Volunteering questionnaire.

Have you volunteered abroad? How was your experience? Please take a moment to fill in our questionnaire (word) Volunteering questionnaire and send it to simon@tourismconcern.org.uk

Tourism Concern feels that there is a need for more accountability in the way that volunteer tourism and the gap year sector is developed and, with its unique experience of sustainable tourism practice, Tourism Concern is in a strong position to facilitate positive change.

At our recent 'Exploring the Issues of Exploring the World' event, the question 'Are gap years the new colonialism?' was put forward at a lively debate. Representatives from both Maasai and Thai community tourism organisations, together with a leading UK academic, argued for the motion. They believe that volunteer tourism markets itself to young people using negative stereotypes of the global south which perpetuates colonialism. Arguing against the motion were a fomer gap year leader, an author and a senior manager from a major gap year company. Their view is that gap years and volunteer holidays offer meaningful opportunities for both the communities and the 'gappers'.

Tourism Concern's partners, particularly those in overseas destinations, have stated that development aid should focus on the needs of local people rather than those of the tourists. Problems arise when volunteer tourism tries to be a form of short-term development. Tourism Concern is considering ways to develop a code of conduct for the gap year industry so that volunteer tourism becomes a fairer industry.