to identify orphanages for these children. The main concerns produce a well-rounded basis for an there could be a particular bias as it raised by Richter and Norman (2010) examination of orphanage tourism in does not include those which do not relate to the impact that institutional Cambodia. It considers both the rati- have a website, and therefore poten- care and western visitors has on the onale of people participating in such tially favours those which have larger social and psychological development tourism as well as the form it takes and tourism programmes, however, due of the children. This is a rigorous ex- the benefits and consequences it causes. to the difficulties in locating orpha- amination of orphanage tourism and nages this was unavoidable. The bulk adds significantly to literature on vo- ‘Orphanage Tourism’ in of the orphanages visited were in the lunteer tourism, however, it appears to Cambodia main tourist areas of Siem Reap, Ph- be the only existing academic exami- The tourism industry is Cambodia’s nom Penh, and one from Battambang. nation specifically focusing specifically second largest economic contributor, 10 Pacific News #38 • July/August 2012 amounting to 16 per cent of GDP in 2006; with over two million arrivals per year since 2007 this is on the in- crease (Chheang, 2008). “The Grea- ter Mekong Subregion has been iden- tified as the fastest growing tourism destination