Voluntourism - More than just a word...
Being in the travel business, we’re sensitive to how the world is changing and we’re seeing a shift in the way people think about travel. It’s a funny contradiction, but as the evening news tells us that humanity is struggling to get along right now, we’re finding out that people care more than ever. How can we tell? Because the interest in Voluntourism has never been greater.
People are looking for more in their travel and generally speaking, meaning in their lives.
Voluntourism at face value is a combination of the words volunteer and tourism. In reality, it’s the perfect collision of altruism and a passion to see the world. People are no longer interested in seeing a culture from a cruise ship; people are interested in experiencing a culture standing beside the members of its community.
We have sent over 25,000 volunteers to more than 30 countries since we began. While news about voluntourism has been a major buzzword in the press recently, it's been a way of life here at i-to-i for the past 14 years.
Read up on Voluntourism.
VolunTourism - Can It Influence Mass Tourism?
Excerpt from Voluntourism.org
"As most of you know, volunteer tourism can take place in varied locations such as rainforests, biological reserves, or bustling cities. These operations and their projects obviously vary in location, size, participant characteristics and organisational purpose. Activities can vary across many areas, such as scientific research (wildlife, land and water), conservation projects, medical assistance, economic and social development (including agriculture, construction and education), and cultural restoration. There is usually the opportunity for volunteers to take part in local activities and interact further with the community.
Hence the volunteer tourist contribution is bilateral, in that the most important development that may occur in the volunteer tourist experience is that of a personal nature, that of a greater awareness of self. That is, they are seeking a tourist experience that is mutually beneficial, that will contribute not only to their personal development, but also positively and directly to the social, natural and/or economic environments in which they participate."
The Mini-Mission, or Mission Lite Concept
Excerpt from Voluntourism.org
"There has been considerable growth in the demand for volunteer vacations in the U.S. In addition, an increase in volunteer vacation opportunities provided through a wide variety of organizations has occurred as well. The main goal of this study was to articulate a volunteer vacation concept known as the mini-mission or “mission lite,” and to determine the potential demand for the concept through a survey of vacation travelers."
VolunTourism & Community Development
Excerpt from Voluntourism.org
"The history of host communities and mainstream tourism has been an interesting, if not controversial, one. Many of the ideas that have supported the development of a community based approach to tourism have come about through the enormous impacts that tourism developments in the 1980's had on host communities. These communities often had little say and control in the development that was occurring. The social impact of unrestrained tourism developments caused upheaval in many communities."
