voluntourism
NOW AVAILABLE! Voluntourism Guidelines Survey Summary Report
Voluntourism guidelines research initiative
Planeterra and the International Ecotourism Society, are collaborating to develop a set of criteria that will help international voluntourism providers plan and manage their programs in a responsible and sustainable manner. To ensure that this project incorporates a diverse range of industry knowledge and experiences, we are working with an International Advisory Committee representing a variety of industry sectors and regions:
Bodhi Garrett, Co-Director, Andaman Discoveries, Thailand
Lelei LeLaulu, President, Community Benefit Development and Co-chairman, Innovation for Sustainable Development Centre, U.S.A.
Valeria Gracia, Asociación Civil Voluntario Global, Argentina
Daniela Ruby Papi, Founder, PEPY Tours, Cambodia
Sallie Grayson, Programme Director, People and Places, U.K.
Gopinath Parayil, Founder and Chief Executive, The Blue Yonder, India
Nancy McGehee, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Virginia Tech University, U.S.A.
Marnie Heim-Stafford, Owner, Voluntours, South Africa
Leah Griffin, Destination Manager, Central America & Caribbean, Gap Adventures
Jeremy Stafford, Owner, Voluntours, South Africa
Thandi Miedema, Founder, Calabash Tours, South Africa
Andy Woods-Ballard, Director of Operations, Global Vision International, U.K.
Paul Miedema, Founder, Calabash Tours, South Africa
Dr. Stephen Wearing, Associate Professor, University of Technology, Australia
Kristin Lamoureux, Ph.D., Director, International Institute of Tourism Studies, The George Washington University School of Business, U.S.A.
1) Industry Survey
TIES and Planeterra, with the support of the Advisory Committee, will conduct a global industry survey in May-June 2011.
2) Stakeholder Meeting
To be held during the upcoming Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (Hilton Head Island, SC, Sept 19-21).
3) Guidelines Finalized
TIES will produce the final draft of Voluntourism Guidelines for review by the advisory committee and publication in early 2012.
Please read Voluntourism Guidelines Project FAQ
Lelei LeLaulu, President, Community Benefit Development and Co-chairman, Innovation for Sustainable Development Centre, U.S.A.
Valeria Gracia, Asociación Civil Voluntario Global, Argentina
Daniela Ruby Papi, Founder, PEPY Tours, Cambodia
Sallie Grayson, Programme Director, People and Places, U.K.
Gopinath Parayil, Founder and Chief Executive, The Blue Yonder, India
Nancy McGehee, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Virginia Tech University, U.S.A.
Marnie Heim-Stafford, Owner, Voluntours, South Africa
Leah Griffin, Destination Manager, Central America & Caribbean, Gap Adventures
Jeremy Stafford, Owner, Voluntours, South Africa
Thandi Miedema, Founder, Calabash Tours, South Africa
Andy Woods-Ballard, Director of Operations, Global Vision International, U.K.
Paul Miedema, Founder, Calabash Tours, South Africa
Dr. Stephen Wearing, Associate Professor, University of Technology, Australia
Kristin Lamoureux, Ph.D., Director, International Institute of Tourism Studies, The George Washington University School of Business, U.S.A.
1) Industry Survey
TIES and Planeterra, with the support of the Advisory Committee, will conduct a global industry survey in May-June 2011.
2) Stakeholder Meeting
To be held during the upcoming Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (Hilton Head Island, SC, Sept 19-21).
3) Guidelines Finalized
TIES will produce the final draft of Voluntourism Guidelines for review by the advisory committee and publication in early 2012.
Please read Voluntourism Guidelines Project FAQ
David Clemmons, founder of Voluntourism.org discusses voluntourism as a reciprocity relationship; "a balanced engagement 
alternating between voluntary service and tourism activities allows for a reciprocal relationship with communities. Residents who may be recipients of voluntary service are able to return that service by sharing their destination with visitors via exposure to the arts, culture, geography, history and recreation. The economic impact of tourism is blended with the social impact of volunteering: recipients become servers and servers become recipients." (Excerpted from Interview on Ingare.com, Sept 7. 2009)
Study Available on Voluntourism - an analysis of current and prospective voluntourists - narrated presentation can be viewed online here
