Sustainable Tourism and Voluntourism: Giving Back to Communities

This essay critically examines sustainable tourism and the role of voluntourism in fostering positive community impact. It begins by outlining the principles of sustainable tourism, emphasizing the balance between ecological, economic, and socio-cultural aspects. The essay then delves into the concep...Read More

Expansion Of Tourism0
Sustainable Tourism
Voluntourism effects Tourism Industry
11/26/2018

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INTRODUCTION
Tourism is consider as the world’s fastest growing industry and majorly contributes as
a basis of income for numerous countries. It provides employment to various local
economies. Development of tourism has directed to the expansion of various problems like
the loss of cultural heritage, ecological deprivation, and social disturbance. The emergence of
such issues creates the need for sustainable tourism as it protects the environment and
provides the opportunity to meet the needs of the future tourists (Patterson, 2016).
Sustainable Tourism
The term Sustainable Tourism majorly aims to institute a suitable balance between the
ecological, financial and socio-cultural aspects of tourism expansion and plays a substantial
part in conserving biodiversity. It attempts to curtail its impact on the environment and local
culture to make it available for the peers in future and effectively subsidizes in generating
income, occupation and the preservation of the local ecosystems. It encounters the wants of
the existing tourists and the host counties and provides openings for the future. The main aim
of sustainable tourism is to maximize its positive contribution towards protecting biodiversity
and also aims for reducing poverty and achieves the goal of sustainable development
(Teaching and learning for a sustainable future, 2010).
The main characteristics of sustainable tourism are to enhance the well-being of the
communities where the tour takes place by providing the social, economic and cultural
support to the community. It guarantees that the natural resources will not deteriorate and
however enhances the nature protection and maintenance of cultural values. It aims to
provide satisfaction to the tourists by recognizing the quality of the product delivered by the
host regions. It ensures that there is proper food, accommodation facility, hospitality services,

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quality of transport and thus leads to enhancement of tourist’s satisfaction which overall
increases the business of tourism. It applies the adaptive management team to monitor that
the tourism activities are not harming the environment and able to maintain the balance
between social, economic and ecological needs of the environment (Sustaining Tourism,
2014).
There are three pillars of sustainable tourism, which are important to achieve the goals
of a sustainable environment. It includes environmental sustainability, socio-cultural
sustainability, and economic sustainability. Sustainable tourism focuses on achieving the
balance between the three. In environmental sustainability, it ensures that the resources are
optimally utilized and the tourists do not harm the natural environment as well as the built
environment so that the needs of the future generations can be fulfilled. In Socio-cultural
sustainability, it focuses on promoting the cultural exchange and preserving the local
traditions and sharing the interesting local customs to the tourists. It aims to involve locals to
provide the tourists with greater experience. In Economic sustainability, its focus is to keep
the money local and ensure the survival of the tourism industry (Tourism Marketing, 2017).
To promote sustainable tourism the government must provide incentives to observe
the changing behaviour of the tourism business and reduces the adverse influences of tourism
on the environment, values, and economy. The government must create awareness and
educational activities to promote the development of sustainable tourism and protect the
interest of future generations (Virtuoso, 2017).
The government must offers awards and must create a contest to select the
organization that conducts outstanding sustainability performance. This inculcates
competition among the firms that do tourism business. Certification is the process that
provides written assurance that the business is more committed to working towards

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sustainability. The firms are required to present their sustainability report to make an
effective contribution towards sustaining the environment. The firms should market its
sustainable products to create awareness among the community and able to maintain the
balance of social, cultural and ecological needs (Edgell Sr, 2016).
Voluntourism is the concept, which is coined by Nevada tourism board in the year
1998. It is defined as the mutual action of tourism and volunteering, where volunteer services
are provided, free of charge at the point of delivery at the destination. The concept of
Voluntourism provides the opportunity to work with local communities and helps the tourists
to develop their potential and create a positive change in the world. Such volunteers help the
local communities to grow the tourism industry and ensuring sustainable tourism in the
community. In relation to above, the tourists can effectively contribute by being a responsible
traveller and not harming the Mother Nature. They can volunteer by participating in a
conservation project and taking care of the animals and nature to contribute to making the
world a better place (Projects Abroad, 2018).
I as a tourist will select the cause I am passionate for and will work on it to contribute
in the underdeveloped countries and be a responsible traveller. I will join the health care
program to avail the opportunity to work in the health care centre and provide the benefits to
the rural people (Volunteering Solutions, 2018).
As a responsible traveller, I will say no to the plastic by taking water in the recyclable
glasses and will carry the tote bags to reduce the use of the plastic in the host country. I will
support the local economy by purchasing the crafts and souvenirs and giving income to the
local community. I will ensure that I will not buy a wildlife product, which affects the
sustainability of the community, will be respectful towards the culture and the environment,
and will be a responsible traveller. I must contribute my time and talent to empower the local

