Tuesday 13 April 2021
From a sustainability point of view, the idea of voluntourism – the combination of volunteering and tourism – sounds so admirable. Here’s a travel narrative that swaps frivolous consumption for working on projects that benefit people. And, on paper at least, it fulfils the growing demand for authentic and experiential travel. The voluntourists return home feeling they’ve achieved something useful; the voluntouristed receive some improvements to their daily lives. A connection is made. Everyone’s happy.
But if only it were that simple. Some projects do, of course, have a real impact, but the voluntourism model is more convoluted than it seems. A couple of decades ago, voluntourism was a marginal pursuit; over the past few years, as click-and-go technology has developed, it has become a booming business worth around £1.4 billion a year, and one of the fastest growing areas of travel. A badge of honour; a useful paragraph on the CV. And it’s not just