Philanthropic travel more than mere diversion

26 July 2007

Philanthropic travel is the latest trend to hit the world of travel.

David Chamberlain, founder of Exquisite Safaris, the travel company that combines private luxury with philanthropy, says philanthropic travel is the latest socially relevant business model in the travel industry.

In this type of travel, vacation packages are custom-designed to fit a client’s needs. For example, a stay in a five-star hotel is combined with a visit to a humanitarian outreach project.

Some clients bring along their children, exposing them to philanthropic travel at an early age to provide what David Chamberlain describes as “the right bearing and meaning in their lives.”

Targeting affluent clients who seek meaning in their travels, Chamberlain’s company provides luxury vacations and, at the same time, an opportunity to contribute to society. Since these travelers have the resources to do so, they can really make a difference in the communities they visit, Chamberlain believes.

In a recent interview, Chamberlain said philanthropic travel literally saved his life, especially after he quit the United States Army. He talked about how most of his clients have maintained a personal bond with the people they have visited.

He also discussed at the interview how philanthropic travel can bring personal fulfillment and empowerment and how travel can be the best path to world peace.

Asked what inspired him to set up a travel company like Exquisite Safaris, Chamberlain said: “I love to travel, I love helping others, learning. Meditation helped me realise that we can create whatever we want – finding peace within was the first step and clearly my inspiration. Exquisite Safari’s philanthropic travel has been waiting for me to wake up and smell the music of life.”

He elaborated on the meaning and objectives of philanthropic travel. Philanthropic travel aims to foster heart-to-heart, personal connections for responsive human beings worldwide. If children are introduced to the philanthropic world at a young age, that experience will manifest itself later.

Philanthropic travel, Chamberlain hastens to add, is more than a mere luxury or diversion; it is a source of deep personal fulfillment, providing a powerful connection to the world in which we live. As travelers develop ties to their favorite destinations and look for ways to give back to the communities they visit, philanthropic travel introduces open-hearted travelers to local residents and helps them understand the challenges faced by people in the places they visit.

Moreover, philanthropic travel generates resources for outreach programmes that support and empower people by providing clean water, medical and dental facilities, schools, training, jobs, homes, microfinance, and entrepreneurial guidance.

The humanitarian projects being taken up by Exquisite Safaris include projects that support female children, orphans, and the handicapped – all of whom will receive medical assistance and education.

Chamberlain said his company prefers American and European travellers with children who have difficulty in school, lack direction as teenagers, and are at risk for joining gangs.

He counts among his most memorable moments spending time with the children of the Vietnam Friendship House just south of Hanoi, Vietnam; experiencing shamanic rituals in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador; and trance-dancing in the Kalahari with Bushmen.