A recent study done by VISA (Australia) reveals that “one in three respondents look to travel blogs when planning a trip” compared to consulting family and friends or travel agents. According to the study, 34% of respondents prefer travel blogs for choosing their travel options, 24% use family and friends, and 13% go to travel agents. The small number of remaining respondents use travel TV shows, magazines, and newspapers to book their vacations. Those polled in the survey said that they were planning to travel in the next …
We’ve rounded up some interesting news and stories around the Web this week:
Are Cruise Ships Finally Going Green? (Terracurve)
Volunteer Adventure Abroad: Jaguars, Pumas, & Prey, Oh My (Examiner)
Experience the Art of Improv Travel (Brave New World)
Ecotourism, Voluntourism, or Just Plain Fun Its National Public Lands Day (Examiner)
WorldNomads.com Free iPhone and iPod Touch language Guides (Adventure Travel News)
9/11 Aims to Become Single Largest Day of Service (Associated Press)
The World’s Best Learning Holidays (Times Online)
Photo Credit: mamnaimie
Pam Grout, the author of the hugely successful 100 Best Vacations series, has written 16 travel and inspirational books including well-known titles as Girlfriend Getaways, Living Big, and God Doesn’t Have Bad Hair Days as well as a number of articles for Travel & Leisure, Outside, and The Washington Post.
We recently spoke with Pam about her popular book 100 Best Volunteer Vacations to Enrich Your Life and her thoughts on the volunteer travel industry.
T: How did the idea to do a book on volunteer vacation come up?
PG: There’s a …
National Geographic Books released the third of its popular The 100 Best Vacations series this past May on 100 Best Volunteer Vacations to Enrich Your Life. The book is more than a travel guide, it’s a book that showcase a collection of trips that inspire and awaken your soul. Author Pam Grout is especially skilled at making the content informative, fun, and inspirational. Information-filled sidebars provide travel trivia, background facts and useful information for people volunteering.
Ms. Grout in her introduction illustrates a key reason for volunteer travel:
“The thing all …
We’ve rounded up some interesting news and stories around the Web this week:
Students Volunteer in Malawi (The Ithacan Online)
Extreme Green Neighborhood Makeover by CarbonfreeDC (The CityFix DC)
Online Dating Site Promotes ‘Flirting in the Name of Philanthropy (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Indifference Abroad: An Expat’s Battle to Keep Her Compassion (Brave New Traveler)
Micronations Around The World (Boing Boing)
Haiti: Where to Stay, Eat, and Play (Conde Nast Traveler)
Ten Things You Need to Know About Travel Insurance (TerraCurve)
Photo credit: kokorowashinjin
Eat So They Can, a Global Volunteer Network (GVN) Foundation initiative, is an international fundraiser that invites people around the world to host dinner parties on the weekend of October 17-18 in what is collectively one huge dinner party; where something as simple as sharing a meal with friends can help stop child poverty. The funds raised at the events will go towards supporting orphanages and schools in Africa and South America, providing disadvantaged children with the essentials for survival.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2009 …
Travel businesses could flourish even in today’s down economy if they sell the right experiences. At the national Tourism Futures conference in Australia, trend spotter Daniel Levine told attendees that tourism businesses need to tap travelers’ growing desire for social responsibility and self-improvement. He sees a “seismic shift” in travelers’ attitudes.
The focus now is on relationships, health, spirituality, self-improvement, the environment and social responsibility with “experience first, destination second.” This is evidenced by the strong growth of the voluntourism sector despite the downturn.
Levine believes that tourism companies need to understand …
We’ve rounded up some interesting news and stories around the Web this week:
World Changing Essay: Creating Responsible Voluntourism (The Global Warming Statistics Blog)
Paying to Volunteer is not the Answer (Excalibur)
They put a spin on adventure tourism in Kerala (Thaindian News)
20 Ways to Change the World in Only 15 Minutes a Day (Mashable)
Have We Entered a New Age of American Travel? (World Hum)
Tourists Can Help Stop Child Sex Tourism in Peru (terracurve)
How to Get Back to Work After Traveling (Matador)
Photo Credit: mamnaimie
