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 "TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE" SYMPOSIUM May 1, 2000

     An energetic group of persons interested in the topics of service travel, volunteerism and ecotourism gathered May 1 in Moutiain View, California to learn about opportunities and issues in this growing area of tourism.   The symposium featured a panel consisting of Mark Hintzke of the Cultural Restoration Project, Mongolia; Christine Victorino who is coordinator of the International Volunteer Programs Association; Stephano DeZeraga of the LaFetra Operating Foundation; and Patrick Tierney a professor of tourism and commercial recreation at San Francisco State University.  Among the staffed booths  were LISLE, an international overseas volunteer organization (see www.lisle.utoledo.edu ) and World Neighbors (see http://www.wn.org ) that works in rural areas around the world with volunteer programs.

     Attendees learned that many travelers are seeking a chance to become immersed in a community or assist with projects when they travel, rather than just passing through. "Traveling with a purpose"  discussed the opportunities to  in service travel that make a positive impact on the world.  This is an emerging trend that has many manifestations – civic club service trips to activists monitoring sweatshops, to assisting with community or research projects. Despite the diversity of activities, all share a common theme of travel to give time and talents and have fun.  Below is a more detailed recap of the speakers comments.

What is Eco-tourism?

Pat Tierney summarized the definition as:

1. Tourism where clients are ecologically and culturally sensitive.

2. Learning is a key element

3. The ecological and cultural impact is minimized.

4. It is a benefit to local communities.

How does volunteer tourism fit into eco-tourism?

Volunteer tourism requires a deeper perspective of tourism which is part and parcel of what eco-tourism is about. Mark Hintzke spoke about his cultural restoration tourism project in Mongolia. This is a small grass roots project whereby volunteers pay to come to help restore Buddhist temples in Mongolia. It is brings about funding for the project as well as enriches the lives of the volunteers. In a setting like this, the criteria of measurement moves from quantitative to qualitative....from how much money am I making to what am I accomplishing in people's lives including my own. Volunteers stay from ten days to three weeks, offering great cultural exchange as the volunteers and the Mongolian workers work together.

Christine Victorino of International Volunteer Program Association works with many volunteer programs. Her organization brings volunteer programs to come together for mutual promotion and recruitment. She discovered that after working for community programs abroad, she returned with an interest in working with community programs here.

Stefano DeZerega of La Fetra found that after much adventure travel, many need a travel opportunity that offers greater connection with the people through participation.. Volunteering opens the doors for connecting. Having done a fair amount of backpacking, traveling and exploring, I found myself craving something more -- not a higher bridge to bungee from or whiter rapids to raft but something else, something that would connect me more to the places I visited and the people I met traveling. I wanted to participate, to lend a hand.

Quotes from La Fetra volunteers:

The "success" of the job is not just "how much is built", but also learning more about yourself and becoming more humanized. A volunteer vacation offers a greater opportunity to define who "I am". " Josh Lozoff , Volunteers for Peace, Bolivia.

"Going someplace where you are an outsider shifts your mentality so that you start to question who you are, why you're there, what is truth, what should you be doing, how should you fit in. The volunteer experience is very powerful in giving you that kind of questioning attitude." ---Lafcadio Cortesi, Volunteers in Asia

"I think it's given me a greater opportunity to define who I am, to expand the way I view things, to see the world through other people's eyes, to incorporate my experiences into the way I live, think, and feel." ---Marlene Larocque, Independent volunteer, Ecuador

Stephano has found that, though it can be consumeristic and that there can be problems, at its best it can make not only a major contribution but also offer a true exchange of information. It is not a one way...there is gain both ways. In fact the volunteers often learn much more than they contribute.

What should you look for in a volunteer vacation?

-Does it benefit people outside of tourism?

-Though small, can you make a difference?

-Are you coming to work together and not just as a giver?

-Are you sharing in the people's daily life?

-Do you share in the vision of the program?

-Is there a balance of cultural exchange and cultural preservation?

-Is the people's life style validated?

-Does it have a good cross cultural orientation plan? If not, AVOID.

-What type of program would be best suited for you....the lone American, a group of Americans or an International group of volunteers?

-How long? Time is needed for a real exchange and a real impact, and therefore the longer the better, but this may not be for everyone. Perhaps start with shorter lengths of time and then proceed to longer volunteer sojourns.

Benefits:

Great appreciation....sometimes people are overwhelmed that others would come to help. Stereotypes and media myths people have of each other are broken. Cultural misunderstandings bring about a very fast learning curve in order to function. A true cultural experience.

A sense of commitment to the culture or the cause or the group.

Final Question: Is there a connection between nonprofit and for-profit tourism?

Mark Hintzke does offer commission to travel agents and considers it acceptable and good for tapping into mainstream travel.

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