Why and how should the international volunteer tourism experience be improved?

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to summarise the contributions made in this theme issue and draw conclusions about the issue's key question "Why and how should the international volunteer tourism experience be improved?", thereby providing a theme issue conclusion. Design/methodology/approach -- This paper summarises and critically reviews the seven articles that have contributed to the theme issue. Findings -- International volunteer tourism is a growing phenomenon that has received much criticism in the last decade and whilst there are a number of mechanisms to improve the quality of this sector as yet, there is little evidence to support any conclusion that there is wide-scale success in achieving best practice in quality assurance within the sector. Originality/value -- This theme issue explores international volunteer tourism from a range of contributors, academics, a practitioner and a travel writer, who have engaged with a range of stakeholders to offer different perspectives. The theme issue as a whole offers the reader an opportunity to engage in a unique and wide-ranging discourse on quality and international volunteer tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]