This book explores the origins and development of voluntourism through the story of Projects Abroad, the world’s first voluntourism company. Written by the founder himself, it examines how a single entrepreneurial idea transformed international volunteering, youth travel and development work across the globe. The book offers insights into the creation and growth of a pioneering global business and the challenges of turning an unconventional idea into a successful enterprise. It explores how voluntourism disrupted the self-satisfied worlds of charities and governments involved with international development aid and introduced new ideas into youth travel and tourism. Through detailed case studies and candid accounts of both mistakes and achievements, the book shows how the reality of voluntourism overcame establishment obstacles and gave young people new opportunities worldwide. Projects Abroad and the Invention of Voluntourism is intended for students, academics, as well as for professionals in tourism, travel, entrepreneurship. It will also appeal to readers interested in international development aid and its associated charity sector and to a whole generation of voluntourists.
