Volunteer tourism in Byron Shire – a call for ideas

Volunteer tourism is a growing phenomenon and Byron Shire is keen to become part of the world holiday experience.

Also called ‘voluntourism’, volunteer tourism is a rapidly growing travel niche, fuelled by tourists of all ages searching for truly unique, personal travel experiences.

If you, or your organisation, has an idea that could form part of a Byron Shire volunteer tourism experience, Byron Shire Council would like to hear from you by Monday 5 March.

Council has formed a Volunteer Tourism Project Reference Group to explore opportunities to give effect to community core values and improve the social, economic and environmental outcomes from tourism in Byron Shire.

The Group will be making recommendations to the Tourism Advisory Committee and to Council on possible projects later this year, and would like to hear from the community.

Chair of Council’s Volunteer Tourism Project Reference Group, Councillor Simon Richardson said Council was seeking ideas, experiences, and offers of assistance from commercial organisations, community groups and individuals that could become part of a future pilot project.

“If you have an idea for a volunteer project that could enhance a holiday experience and benefit the local area and community, we want to hear about it.

“We are looking for unique and compelling projects that will get holiday-makers enthused and keen to take part,” he said.

Cr Richardson said volunteer tourism was about harnessing the shared desire of holiday-makers to ‘do something good,’ whilst experiencing the culture and environment of a destination.

“More and more holiday-makers are seeking ‘bite-sized’ volunteer experiences to supplement the usual leisure, adventure or relaxation experiences.”

Added to an enhanced holiday experience volunteer tourism can provide a fantastic outcome for the local environment and community.
 
“For example, a bus that takes young people during schoolies into the hinterland for an afternoon of tree-planting, a BBQ and swim in a creek, not only provides a stronger connection and love of the area, it provides significant environmental benefits. The possibilities are enormous,” he said.
 
Over the next 2 months, a small number of pilot projects will be formalised and developed; these will need to meet a criteria such as: caring for the needs and expectations of Byron Shire local communities, minimising the impact of tourism on the local environment, enhancing the local environment and recognising the cultural, social and heritage features of the Shire.

Please email your ideas to Council’s Tourism Officer, Joanne McMurtry (joanne.mcmurtry@byron.nsw.gov.au). Details should include: organisation, contact details, title of the possible project and a short piece to help explain what the project is about. For more information on volunteer tourism pilot projects contact Byron Shire Council’s Tourism Officer Joanne McMurtry on 02 6626 7170.

The Volunteer Tourism project gives effect to a number of strategies in Byron Shire Council’s Tourism Management Plan; in particular it relates to visitor education about environment and community values, and the investigation of tourism opportunities that complement the image of the Shire.