Voluntourism

Market size

As of 2007, 55% of travelers indicated they were interested in taking a volunteer vacation (survey by msnbc.com & Conde Naste Travel).

Demographics

Associations/organizations

• Global Volunteers (“Partners In Development”, Minnesota)
• Volunteertourism (Business site related to VolunTourism)

Select publications

• Voluntourism trips for do-gooders (Article: MSNBC, 02/04/2008)
• A Cultural Encounter through Volunteer Tourism: Towards the Ideals of Sustainable Tourism? (Research: Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2007)
• Voluntourism – videos (Videos: Travelistic, 02-03-05-12/2007)
• Voluntourism: Is the cause worth the cost? (Article: The Ubyssey, 10/26/2007)
• Social change, discourse and volunteer tourism (Research: Annals of Tourism Research, 2005)
• Voluntourism: Vacations with a purpose (Article: Satisfaction, 11-12/2005)
• When Volunteers Pay to Take a Trip with Scientists – Participatory Environmental Research Tourism (PERT) (Research: Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 2003)

State/regional studies

• UI students to 'Pay It Forward' on spring break service trip (Article: University of Iowa News Services, 03/03/2008)
• 'Voluntourism' pioneer wants to go corporate (Article: Indianapolis Business Journal, Indiana, 12/03/2007)
• Volunteer motivation and commitment at a sport-tourism event (Research: University of Minnesota, 2006)
• Tourism with a purpose (Article: Des Moines Business Record, Iowa, 5/16/2005)