VolunTourism Statistics

In 2008, the following statistics have been released:

• The University of California San Diego (UCSD) Extension has released the results of a Voluntourism study involving 1400 U.S. Citizens of all ages
• MSNBC & Conde Nast Traveler have shared preliminary results from their 2008 Voluntourism Survey

In 2007, the following statistics were released:

• M-Travel reported that the results of Travelocity's annual travel forecast poll found that 38% of travelers plan to add voluntary service to a trip in 2008.
• Forrester Research estimates that there are nearly 3.5 million VolunTourists in the U.S. or roughly 3% of travelers
• Cheap Tickets Survey discloses that "55% of respondents would consider taking a day or two of a pre-planned vacation to volunteer"
• Travelocity's February 2007 Survey in which member interest in VolunTourism has jumped to 11% - a nearly 90% increase from 6 months prior (August 2006)

In 2006, the following statistics were released:

• Euromonitor International projected that VolunTourism will be one of the fastest growing travel segments for the next 3 - 4 years.
• Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) announced that in a survey of some 1100 travelers, 24% declared interest in wanting to combine voluntary service with their travel plans for 2007
• Travelocity announced in a poll of its members that 15% were interested in taking either a religous or volunteer travel experience in 2007 and 6% of Travelocity members plan to take a VolunTourism trip in 2007

The Plan

Destination Development

Destination development is at the core of our strategic plan for the next five years. Having a series of destinations that:

• Are well-organized and prepared to receive VolunTourists,
• Have developed the social infrastructure capacity necessary to act as liaison between "demand" (desire to be of service) and "supply" (assessed needs of communities)
• Have compiled evaluative measures and modification strategies in accordance with stakeholder needs

Through education sessions, forums, and consulting, we will support destinations in all facets of the development process.

Traveler (VolunTourist) & Recipient Community (Residents) Education

Travelers and Residents are the two necessary ingredients for making VolunTourism a feasible means of travel. Without either party, the "formula" will not work. If it is to achieve greater efficiency and its unimaginable potential, each party must be educated on its role and how to better serve in that capacity.

Travelers need to learn about the "service" that they are truly providing and how to "receive" from the destination and its residents. Residents need to learn how to "receive" from visitors in the proper spirit and how to "serve" guests in ways beyond their collective expectations.

Educating both audiences will be a significant part of our work for the next 3 - 5 years.

Global Collaborations

Our final area of concentration will be working with stakeholders on building industry awareness of the power of service and travel and utilizing collaborative models to do so. VT has no opportunity to influence policy and governance at a global level working on its own. Therefore, we will pursue collaborations with other entities to help initiate a global understanding regarding the power of volunteerism and tourism as a combined "VolunTourism" movement.

As the nonprofit sector and the tourism sector begin to recognize their power in tandem, VolunTourism will have a place in attaining a more peaceful and harmonious world filled with globally-thinking citizens.

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