With Volunteers Week encouraging people to take up volunteering, voluntourism company Different Travel has called for ‘Code of Practice’ to regulate the ‘voluntourism sector’, prevent abuse of volunteers, and ensure that the projects bring genuine benefit to the developing world.

Expressing concern over how the rapid growth in combining volunteering with holidays has lead to criticism of the voluntourism concept, Different Travel founder Adrian Yalland said “If voluntourism wishes to be sustainable, ensure it fulfils its potential, and avoids Government legislation, then those who operate within the sector must take greater responsibility. This must start with a code of practice which ensures local people and the tourists are not taken for a ride”.

Adrian Yalland went on to say how both Ireland and Scotland already have a code of practice, and how it was time for England and Wales to follow suit.

“There have been numerous reports of how volunteers have gone overseas armed with good intentions only to be disillusioned because their expectations were not matched, or they felt they achieved very little of value for the local community. And there have been reports of companies who are only too happy to meet western consumer demand, taking advantage of the voluntourist’s time and money, without any real consideration for projects’ needs - all the while profiting excessively” he said.

“Tour operators and holiday companies owe it to themselves, their staff, their customers and the developing world to be more transparent and honest about their practices, be open about how much good the volunteer actually does, and show clearly how much of the cost of the holiday is invested in overseas projects. At the heart of this are practices which borrow heavily from the international development and long-term volunteering sector”.

He also went on to call for the industry to adopt amore ethical approach to business practices – including carbon offsetting, and refusing to contract with hotels and overseas operators who do not respect the rights of their staff or the environment. “A more ethical approach to business would drive up standards, improve the working conditions for hotel and tourism staff in the developing world, and ensure that tourism in sustainable” he said.

“We cannot continue to have holidays which, in terms of the cash cost, are cheap, but in terms of the real cost to humanity and the environment are excessively expensive. We can no-longer expect our children to pick-up the tab in terms of climate change, environmental degradation and the effects of whole cultures and communities becoming dependent upon tourism for survival”.

To find out more about voluntourism and volunteer travel through Different Travel, visit www.different-travel.com, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it call +44 (0) 2380 669903.

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For further press information, please contact Vicky Smith on +44 (0)2380 669903 / This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

EDITOR’S NOTES

1. Different-Travel is a small group discovery volunteer travel company offering holidays which combine sight-seeing, relaxation and great accommodation with opportunities to work alongside local people on development projects, for anyone who wants to use their holiday to have a great time and do something positive.