Responsible Volunteering in Travel:

A Guide to Creating Meaningful Community Impact

Tourism Cares’ legacy was built on volunteer service. Our earliest industry-wide volunteer programs began after September 11, bringing travel professionals together to support places of cultural and civic significance. Over time, these efforts evolved beyond one-day service projects to include education, partnerships, and long-term support for destinations.

As the travel industry’s understanding of impact has evolved, so has our approach. Volunteering can be a meaningful way to connect with local communities and support important work. Done thoughtfully, it can strengthen relationships, build understanding, and contribute to community priorities. But volunteering is not automatically helpful. Without thoughtful design, activities can place burdens on host organizations, displace local jobs, or prioritize participant experience over community benefit.

The Responsible Volunteering Guide shares best practices drawn from years of Tourism Cares partnerships with non-profits and destinations in need. Following the guide’s framework, meetings and event organizers can plan community-led, engaging volunteer activities aligned with long-term community value, ensuring volunteering supports meaningful travel and lasting impact.

Fill out the following form to download this free resource and create a bigger impact at your next volunteer event.