Ina2014essaythatwentviral,PippaBiddlerevealedtheinequitiesandabsurditiesbakedintovoluntourism--thepairingofshort-term,unskilledvolunteerworkwithtourism.Intheyearssince,Biddlehasdevotedherselftounderstandingtheorigins,intentions,andoutcomesofamultibillion-dollarindustrybuiltonthepremiseofdoinggood,andshetracksthatinvestigationinOurstoExplore.Theflawsofvoluntourismhaveincludedxenophobia,racism,paternalism,anda“Westknowsbest“mentality.Fromexploitativeorphanagesthatkeepchildreninsqualidconditionstoattractdonorstoundertrainedmedicalvolunteerspracticingtheirskillsonpatientsindevelopingregionsandtothoselookingforaninspiringselfie,Biddlerevealsthehiddencostsofthevoluntourismcomplex.Alongtheway,readersmeetinspiringactivistsandpassionatecommunitymembers,aswellasthoughtfulformervoluntouristswhostillworktomakeadifference--justdifferently.OurstoExploreoffersaplanforhowtheservice-basedtravelindustrycanbreakthecycleofexploitationandsuggestsstrategiesfortravelerswhowanttoimprovetheplacestheyvisitforthelonghaul.
