Introduction
The aim of this study is to identify the perceptions of potential short-term international tourists concerning children’s residential care in Cambodia. Respondent’s perceptions will be compared with the findings of existing research on this topic and the views of experts in the field. International volunteering has been identified as a key driver in the expansion of orphanages and children’s residential centers in Cambodia and other developing countries, and the growth of these institutions has been well evidenced as contributing to a number of negative outcomes for children. The study’s aim of better identifying potential short-term international volunteer’s perceptions about the orphanage situation in Cambodia can hopefully contribute towards current efforts to raise awareness amongst potential volunteers and reduce the popularity of this damaging tourist activity. This study has been adapted from an academic thesis completed by the author in 2015.
