Discount Voluntourists Forecast for 2009

David Clemmons forecasts 10 aspects of voluntourism for 2009 including discount voluntourism in his preview of the voluntourism year ahead.

“How will the world further embrace VolunTourism in 2009?” Says David Clemmons in the latest edition of the Voluntourist. “What will emerge from the financial debacle and the outright disdain for human greed and overt corporate largesse? Will the hybridization of voluntary service and tourism result in greater efficiency for the social sector and a continuing "soul-discovery-process" for the tourism industry? Or will we revert to a Darwinistic-scenario in which we struggle merely to survive amidst the rubble of the global meltdown? Being pragmatically optimistic, I see a modest acceleration in the adoption of VolunTourism around the world in 2009. And, considering the vast increase in the global presence of VolunTourism in 2008, "modest acceleration" may very well look like a speeding locomotive!”

So what does David Clemmons see in 2009?

1. The Year Of DMOs & CVBs And Voluntourism

Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and Convention & Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) around the world will build on what the Jordan Tourism Board did in 2007 and what the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau did in 2008. 2009 will usher in a new age for partnership and interaction between the social sector and the entities responsible for marketing destinations.

2. The Year Of Specialized Voluntourism

In 2009, voluntourists will begin to seek specialized voluntourism offerings and for those who are keeping track, this is an incredibly exciting development. Entities like Waves For Development, Culinary Corps, and the two operations featured in this issue’s Supply Chain – Cultural Restoration Tourism Project & Heritage Conservation Network – will enjoy a surge in interest from a more discerning and savvy audience.

3. The Year Of Corporate Voluntourism

Recouping employee morale and public image will be the motto of companies in 2009. Rising like the phoenix, Voluntourism will give HR and CSR Directors, as well as those heading up sustainability initiatives, the opportunity to invigorate employee wellness & peace of mind, improve on the corporate anti-largesse movement, and inspire social responsibility with a more balanced, strategic approach.

4. The Year Of Books On Voluntourism

There will be a bonanza of U.S.-centric books, while some brands with which you are very familiar will post their own discussions and "How To’s" on the subject of voluntourism and volunteer vacations.

5. The Year Of Consolidation & Outsourcing

The financial situation in which we find ourselves necessitates frugality. Voluntourism operators will begin, if they have not done so already, to utilize some of the methods for reducing costs and overhead that have been readily embraced by the travel industry over the past couple of decades.

6. The Year Of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Voluntourism

A number of voluntourists who have utilized the services of voluntourism operators in the past will "graduate" to a modality of considering how to increase the allocation of funds directly to projects by circumventing the "middle man" and taking it upon themselves to create their own unique journeys. Is this any less than what the founders of numerous voluntourism operations around the world have done through their own respective due diligence?

7. The Year Of Consultants & Voluntourism

Those who are accustomed to hiring consultants to support your respective operations will also have an opportunity to do so within the voluntourism sphere in 2009. With consolidation and shrinkage engendering leaner staff sizes, especially in North American offices, Australia, and the UK, we should see a number of folks starting their own consulting businesses in 2009.

8. The Year Of "Emerging" & "Effective" Practices For Voluntourism

In order to survive long-term, voluntourism must be unconstrained by "marketing speak" and the paradigm of perceived achievement. As old as the roots of voluntourism may be, its recent growth and proliferation is brand-spankin’ new. The creativity in this space, the entrepreneurial wisdom, and the experimentation – all deserve an equal opportunity to be recognized and celebrated. So here’s to and embracing "emerging" and "effective" and making the "most" of 2009!

9. The Year Of Confluence For Sustainability & Voluntourism

For those wondering how the global economy will challenge sustainability in 2009, look no further than how those who have touted sustainable tourism over the last years will begin to adopt voluntourism.

10. The Year Of Discount Voluntourism

Perchance I saved this for last because it will cause discomfort for some of you out there, but what else would you expect in a Global Recession of this magnitude? I don’t think I need to say much about this. New Orleans’ hotels got the discounts rolling back in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina, but this year it will be worldwide. Look for hotels and resorts to continue to lead the charge. You may see discounts from the airlines, as well. And, of course, practitioners will be offering reduced fees to lure voluntourists back to their respective folds.