There are numerous resources available to people interested in volunteering in tourism, but the best way to locate these opportunities is to identify an organization or group of organizations with which you are particularly interested. A simple Internet search for “volunteer tourism” will return pages of links to websites that provide this type of vacation. It is therefore critical to conduct due diligence on an organization before agreeing to volunteer in a far-flung corner of the globe. Many people entrust their vetting to other organizations they know and trust. Many people participate in volunteer tourism programs organized by their schools or places of worship.
Before deciding on a volunteer tourism trip, you should have a good idea of how much the trip will cost. It’s also crucial to know what kind of work the volunteers will be doing, because not everyone is up to the task of spending several days doing heavy manual labor. Quotes from previous volunteers can be found on any website, and they can be taken out of context. If a volunteer tourism organization has a location in your city, visit it and speak with the staff to gain a better understanding of the financial and physical commitments that volunteers must make.
It’s also crucial to think about the type of volunteer work you want to do. There are organizations that focus on volunteer opportunities for people who want to work on community building, others for people who want to volunteer in the field of education, and still others for people with medical training who want to share their knowledge. Volunteer tourism opportunities are also available for those who want to help those in need while also spreading religious messages.
It makes sense to speak with former volunteers once you’ve determined the type of volunteer work you’d like to do and compiled a list of promising volunteer tourism opportunities. This is a good way to get ready for the trip and ensure that it goes well. It’s also a good way to narrow down your volunteer options.