Implications of Couchsurfing (CS): Sustainability, Education, Capitol
Abstract
Some travelers are motivated beyond simply arriving at beautiful destinations. Money, budget travel, and convenience are also important concerns. Recent growth of the community of Couchsurfing (CS) is worth a reflection concerning its portrayal of our society. The sustainability of CS is an interesting phenomena. Simply sharing a couch, rather than building a hotel can reverberate with themes of ecology and preservation. Further, if the CS participants take their genre seriously, then the ensuing conversation and relationships can indeed have an impact throughout the world. Therefore, it is worth our time to focus on the safeness of this experience. CS requires that the individual trusts the host adequately in order to safely sleep on a stranger’s couch. Thirty participants volunteered to join CS and to attend one of the events of the CS experience. After this process they evaluated the program especially its safeness. We found those who participant in CS promote sustainable travel, learn more about themselves and the world, and they are saving money. More important we found a simple way to be safe while couchsurfing. This involved traveling with another, allowing enough time to search for a host, having a backup plan, and communicating with one’s host several times before arriving. Negative issues of CS seem to revolve around disappointment in the host, trying to relax in the home of a stranger, and the length of time required to find a responsible host
