A popular misconception of ‘Vacational philanthropy’ is that wealthy tourists are unable to offer direct help to the needy people of the country or region they’re visiting. Albeit these tourists ARE already contributing to the economy by their visit, through the money they spend and the subsequent jobs which are created (via hotel stats, food and transport purchases)
But times are changing, not least in this new and vibrant charitable sector. Whilst philanthropy on vacation was once regarded as an impractical and almost impossible dream, is now becoming a highly-effective and practical reality.
In fact, many luxury Tour Operators now offer philanthropic vacation visits. Moreover, it’s no longer the case that “helping out” abroad entails long stretches of hard work and the metaphorical ‘cold baths and showers’ Spartan existence in primitive accommodation.
Far from it. Wealthy vacationers can still carry out charitable work and continue to enjoy the best hotels and restaurants the region has to offer.
Far-sighted Tour Operators are now providing all-inclusive packages to countries such as Thailand, Brazil, Kenya and Cambodia.
These include tours of wildlife centres (where funding and conscientious work can help eradicate the scourge of poaching and wanton slaughter for “pleasure”, which ultimately leads to extinction), hospitals (where the enterprising tourist can put their nursing and people skills to good use), and even local schools (where vacationers can watch and even participate in lessons, speaking to the class about where they come from, what they do, and inspire the younger generation to broaden their horizons and seek fulfillment in different ways to how they envisaged previously).
All three methods have the advantage of requiring little or no extra investment on the vacationers’ part. Plus, they get a chance to witness first-hand exactly how their Charity works. After all, it’s one thing to read about a Charity on a website or in a brochure, and quite another to see it ‘up close and personal’.
It also gives donators even more motivation to put their hand in their pocket and provide extra funds, and even spread the word to friends and colleagues as to why philanthropy is such a worthy cause…
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