Voluntourism Policy
As part of sustainable and responsible travel and tourism development, the industry must ensure that only responsible and safe forms of voluntourism are undertaken.
Companies should exclude visits to orphanages from tourism packages as it drives institutionalisation which causes harm to children. Without regulation and care, some forms of voluntourism allow un-vetted access to children that puts them at risk of being trafficked and sexually exploited.
To address this issue, The Code developed a voluntourism policy for its current and prospective members, in addition to its main six criteria to protect children.
Download the policy
Resources
Divestment of Residential Care Services
Through consultation with organisations that have successfully transitioned as well as leaders in tourism, volunteering and child protection, this resource has been developed to support businesses in the travel and volunteering sectors to responsibly divest from relationships with orphanages. For travel organisations primarily divesting of orphanage volunteering, see the Orphanage. Divestment Resource for the Travel and Volunteering Sectors.
Find out moreThe Global Volunteering Standard
While not focused on tourism specifically, the Global Standard gives extensive guidance to volunteer organisations so that all community members and volunteers are kept safe and free from harm. (document available in 8 languages).
Find out moreABTA Volunteer Tourism Guidelines
Practical guide for travel companies delivering volunteer tourism experiences. These best practice guidelines have been developed in consultation with a wide range of organisations to assist with understanding the range of issues and support activities that make tourism a positive means for change.
Find out more