Heaven help me, yet another nasty new noun, the unholy marriage of "
volunteer" and "tourism".
Voluntourism, an act carried out by "voluntourists", is when hoardes of -
generally -
the great unwashed backpacker brigade descend on a place to do have a jolly nice holiday - usually at precious little cost to themselves - and do the occasional bit of good work.
Looks good on one's CV as a gap year activity.
Voluntourist 1: Shall we go to Khao Lak to engage in a spot of voluntourism?
Voluntourist 2: No, tsunami voluntourism is
old hat now. All the bars are closed and hardly anyone is living in the houses built, anyway.
Voluntourist 1:
Good point. (pauses)
Sierra Leone?
Vouluntourist 2: Are you insane?