PERSONALITY TRAITS OF SURF VOLUNTOURISTS

Surfing is a growing international industry with an increasingly diverse participant population and infrastructure that can result in positive and negative social, ecological, and economic impacts on the surfing communities. Surfers who are seeking authentic experiences may require travel to remote, rural, and economically impoverished areas. Many of these destinations have significant developmental needs that can be addressed via volunteering by surf tourists. As sustainability becomes an increasingly critical and pressing issue, more surf voluntourism organizations are emerging. Yet, there have been no studies exploring the personality traits of surf voluntourists, which could be leveraged to influence the success of the programs. This research study used the HEXACO-PI-R scale to identify personality traits of surf voluntourists that can help community and nonprofit organizations develop more effective programs for surf tourists to maximize benefits, minimize conflicts, and contribute to the sustainability of the surfing destination.