Voluntourism: UAE Travelers Redefine Meaningful Vacations
UAE residents are embracing voluntourism, combining travel with impactful activities like beach cleanups, wildlife care, and community support. This trend offers a meaningful way to explore the world while giving back.
Photo Source: Stuff
A growing number of UAE residents are turning their vacations into opportunities for giving back through voluntourism, a blend of travel and volunteer activities. From cleaning beaches to supporting wildlife and local communities, voluntourism is redefining traditional tourism.
Travelers like Rohit Garg have embraced this trend, participating in recycling initiatives during his visit to Beirut. Garg shared his experience of leading a team of young volunteers to collect plastic waste, describing it as a deeply fulfilling journey that combined travel with community impact. Similarly, Hadi Khaleel, a Dubai-based professional, joined a beach cleanup in Mauritius, working alongside locals to preserve the island’s pristine coastline.
Experts highlight that the post-pandemic era has heightened awareness of corporate social responsibility (CSR), fueling voluntourism’s popularity. Sapna Aidasani of Pluto Travels observed a growing demand for curated voluntourism experiences, from animal welfare initiatives to community support programs.
Ecotourism-related voluntourism is also gaining traction, with resorts like Nova Maldives offering coral planting sessions, reef cleaning, and marine conservation efforts as part of their guest packages. These initiatives allow travelers to engage in sustainable practices while enjoying their vacations.
Affordable and impactful, voluntourism appeals to socially conscious travelers who seek meaningful experiences. With its focus on giving back, this trend is set to grow as more UAE residents combine their love for exploration with a desire to make a difference.
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