Paper short abstract:

Travel philanthropy combines philanthropic principles with social-justice-focused forms of tourism. It exhibits characteristics from three broad philanthropic movements and approaches - traditional, modern and post-modern philanthropy. This paper offers a critical assessment of travel philanthropy.

Paper long abstract:

Travel philanthropy is not a new concept, which combines philanthropic principles with social-justice-focused forms of tourism. Arising from frustration with the ineffectiveness of much conventional aid and traditional philanthropic giving, travel philanthropy is seen as a form of development assistance whereby funds, labour and/or other resources flow directly from the tourism industry into community development and conservation initiatives.

As a westerner travelling in SSA, it is easy to be drawn into the desire of 'helping the less fortunate' or 'doing things differently' as philanthropist, volunteer or paid technical advisor on development matters. However, the reality is that we often fail to even understand our role as individuals travelling into unknown lands.

Springing from the democratisation of charitable gift-giving, the growth of international travel and tourism and an increasing care about the socio-economic welfare of those living in less privileged conditions around the world, travel philanthropy exhibits characteristics from three broad philanthropic movements and approaches - traditional, modern and post-modern philanthropy.

This paper is intended to further the debate towards a critical understanding of travel philanthropy not necessarily associated with the known one of volunteer tourism, but as a broader contested practice.