Philanthropic Travel: Travel with a Twist
by Amy Woods Butler

    In the British film Millions, a young boy stumbles upon a sack full of money and dreams of using his windfall to bring fresh water to an African village. In one of the final, dreamy scenes of this gorgeous movie, he and his family dance with a group of smiling Africans as water gushes from their new well. The two groups of people are temporarily united by the rush of water, a gift that brings joy to both the giver and the recipients.
    This movie illustrates a new brand of tourism coming to the fore of the industry, called philanthropic travel. Simply put, while on a vacation, the tourist can plan encounters with the needy he or she has helped to enjoy the project the tourist funded, such as a well. So instead of spending several thousand dollars to enjoy a luxury safari in Kenya and Tanzania, you might enjoy the safari and visit the villagers to see the new well that your donation purchased. Or meet a group of women whose micro-loans you financed.  Or drop by a new library you paid for.
    This type of travel is different from voluntourism, paying to work on a project. “Voluntourism is for people with more time than money,” writes David Chamberlain on his website for Exquisite Travel, a luxury philanthropic travel company. “Our trips are for those who have it the other way around.” 
    The concept builds on an idea that's been around for years: personal contact with those whom your dollars actually help. Think of Sally Struthers’ pleas on those long Saturday commercials, where soulful-eyed children gaze steadily into the camera. That program offered regular photo updates to donors in order to foster a bond between giftor and giftee. Philanthropic travel takes this idea one bounding leap further, by bringing donors face-to-face with the recipients of their largesse. This is grass-roots giving, from one individual or group to another.
    But how do you know that your money is really going to those most in need? According to the World Bank, more than one-fourth of the developing world’s population lives in poverty. Numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can help direct donors to those they’d like to help. These NGOs act as partners to tour outfits dedicated to philanthropic travel — in essence doing the homework for the donors.
    Philanthropic travel is becoming so popular that in 2008, the Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development sponsored a conference on travel philanthropy in Tanzania. The Center discussed the issue of how travel companies can best manage and support the community projects their customers wish to pursue. While the methods will certainly evolve as this new type of travel develops, right now each company follows its own guidelines. For example, Exquisite Travel donates a lump sum for each of its travelers in addition to whatever the traveler decides to give. GoPhilanthropic, a travel company based in Rochester, NY, allows its customers to donate directly to whichever NGO they choose.
    Any type of help is good, whether the giver is hands-on or simply providing money. Why not create opportunities for the wealthy to help others? They can still remain in the four-star hotels and five-star restaurants that their money also makes available to them.
    For centuries, wealthy people have supported artists, musicians and writers—without denying themselves any of their own pleasures or comforts. This kind of giving still happens today among civic-minded individuals and corporations, where excess wealth can be used to start foundations or fund charities.
    Bill and Melinda Gates aren’t going broke trying to fix the world, and there is surely room for the more moderately wealthy to enjoy their fortune while helping others. The alternative, after all, is just luxury vacationing without the giving.