This page was last updated March 8, 2010
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Publications > Reports > Travelers' Philanthropy
Tourism in the Developing World, Promotong Peace and Reducing Poverty, Martha Honey (CREST) and Raymond Gilpin (USIP)
The following four essays were prepared as background documents for the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) Special Report, Tourism in the Developing World: Promoting Peace and Reducing Poverty which is posted above. A grant from USIP provided funds for these authors and Aditi Chanchani from Equations to attend CREST’s Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference, held in Arusha, Tanzania in December 2008.
Tourism: Preventing Conflict, Promoting Peace, by Martha Honey, Ph.D, CREST
Ecotourism, Conservation and Development in East Africa: How the Philanthropic Traveler Can Make a Difference, by David (Jonah) Western, Ph.D.
Tourism in India: Role in Conflict and Peace, by EQUATIONS, India
Peace and Tourism in Nigeria, by Bola Olusola Adeleke, Ph.D., Redeemer’s University, Nigeria
Dos and Don'ts of Travel Giving
Travelers' desire to help, interact, and learn from those they meet during their holiday is clearly positive. However, there are sometimes unintended consequences from these good intentions. Misguided contributions can perpetuate cycles of dependency, cause corruption, burden communities with unwanted or inappropriate donations, and require recipients to spend time and resources to handle "gifts" they didn't request or cannot use.
As part of our Travelers’ Philanthropy program, the Center for Responsible Travel asked a dozen experienced tour operators and tourism organizations who are engaged in supporting local community projects how they respond to some of the most frequently asked questions and suggestions from travelers about "giving" while on holiday. Though they sometimes expressed differing views, overall they agree that when, how, and what to contribute needs to be decided by the host community, not the tourist or the tourism company.
Convenient format: Travel Giving Dos and Don'ts Bookmark (PDF)
Travel Giving Dos and Don'ts (PDF) Hard copy available, $5. Contact Laura Driscoll to purchase.
Travel Giving Dos and Don'ts (Extended Version) (PDF)
Additional Resources (PDF)
The above three reports contain a summary of the experts' responses. They are intended to highlight some of the complexities behind donation and help build a more enlightened traveling public. They are also intended to assist tourism businesses in crafting appropriate ways to harness the goodwill and generosity of their guests while meeting genuine needs in the host communities.
2008 Travelers' Philanthropy Film
Ahead of the 2008 Travelers' Philanthropy Conference in Tanzania, CREST (then CESD) designed and commissioned a documentary film on Travelers' Philanthropy. The film was shot and produced by two talented young filmmakers, Charlene Music and Peter Jordan. Using case studies from Costa Rica to Tanzania, the film highlighted several companies active in travel philanthropy, offering an exclusive under-the-hood view of the process behind successful philanthropy programs in health, education, and sustainable community development. Interviews were completed with travel industry experts, as well as with community members from areas being served by travel philanthropy programs. The film offers a balanced view of the immense potential of travel philanthropy, as well as the challenges and possible pitfalls that make it so important to begin projects with care and attention to detail.
click above to watch a clip from the documentary. The full documentary is for sale and available via paypal or from our offices. Cost is $15 with shipping inlcluded. Buy the first ever documentary on Travelers' Philanthropy today!
If you have any purchasing questions, please contact Laura Driscoll at lrd@stanford.edu
2008 Travelers' Philanthropy Conference Proceedings
CREST (then CESD) hosted the latest international conference on travel philanthropy in Arusha, Tanzania, December 3-5th 2008. The conference brought together 230 practitioners from socially responsible tourism businesses, experts in the field of sustainable tourism and philanthropy, community based organizations and global and regional NGOs doing development work, the United Nations and other development agencies, philanthropic foundations, government, and the media. A growing number of leading tourism businesses, charitable organizations, and international agencies also co-sponsored the event. The goal of the conference was to promote, guide, and strengthen travel philanthropy as an emerging form of development assistance generated by travelers and the tourism industry.
Conference Proceedings available on CD-ROM ($15). To purchase via the secure payment portal Paypal click the button below:
Please contact Laura Driscoll if you have any questions: lrd@stanford.edu
2004 Travelers' Philanthropy Conference Proceedings
In April 2004, CREST (then CESD) hosted a major conference on Travelers' Philanthropy at Stanford University, in California. This conference brought together nearly 80 tour operators, UN officials, academics, foundation representatives, and NGOs to discuss how to best harness tourists' interest in giving back to the often impoverished communities that they visit. Through a combination of "time, talent, and treasure," participants learned, there are many ways to work constructively with host communities. However, poorly planned projects can result in unintended negative consequences. This packet of conference proceedings includes a CDROM of powerpoint presentations, bios for conference presenters, a directory of existing philanthropic activities, and more.
Available in CD-ROM and hard copy ($25). To purchase, please contact Laura Driscoll at ldriscoll@responsibletravel.org
To purchase a publication, please contact Laura Driscoll: lrd@stanford.edu