Innovation for Volunteer Travel: Using Crowdsourcing to Create Change

Abstract

With the rising interest in volunteer travel and the growing number of volunteer travel providers, there is a need for innovation towards a more collaborative approach to volunteer travel. Many volunteer travel providers charge high fees for volunteer trips that oftentimes fail to create a positive impact on local communities. We propose that a crowdsourcing platform can act as an intermediary between travellers and local communities. Crowdsourcing has the potential to empower local communities in travel destinations to offer a meaningful travel experience that will benefit their community. To explore the opportunities of crowdsourcing for volunteer travel, this case study investigates travel2change—a platform to connect travellers and locals to create change. This online platform puts travellers seeking a meaningful and authentic experience of volunteerism, in touch with local hosts. We describe the crowdsourcing approach of travel2change, shed light on its business model and discuss the challenges and lessons learned.