Helping or Hurting: Volunteer Tourism

          Because these usual volunteer tourism hot spots are so poor, the moral permissibility of the volunteer tourists that come in is supported on the grounds that these people are bringing in revenue. This revenue  only helps which is in the best interest the country. When revenue is brought in consistently it creates an industry and this industry opens up jobs for these poor people. An example of this is seen in the Zakaria article where orphan hugging by volunteer tourists becomes a lucrative attraction, and turns into an industry. The orphans are usually not really orphans but instead are really poor children whose parents are unable to send them to school. This information may seem to serve as evidence against volunteer tourism but because these children are able to receive money from acting as orphans, they are able to go to school and live better lives. The children are “working” to gain money in order to obtain an education, is that not what the volunteer tourist wanted? This is the same thing as applying for a scholarship and those that have the best package will win the scholarship money. Being an orphan helps strengthen these children’s packages which ultimately helps them receive the money they need to attend school. Someone may argue that the person giving the money is being lied to which is why this is morally impermissible. I would argue back that the person should do their research, just like the article by Stupart explained. If is in your intention to give money away abroad then do your research before making the trip. Homeless people lie all of the time to obtain money, and if you are gullible enough to believe everything people say then you deserve to be exploited for your money. In the end, the intentions and duty of volunteer tourist is morally permissible because these countries are so poor that turning away money is against their best interest.