Abta is joining forces with international charity Hope and Homes for Children and Border Force to advise UK tourists and volunteers against visiting overseas orphanages through a campaign this October.
With a growing global movement to eliminate the institutional care of children, the team will be raising awareness of the campaign on Anti-Slavery Day (October 18).
Orphanage tourism is where often well-meaning people volunteer in or visit an orphanage while abroad, through activities such as day trips, gap year volunteering and study abroad programmes, not knowing that these institutions are causing harm to children.
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Destinations where these activities are offered include southern and east Africa and South Asia.
Abta is encouraging members to support the campaign on social media on Anti-Slavery Day, and by sharing messages with customers who are travelling to those destinations. The campaign materials are available at the Abta MemberZone.
Part of the campaign will see specialist Border Force Officers at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports speaking to holidaymakers heading to destinations where orphanage tourism is in operation and advising travellers that many orphanages are money-making businesses that exploit children to make money from tourists.
An estimated 5.4 million children live in orphanages worldwide, yet 80% of them are not orphans; most are separated from their families because of poverty, disability or discrimination.
Misdirected donations, holidaymaker visits and volunteer projects in orphanages can help to fuel corrupt orphanages that tear families apart, exploit children for commercial gain and expose them to abuse.
Money generated by orphanage tourism often ends up in the pockets of orphanage owners, instead of benefiting children and their families.
Carol Rose, senior sustainability manager at Abta, said: “On the surface, volunteering in orphanages seems like a thoughtful, charitable thing to do.
“What the majority of people don’t realise is that instead of helping vulnerable children they are actually sustaining a practice which is ultimately unethical and detrimental to children and communities in these destinations, as well as exploiting money from tourists.
“Anti-Slavery Day is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on this important global issue, and we’re keen for as many members as possible to echo the messages of the campaign through their own channels and customer communications.”