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people, support communities and will not humanize the animals as rendering them incapable
of living in their natural habitats. I will behave with all the dignity and upholding the morals
to leave the positive influences on the host community and has a greater travelling
experience. As a tourist, I will champion human rights and will not be involved in any
activity, which is against the law and harms the community of the host country (Smarter
Travel, 2017).
As a responsible traveller, I will not throw litter on the beaches or on land because it
creates harmful exposure to the sea life and the beaches gets clogged up with all sorts of
trashes. By being a responsible traveller, it is the duty of the mine to not throw litter and
disturb the ecological balance. The tourists must not take anything from the destination.
Cases of abducted animals, missing constructs and lost information’s are the common
problems faced by the tourism circles so the tourists must take the memories and the pictures
so as to provide the same level of experience to the other travellers. I will contribute
maximum to the community by contributing my skills and money and making difference in
the society. I will apply all my skills to help the local community of the host country, will
understand the local culture, language and values of the host country to establish a healthy
relationship, and can contribute more towards the community. I will respect the privacy and
the dignity of the people and will behave nicely to the local people so that humanising of the
public can be avoided. I will contribute directly to the organizations and will be a socially
responsible traveller by not negotiating much and eating at the local restaurants, buying the
local products and helping the artisans through their skills (National Geographic, 2015).
The Responsible traveller must have the desire to have a greater experience and must
contribute to the local community by understanding the culture and the importance of their
cultural heritage so that it does not lead to disturbance in the privacy of the local community.
I will behave ethically and respect the people to develop a healthy relationship with the

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people and have a deep understanding of the values of the host country (Budeanu, Miller,
Moscardo, & Ooi, 2016).
Being a tourist, it is the responsibility of the mine to not harm the local community
and be responsible for my actions. I will not exploit the resources, natural environment and
the wildlife to provide the opportunity to the future generations to gain the same experience,
will contribute positively to make the difference, and enables to expand tourism business
(Benson, 2011).
Participating in such Voluntourism enhances the travel experience and gives the
power to give back to the community. It provides the opportunity to be a responsible traveller
and can bring a difference by contributing towards the local community. It gives the power to
build a healthy relationship with the people and provide the opportunity to contribute towards
sustaining tourism and helps in having the greater experience (McGehee, 2014).
CONCLUSION
From the discussion of the above paragraphs, it is concluded that Tourism has grown
immensely and provides the opportunity to the host country to increase their employment
opportunities and focuses on providing a greater experience to the tourists. It emphasizes the
importance of sustainable tourism to balance the needs of economic, ecological and socio-
cultural challenges. It involves the concept of Voluntourism to make the tourist a responsible
traveller and enables the difference in the host community. It states the importance of
Voluntourism to contribute to the community and have the power to give back to the
community. The concept of Voluntourism helps in sustainable tourism, delivers the same
experience to the future generations, and expands the tourism industry.

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References
Benson, M.A. (2011). Volunteer Tourism: Theory framework to practical applications.
Canada: Routledge
Budeanu, A., Miller, G., Moscardo, G.,& Ooi, C.S. (2016).Sustainable tourism, progress,
challenges, and opportunities: An introduction. Journal of cleaner production, 111,
285-294
Edgell Sr, D. (2016). Managing Sustainable Tourism (2nd ed.).London: Routledge
McGehee, G.N. (2014).Volunteer tourism: Evolution, issues and futures. Journal of
sustainable tourism, 22(6), 847-854
National Geographic. (2015). 6 ways to be a more sustainable traveller. Retrieved from:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/sustainable-travel-tips/
Patterson, C. (2016).Sustainable Tourism: Business development, operations and
management. United States: Human kinetics
Projects Abroad. (2018).What is Voluntourism? Retrieved from: https://www.projects-
abroad.org/voluntourism/
Smarter Travel. (2017). Voluntourism: Does it really help? Retrieved from:
https://www.smartertravel.com/voluntourism-really-help/
Sustaining Tourism. (2014). Sustainable tourism definitions. Retrieved from:
https://sustainabletourism.net/sustainable-tourism/definitions/
Teaching and learning for a sustainable future. (2010). Sustainable tourism. Retrieved from:
http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod16.html

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Tourism Marketing. (2017).What is sustainable tourism and why it is important? Retrieved
from: https://www.tourismmarketing.co.za/sustainable-tourism-important/
Virtuoso. (2017). Why is sustainable tourism so important? Retrieved from:
https://blog.virtuoso.com/tips-and-trends/sustainable-tourism-important/