Solidarity tourism, a more responsible way of traveling

Solidarity tourism, a more responsible way of traveling

More and more travelers are becoming increasingly open-minded when it comes to choosing a destination and a different way of traveling. The most clear examples on the current horizon are ecotourism, visits to sanctuaries and reserves, solidarity travel and volunteering.

Collaborative tourism is promoted as a way for travelers to visit certain destinations with the purpose of getting to know the customs, culture, gastronomy and people of the place in exchange for work. The idea of solidarity travel stems from the concern around travelers with a social conscience.

Solidarity tourism

Profile of the Volunteer Tourist

According to data from the business intelligence platform Travellyze, there are currently some 510,000 volunteer travelers in 2022. Fifty-one percent are between 25 and 44 years old and close to half have a higher education degree. The financial situation of those who engage in this type of tourism falls within the average Spanish salary, about 2,038 euros per month, and they do not plan to spend more than 1,000 euros.

What requirements and factors stand out in the people who make these trips? 

  • Conscience: wanting to make the world more sustainable and being committed to the environment.
  • Physical and mental conditions: getting out of the comfort zone and seeing situations that escape from routine are essential conditions for those who want to travel in this way.
  • Curiosity: a person with curiosity who wants to know in depth the place where he/she is going.

New experiences

Factors that influence the decision of the destination for the solidarity tourist

  • To experience new cultures and be in nature.
  • Crime rate, a factor to which the solidarity traveler pays attention. The countries to which aid projects are directed are usually in an unstable situation, so many travelers like to take precautions and avoid risks.
  • Being able to combine volunteering with other activities such as photography or sports.

Types of solidarity tourism

  • Ecotourism is based on the care and conservation of the natural habitat, beneficial contribution to the flora, fauna and local population. It must be based on nature, be educational for those who receive it and economically favorable to the local community.  In Spain, according to Oxfam Intermón, we have several natural parks that are ecotourism destinations, such as the Somiedo Natural Park or the Iruelas Valley Natural Reserve.
  • Humanitarian trips organized by NGOs are usually related to general educational, health and relief projects. For example, the NGO Ayuda en Acción has a plan to support deforestation in eastern Guatemala. Eighty percent of the children suffer from chronic malnutrition due to drought.
  • Solidarity trips with the aim of caring for animals, such as in nature reserves, protected parks, sanctuaries… A model of this type of trip is the Rainfer sanctuary, which is dedicated to giving a second chance to chimpanzees bred illegally in captivity.
  • Social emergencies or natural disasters, a current example is the war in Ukraine where thousands of people have come to the country’s call for help.

Factors to take into account when choosing NGOS

  1. The duration of this type of trip tends to be longer than that of conventional trips. One third of volunteers stay more than 4 days (data extracted from Travellyze).
  2. It is important to understand the project you are embarking on in order to know all the details of the trip, accommodation, resources and facilities of the destination.
  3. The mission, vision and values of each NGO.
  4. The date and destination should be chosen well. This is because some NGOs only carry out projects on certain dates. 
  5. The native language of the country: if the traveler is familiar with the language, he/she can make the most of the experience and collaborate in a more dynamic way.

Another important issue is the involvement of the NGO, the management of permits, expenses, and the program to be carried out. Depending on the organization, they can cover the total expenses of the trip, including lodging, food and the organization of the activities.

Examples of NGOs that organize solidarity trips

  • CC ONG Ayuda al Desarrollo: its headquarters are in Barcelona and the project started with the construction of a school in Mali. They currently have more than 350 projects related to health, education, tourism and culture in different countries around the world. 
  • ONG Voluntariado: how to choose one project or another? It works as a guide for all those travelers who want to choose a solidarity project.
  • Hola Ghana: organization founded with the intention of making visible the responsibility we have between peoples and establish connections with the people there.
  • Vientonortesur: born in Murcia in 2013 as a non-profit organization, focused on solidarity travel and coexistence.

There is a varied list of options when it comes to choosing the type of solidarity travel, but they all converge in the search for other experiences, ways to improve the local economy and in a way to help less favored populations. Despite this approach, this type of travel has begun to be commercialized, deviating somewhat from its initial purpose, which is to have as its main objective the symbiosis between the traveler and the local community. 

Adrián González

PR Team

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