Ann&Palm
Voluntourism
Veronica Larraburu
Veronica – Ann&Palm, specializing in quality tailor made journeys to South America, with a particular focus on Voluntourism and considering the environment.
Topics:
05:00 Why Volunteer tourism
06:42 Educating travellers
08:05 Age groups
10:50 Primary school programs, beneficial for the families
13:16 Communities in Salta
15:29 Doing it the right way
16:55 Buenos Aires sustainability
18:12 70 percent of the Gen Z travellers believe that volunteering makes a trip more authentic
20:00 Where to find Ann & Palm
ARTICLES DISCUSSED
Coming in at the No. 8 spot in the “Top 10 Regions”
Beyond the obvious – and magnificent – experience that Iguazú Falls has to offer, the rest of the region is brimming with wildlife, conservation and sustainability projects, and a chance to see another side of Argentina beyond the bright lights of Buenos Aires.
Revealed: The one holiday destination where the pound rode out the Brexit storm.
There has never been a better time to visit Argentina, says Equals, which has tracked the pound against the Argentinian peso since 2016, when a pound bought 20-odd pesos; it now buys 78.
“But the biggest benefits are perhaps in food and drink,” he says. “A steak dinner in a posh parrilla like La Brigada can now be had for £20-£25 for two, with a decent wine. This would have cost twice that a few years ago.
The report reveals that 70 per cent of the Gen Z travellers believe that volunteering makes a trip more authentic because they get to meet local people and feel like they’ve made a difference.
An increasing number of youngsters are keen to give back to the society, with 59 per cent of them saying they are interested to do so as a travel experience, says a report.
Voluntourism is gaining momentum and putting pressure on advisors to match traveler skills and expectations with community and conservation needs. Youth travel giant STA Travel reported 11 percent year-on-year growth in January for its volunteering products.
It’s important to determine who benefits from the tour and what proportion of the proceeds goes to the local community.
how much time is really needed to have a positive impact on the community and if your presence takes away jobs or learning opportunities from locals
Of course, there is some skepticism about voluntourism, especially about why volunteers need to fork out thousands of dollars, euros, or pounds to do dirty work for others.
He notes that volunteer tourism should not be confused with “disaster tourism” in which tourists immediately travel to a scene not to help but to look.
The researchers examined the impact of volunteer tourism programs in Nepal in the wake of the April 2015 earthquake. They found that when it was done in an ethical manner that considered local conditions and the community, it could aid recovery and resilience.
