Page 27 - Indulge December/January 2016
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It’s difficult to quantify how many The attraction of a volunteer you check its references? Have the
of the 1.13 billion tourists who vacation can be part altruistic, but trips it has run made an impact?
traveled internationally in 2014 might also part thrifty, too.
have participated in voluntourism. In Also, research locations before
its annual report, the United Nations “This is an opportunity for booking a trip. The U.S. State
World Tourism Organization says 53 someone to do good and save
percent of those who traveled last year big,” Halal says, adding that WHAT TO DO IN A
did so for leisure. Sierra Club Outings has a trip to DIFFERENT COUNTRY
Maui, Hawaii, for $2,125 that
But travel professionals say they includes oceanside condo lodging, The nonprofit Center for Responsible Travel
are seeing an uptick in interest in the all meals, snorkeling and whale has some suggestions for travelers heading to
give-back phenomenon. watching while also working to international locations to volunteer:
clear a valley on the island from • Ask for permission before entering sacred
Sally McCorrison, director of travel invasive plant species and trash. places, homes and private land.
services for AAA East Penn Region, Most of the Sierra Club Outing • Ask permission before taking photos.
AAA East Central, says there has been trips aren’t as expensive and can • Dress appropriately for local customs.
more interest in vacations that involve sometimes cost a few hundred • Learn a few words and phrases in
some kind of helping hand — whether dollars for a week to work on a
it is a volunteer project during a trip, a project like clearing part of the the local language.
donation to a charity, or travel through Appalachian Trail. • Hire guides and make sure they are
a foundation that includes the travel
company’s employees. “The best opportunities give licensed and live locally.
more spectacular trips on a • Never buy crafts or products made from
As an example of a charity trip, budget,” he says. “You work on
she points to Trafalgar Tours, which a project and enjoy spectacular protected or endangered animals — like
is running an excursion next May to surroundings.” elephant tusks or rhino horn.
Italy dubbed the “Pink Ribbon Italy • Pay a fair price and don’t engage in overly
Trip,” with $1,000 of the trip cost If you want to try a aggressive bargaining to score a deal.
being donated to the Susan G. Komen voluntourism trip, be sure to do
foundation for breast-cancer research. your research beforehand. Department site is a good source of
information about which countries
“For charity trips, you don’t “Know what you’re looking for,” may have political unrest or an
physically volunteer, but you donate McCorrison says. “Where do you want outbreak of a disease like malaria.
money,” she says. to go? Are you willing to live with a
family? ... Not everyone wants to get “Be careful,” McCorrison says. “You
My recent South African trip also their hands dirty.” don’t want to put yourself in jeopardy.”
included donating funds our church
raised to a feeding station — what we When it comes to researching tour — continued on page 35 —
would call a soup kitchen — to help companies, use the same methods
with buying food and supplies. you would if you were researching a
charity to donate to. Are there good
Sierra Club Outings Marketing reviews of the travel company?
Manager Jason Halal says his Does it have any awards? Can
nonprofit group has seen a steady
increase in recent years of people
interested in voluntourism.
“The rise of the ‘volunteer vacation’
has struck a chord with people,” he
says. The Sierra Club has been running
volunteer trips since 1958 and organized
about 70 trips last year to a wide
variety of locations. “We’ve been
doing this since long before
it’s been in vogue.”
Photos by Linda Doell
of the 1.13 billion tourists who vacation can be part altruistic, but trips it has run made an impact?
traveled internationally in 2014 might also part thrifty, too.
have participated in voluntourism. In Also, research locations before
its annual report, the United Nations “This is an opportunity for booking a trip. The U.S. State
World Tourism Organization says 53 someone to do good and save
percent of those who traveled last year big,” Halal says, adding that WHAT TO DO IN A
did so for leisure. Sierra Club Outings has a trip to DIFFERENT COUNTRY
Maui, Hawaii, for $2,125 that
But travel professionals say they includes oceanside condo lodging, The nonprofit Center for Responsible Travel
are seeing an uptick in interest in the all meals, snorkeling and whale has some suggestions for travelers heading to
give-back phenomenon. watching while also working to international locations to volunteer:
clear a valley on the island from • Ask for permission before entering sacred
Sally McCorrison, director of travel invasive plant species and trash. places, homes and private land.
services for AAA East Penn Region, Most of the Sierra Club Outing • Ask permission before taking photos.
AAA East Central, says there has been trips aren’t as expensive and can • Dress appropriately for local customs.
more interest in vacations that involve sometimes cost a few hundred • Learn a few words and phrases in
some kind of helping hand — whether dollars for a week to work on a
it is a volunteer project during a trip, a project like clearing part of the the local language.
donation to a charity, or travel through Appalachian Trail. • Hire guides and make sure they are
a foundation that includes the travel
company’s employees. “The best opportunities give licensed and live locally.
more spectacular trips on a • Never buy crafts or products made from
As an example of a charity trip, budget,” he says. “You work on
she points to Trafalgar Tours, which a project and enjoy spectacular protected or endangered animals — like
is running an excursion next May to surroundings.” elephant tusks or rhino horn.
Italy dubbed the “Pink Ribbon Italy • Pay a fair price and don’t engage in overly
Trip,” with $1,000 of the trip cost If you want to try a aggressive bargaining to score a deal.
being donated to the Susan G. Komen voluntourism trip, be sure to do
foundation for breast-cancer research. your research beforehand. Department site is a good source of
information about which countries
“For charity trips, you don’t “Know what you’re looking for,” may have political unrest or an
physically volunteer, but you donate McCorrison says. “Where do you want outbreak of a disease like malaria.
money,” she says. to go? Are you willing to live with a
family? ... Not everyone wants to get “Be careful,” McCorrison says. “You
My recent South African trip also their hands dirty.” don’t want to put yourself in jeopardy.”
included donating funds our church
raised to a feeding station — what we When it comes to researching tour — continued on page 35 —
would call a soup kitchen — to help companies, use the same methods
with buying food and supplies. you would if you were researching a
charity to donate to. Are there good
Sierra Club Outings Marketing reviews of the travel company?
Manager Jason Halal says his Does it have any awards? Can
nonprofit group has seen a steady
increase in recent years of people
interested in voluntourism.
“The rise of the ‘volunteer vacation’
has struck a chord with people,” he
says. The Sierra Club has been running
volunteer trips since 1958 and organized
about 70 trips last year to a wide
variety of locations. “We’ve been
doing this since long before
it’s been in vogue.”
Photos by Linda Doell
