By: Jess Johnson
Begpacking is a mixture of backpacking and begging. In other words, travelers go to a foreign, often less-wealthy, country to travel. Typically, they travel with less than adequate funds and then beg for money to continue their journey. Some sell pictures to make donating money to them a worthy cause while others just ask for donations. Begpackers hope that the kindness of natives will fund their trip. Voluntourism, on the other hand, is like a mission trip. Volunteers pay to travel abroad to perform some virtuous act for the people in that country. Some build houses while others volunteer at hospitals. If I had to choose between the two, I would more likely be a voluntourist.
Voluntourism is the best of both worlds for me. I get to volunteer to help people that may not be able to help themselves otherwise WHILE getting to explore another country. I would get to meet natives and maybe learn about their culture while also giving something back. It’s a give and take. Begpacking to me, just seems wrong. If you are planning a vacation, why aren’t you financing it properly? Why would you go to a less-wealthy country and ask its people to fund what should be a luxury? I don’t care what you’re offering in return for funds, it’s just not right.
Voluntourism does have critics though. One is the idea that the only way to truly help less fortunate countries is to help people solve their own problems, not solve them for them. I think voluntourism is a start to showing people how to solve their own problems. You don’t just expect a baby to walk on its own. The baby watches you and others walk and then eventually it figures it out. We set an example through voluntourism. An example that will be followed.
Jess's Tourism Around the World 