voluntourism
noun
vol·un·tour·ism
ˌvä-lən-ˈtu̇r-ˌi-zəm 
: the act or practice of doing volunteer work as needed in the community where one is vacationing
Examples of voluntourism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are plenty of opportunities to have a similar voluntourism experience and make your trip to Hawaii more rewarding – while also possibly saving you hundreds of dollars.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 25 May 2023
Below are some voluntourism opportunities from hotels to consider when planning your next visit to Hawaii.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 25 May 2023
Inspiring individuals with a desire to make a difference and improve the lives of people all over the world, voluntourism might include time on vacation spent volunteering at an orphanage, working with grassroots organizations to build wells or homes, or helping at local schools.
—Imani Bashir, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2023
Visitors can work with the organization to do some voluntourism, helping them to replant native species, pull weeds, and water, among other outdoor activities.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2021
There are also longer-standing reasons why the word ‘voluntourism’ strikes such a worrisome chord for many.
—Shivani Ashoka, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2022
Yet net-gain voluntourism feels increasingly harder to identify.
—Shivani Ashoka, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2022
The nonprofit runs robust voluntourism programs across South Africa that include radio tracking, behavioral monitoring, and identifying prints from paws and hooves.
—Rachel Rebibo, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2022
For a deeper experience, consider a volunteer vacation, also known as voluntourism.
—Ken Budd, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2021
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Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 25 May 2023
Below are some voluntourism opportunities from hotels to consider when planning your next visit to Hawaii.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 25 May 2023
Inspiring individuals with a desire to make a difference and improve the lives of people all over the world, voluntourism might include time on vacation spent volunteering at an orphanage, working with grassroots organizations to build wells or homes, or helping at local schools.
—Imani Bashir, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2023
Visitors can work with the organization to do some voluntourism, helping them to replant native species, pull weeds, and water, among other outdoor activities.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2021
There are also longer-standing reasons why the word ‘voluntourism’ strikes such a worrisome chord for many.
—Shivani Ashoka, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2022
Yet net-gain voluntourism feels increasingly harder to identify.
—Shivani Ashoka, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2022
The nonprofit runs robust voluntourism programs across South Africa that include radio tracking, behavioral monitoring, and identifying prints from paws and hooves.
—Rachel Rebibo, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2022
For a deeper experience, consider a volunteer vacation, also known as voluntourism.
—Ken Budd, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'voluntourism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
blend of volunteer entry 3 and tourism
First Known Use
1991, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near voluntourism
Cite this Entry
“Voluntourism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voluntourism. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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