Altruistic Travel

What is Altruistic Travel?

There are a growing number of civic-minded consumers who seek to establish a give-and-take relationship when they travel, volunteering time and expertise as well as financial contributions to communities they visit. Many of these travelers also make sure to travel with responsible tour operators and reduce the negative environmental impacts of their travel. They take time to learn about the places they visit, and spread the word about their positive experience. (1)

This growing movement is referred to as altruistic travel or travel philanthropy. It occurs when responsible travelers and tourism providers around the world donate financial resources, time, talent and economic patronage to protect and positively impact the cultures and environments they visit. This in turn helps to support community development, biodiversity conservation, and other environmental, socio-cultural and economic improvements. The net impacts of travel philanthropy include educational and professional training opportunities, more jobs, better health care, and increased environmental stewardship.

Travel philanthropy is an extraordinarily efficient way to deepen travelers' involvement in the places they visit. Travelers make a difference by supporting environmental conservation and protecting cultural heritage while promoting cross-cultural understanding and economic development around the world. As a strategy, it truly offers a perfect win-win-win scenario for all stakeholders involved (travelers, tour operators, and communities visited), and that's something even the most bottom-line driven business can and should support.

It should be noted that travel philanthropy is becoming increasingly important, as government budgets and international aid continues to decrease in some developed and many developing countries. Furthermore, it's most likely to succeed when it focuses on individual achievement, rewards personal initiative and self-reliance, and fosters giving instead of dependency.

For more information or to learn about how you can set up a Travel Philanthropy program, visit Sustainable Travel International.

Source: 1 - The International Ecotourism Society

Why Altruistic Travel?

More than 500 million people travel for leisure each year. As air travel prices fall and remote corners of the world become more accessible, there is an increasing demand for travel-related services. There were 842 million arrivals in 2006, making it a new record year for the travel and tourism industry.

Among the most severe environmental effects of travel are pollution from greenhouse gas emissions, intensified or unsustainable use of land, the depletion of natural resources, and alteration of ecosystems. Host communities can also be adversely affected. Loss of indigenous identity and values, resource use conflicts, cultural deterioration, and land-use disputes are among the many challenges host communities face.

Travel and tourism clearly contribute to globalization. However, if estimates are accurate, charitable giving by Americans alone, which amounted to $260 billion in 2005, could exceed $300 billion annually by 2020, providing a real opportunity to reduce the economic inequalities that exist in the world today. This growing movement is beginning to have a profound impact within the travel and tourism industry.

Benefits of Altruistic Travel

According to the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), almost 90% of the U.S. population state that it is important for companies to not just be profitable, but to be mindful of their impact on the environment and society. Based on its latest research, NMI says that the $200 billion+ green consumer marketplace is on track to jump to $420 billion in just three years and then skyrocket to $845 billion by 2015. This is clearly a market segment whose needs cannot be ignored. But what other benefits can be derived from participating in Travel Philanthropy?

Altruistic Travel Examples and Resources