Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Voluntourism on the Rise

Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Voluntourism on the Rise

ANHUI: Soaking in the sights and sounds of rural China or visiting the homes of families affected by HIV and AIDS to better understand their needs may not be most people's idea of a vacation.

But an increasing number of people, foreigners as well as Chinese, are choosing this alternative form of travel called 'Voluntourism'.

'Voluntourism' or combining volunteer work with tourism is becoming an increasingly popular way of seeing the world.

In China, more people from major cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong are choosing to travel with a purpose.

Charity organization Chi Heng Foundation has organized 10 such trips since last year to visit AIDS affected families in rural China.

A day out at the park may not seem like the most interesting activity on a tour itinerary, but for these AIDS affected children, it is good fun and a way to forget their problems for a while.

Thomas Ho and his wife, who are from Hong Kong, brought their three sons, with the youngest at seven years old, along with them for a 'Voluntourism' trip.

Mr Ho said: "What's the point of bringing children to great cities, five-star hotels, what do they learn? But coming to a trip like this, the children will see a contrast of what they have and the life of people who don't have what they have."

Chi Heng Foundation's founder Chung To said: "Many of the children do not have HIV themselves but in a village setting where people sometimes are superstitious and relatively uneducated, some villages believe that these children brought the bad luck to the family, causing the parents to die. The children have been the scapegoat in some cases and even the relatives are not treating them well."

Many of the visitors were inspired by the children's resilience.

Fourteen-year-old Kevin Ho said: "They are not different in any way. It's just that their background is different but when we meet them, they are all like normal kids."

Another participant Tejinder Rajput said: "In a place that has lots of poverty, they are so positive and vibrant. They are smiling and it makes you wonder whether we have got it wrong. Living in the city with the stresses of working nine to five, these people are just free-spirited individuals."

A three day two night weekend trip to Anhui costs about US$500.

It covers accommodation, meals, as well as gifts for the children.

Source: CNA/fa


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