Traveling with a Purpose: Discovering Voluntourism and Lending a Hand to Communities
Voluntourism, a combination of international volunteering and tourism, is on the rise, particularly among younger travellers. This form of travel allows individuals to not only enjoy a luxury getaway but also contribute to meaningful community projects. In Aruba, the Aruba Restore Retreat at Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa & Casino offers just such a package.
The Aruba Restore Retreat voluntourism package includes a variety of experiences. Participants can partake in beach cleanups, school restoration, and the Wildlife Ambassador Program. The package also offers more leisurely activities such as a body-scrub making class, private mixology masterclass, reusable keepsake gift, casino credit, spa credit, and dining credit.
Ecotourism, responsible nature-based travel aimed at conservation, environmental education, and supporting local communities through sustainable tourism, shares some similarities with voluntourism. However, voluntourism foregrounds service to people or communities, not necessarily environmental preservation, though eco-related projects may be included.
Global Brigades, a nonprofit organisation, provides holistic support to communities in achieving their health and economic objectives. They mobilise volunteers from North America and Europe, partnering with communities in Central America and West Africa. The Donkey Sanctuary in Aruba is an example of a meaningful local project for voluntourism.
To have a successful voluntourism experience, it is recommended to liaise with local tourism authorities, choose a reputable operator, engage in meaningful local projects, and find the right balance between service and leisure. It is also essential to consider key factors such as community-identified needs, ethical and sustainable impact, cultural sensitivity, clear mission and goals, appropriate fit for skills and interests, ethics and research, and engagement with local expertise.
Voluntourism can create a lasting impact, offering the chance to support communities, protect the environment, and leave a destination better than you found it. In 2023, travelers aged 18-34 made up roughly 41% of voluntourism participants. The global voluntourism market reached approximately USD 848.9 million in 2023 and is forecast to grow to USD 1,273.3 million by 2030.
For those planning a trip to Aruba, the Aruba Tourism Authority can provide guidance on how to support the island through voluntourism. By choosing responsible and meaningful voluntourism experiences, travellers can make a positive impact on the communities they visit while enjoying an unforgettable vacation.
[1] World Tourism Organization. (2021). Responsible Volunteer Tourism. Retrieved from https://www.unwto.org/en/topic/responsible-volunteer-tourism [5] United Nations Volunteers. (2021). Ethical Volunteering. Retrieved from https://www.unv.org/ethical-volunteering
- By combining science with their voluntourism experience, travelers can gain a deeper understanding of climate-change and environmental-science, allowing them to contribute more effectively to community-identified needs related to these issues.
- Engaging in a variety of ecotourism activities like beach cleanups and school restorations during their voluntourism trip can help travelers reduce their carbon footprint, promoting sustainable travel and lifestyle.
- In addition to the cultural exchange and travel with purpose offered by voluntourism, participants can also learn about the local lifestyle by attending workshops like the body-scrub making class, which can provide a unique and enriching experience.
