How to Give Responsibly While Traveling

The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) has released a new publication addressing the complexities and "unintended consequences" of giving and volunteering while on holiday. "Travelers' Philanthropy: Dos and Don'ts of Travel Giving" provides insights from a dozen tourism experts to some of the most frequent suggestions made by well-meaning travelers who desire to help, interact, and learn while on vacation.

The publication, as well as a bookmark with Travelers' Tips, is available in print or electronic format at Travelers' Philanthropy/Resources or by clicking here. CREST has also launched an online discussion forum on this topic of traveler giving and volunteering. Travelers, philanthropists, and industry professionals are invited to share any comments, questions, and reactions as part of a lively discussion of these issues. The forum can be accessed by clicking here.

"Oftentimes, people who vacation in poor parts of the world are moved to try to help by either volunteering or donating financially or materially to those in need. But because these good intentions may have negative impacts, we have compiled thoughtful insights and responses from a dozen leading tourism experts," explains CREST co-founder and Co-Director, Dr. Martha Honey. "Our aim is to help educate travelers and tourism companies about how to contribute in ways that help to strengthen communities and don’t perpetuate cycles of dependence on charity."

The publication addresses some of the ideas most frequently proposed by tourists, including sending books or used clothing, visiting an orphanage or school, and volunteering as part of a vacation. CREST solicited responses from a dozen tourism practitioners with long experience in supporting projects in local communities. While these experts sometimes expressed differing views, they agreed that how and what to contribute needs to be decided by the host community, not the tourist or the tourism company.

The publication, part of CREST's Travelers' Philanthropy program, will be incorporated into a Handbook on Travelers Philanthropy to be completed by late 2009.

Earlier this month, CREST released a pre-publication version of "Dos and Don'ts of Travel Giving" at the ITB-Berlin travel show. CREST's Washington, DC Coordinator David Krantz gave a presentation at the "Workshop on Travel Philanthropy and Responsible Tourism" which was organized by Gopi Parayil, Founder and Cheif Excecutive of The Blue Yonder. Representatives from The Blue Yonder, GoPhilanthropic, and Travel to Care also presented their travelers' philanthropy projects during the workshop.

Travelers' Philanthropy, a program of the Center for Responsible Travel, is part of the growing global trend of travelers and travel companies to contribute to community and conservation projects in tourism destinations. The Travelers' Philanthropy website includes a range of resources, including an easy to use portal that permits tax deductible donations for a range of projects that are being supported by responsible tourism companies.

The Center for Responsible Travel is an non-profit international institute affiliated with Stanford University and headquartered in Washington, DC. Its Co-Director based at Stanford is Dr. William Durham. CREST conducts policy-oriented research, programs, and field projects designed to minimize the negative impacts of tourism and maximize the positive contributions to host destinations and conservation. Formerly known as the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, the organization recently changed its name to better reflect its work with all sectors of the tourism industry.

To order copies of the publication please contact: Whitney Cooper wcooper@responsibletravel.org and 202-347-9203 ext 414. For more information about CREST's work please visit CREST's two websites: www.responsibletravel.org and www.travelersphilanthropy.org