The term Voluntourism refers to the practice of people, generally Americans, traveling with the intention of engaging in community service abroad. This style of travel has gained popularity in recent years, as it provides individuals with the opportunity to travel as a tourist while contributing to the local communities. In theory, this seems like a wonderful combination. The service aspect of the trips may justify high price tags for travelers or incentivize students to participate. However, studies have shown that this type of community service may in fact be causing more harm than good.
According to a study published in Trove Journal, Voluntourism is “one of the fastest growing trends in Travel today.” According to their reporting, over 1.6 million tourists spend approximately 2 billion dollars each year to participate in volunteer trips. The New York Times found that women and young adults aged 20 to 25 make up the largest demographic of voluntourists. Additionally, they noted that the trend is spreading to high school aged students as well.
The majority of volunteer tourism takes place in developing countries. Common destinations include countries in Central America, South America, and Africa. Many travel websites and magazines, including U.S. News, The Guardian, and Travel + Leisure have articles on the top destinations for volunteer trips and recommend different companies that facilitate these experiences. While these trips have received some positive attention from the media, there is mounting academic evidence that suggests that these experiences result in negative outcomes for the communities they aim to help.
A study published by Telegraph Magazine found, “it was those who said the least about being responsible that cost the most, on a price-per-day basis.” Though circumstances vary for different projects, it is important to note that not all volunteer companies are financially ethical. Furthermore, some critics have argued that the money spent on travel costs benefits airlines and travel agents far more than it serves the target communities.
Many travelers who embark on these trips are there to provide free labor, build houses, work in schools, or help in animal sanctuaries. Most of these tasks might otherwise provide job opportunities for those living in the community. However, the free labor from tourists abroad fulfills this need and eliminates the opportunity to derive any income from these projects.
Paternalism is a serious concern within this realm. Many studies have examined the way in which communities depend on traveling tourists and ultimately fail to develop from within. One study examined the ways in which “students are invited to participate in such cultural practices while recruiters give little or no information about the lived realities of people in poor nations.” This paper argues that this lack of background contributed to the growing problem “that voluntourism reinforces the dominant paradigm that the poor of developing countries require the help of affluent westerners to induce development.” Another study focusing on volunteer tourism in Honduras found that, “while ostensibly ‘helpful’, volunteer tourism in Honduras is often harmful, entrenching paternalism and inequitable relationships; and that many voluntourists are ignorant of the underlying power and privilege issues inherent in voluntourism.”
1. Wilkinson, Ben, Judith McCool, and Genevieve Bois. Voluntourism: An Analysis of the Online Marketing of a Fast-growing Industry. The International Journal of Communication and Health, 12 Apr. 2017.