Orphanage tourism is a controversial topic. But why? This article explains what orphanage tourism is, where it has been most common and why child protection experts and the travel industry are now urging tourists to avoid it.
What is orphanage tourism?
Orphanage tourism is another branch of tourism, one which refers to people visiting orphanages when they are travelling. Generally it involves people from western and wealthy countries visiting orphanages in poorer or less-developed countries. In that way, it has an element of white saviourism to it.
When visiting an orphanage, guests arrive by bus load to spend a couple of hours playing with the children, giving them gifts and generally seeing what happens inside an orphanage – or at least what happens when the public are there.
There are of course visitors who stay for a longer period of time, weeks or even months, to get more hands-on involvement. This was particularly common during the Romanian Orphanage Crisis of 1989 and the following years. As communism came to an end, the world discovered that more than 100,000 Romanian children were living in state institutions. Volunteers flocked in from other countries to help out. Many were shocked by the state of these group homes, which were rotten and filthy, often with multiple children to a bed. The children seemed sad and withdrawn, as well as appearing physically unwell in many cases.
Popular orphanage tourism destinations
There are many countries in which orphanage tourism has been prevalent over the years. As mentioned, these tend to be ‘poorer’ or lesser-developed countries. Below you can see some of the countries which are or have been a major draw for people wanting to visit, or volunteer in, orphanages.
- Romania
- Cambodia
- Bali
- Guatemala
- Nepal
- Kenya
Orphanage tourism in Romania
Volunteering in orphanages in Romania remained a popular ‘voluntourism’ activity for many years, stemming from widespread awareness of Romanian orphanages in the late 1980s and 1990s. However, Romania has since been closing its large institutions and moving towards family-based care and small group homes, and child protection organisations advise against volunteering in residential care settings.
Orphanage tourism in Cambodia
In 2019, PBS reported that there were around 400 orphanages across Cambodia, housing more than 16,000 children, the majority of whom had at least one living parent. Children in some of these institutions were put on display and made to dance for tourists, who then felt pressured to leave a donation. Tara Winkler, co-founder of the Cambodian Children’s Trust, has written about her experience of volunteering at an orphanage in Cambodia. After witnessing the abuses taking place, she went on to set up her own organisation, which has since been transformed into a ‘community empowerment model’ that helps families in poverty to raise their own children.
Orphanage tourism in Bali
Bali is famous for its beaches, scenery and vibrant tourism scene. But it is also a place where orphanage tourism has been widespread, and, as in the other countries on this list, orphanages have often been found to be a front for profiteering or even child exploitation.
Orphanage tourism in Guatemala
Orphanage volunteering in Guatemala is still widely advertised online. However, there have been many reports of children being chained and beaten at unregistered orphanages across the country. Visiting these orphanages is simply funding the way they are run.
Orphanage tourism in Nepal
Orphanages in Nepal, most of which are based in the main tourist areas of the country, are well documented as being fraudulent. They are known for keeping children in terrible conditions. Orphanage tourism funds these dire places – which is why awareness is being raised about the damage this type of ‘voluntourism’ can do.
Orphanage tourism in Kenya
In Kenya, orphanages are privately run. This means that sadly people with little experience are able to set up orphanages as a way to increase their own wealth. They do so via donations from tourists and donors.
With children who have lost one parent being referred to as (single) orphans here, many of the children in Kenyan orphanages do in fact have one living parent. They may come from households of abuse or neglect – but that is not to say that where they end up is any better.
The benefits of orphanage tourism
There are very few genuine benefits of orphanage tourism. There are monetary benefits, in that tourists are likely to donate money to orphanages – but, as explained below, this can create a demand for orphanages and do more harm than good.
The benefit to the tourist is that it makes them feel good to volunteer or help out with the children, and they see this sea of smiling faces as proof of doing a good deed. But are orphanage tourists there for the children, or is it a subconscious need to remind themselves that many people have it worse…
The problems with orphanage tourism
There are many problems with orphanage tourism. First and foremost is the safety of the children there and then. With so many unchecked tourists having access to hundreds of children in one small space, it is impossible to ensure the safety of the children. Visiting an orphanage is a massive safeguarding risk. It also adds to the feelings of abandonment so many children in care are likely to feel. People come and go, bringing smiles and gifts, but then they leave and the child never sees them again. They are already used to missing people, and this just doubles down on that experience.
Moral issues
There are of course many moral questions and controversies surrounding orphanage tourism. So much so that ABTA – The Travel Association has worked with the international charity Hope and Homes for Children on an Orphanage Tourism Taskforce, with the aim of helping to end orphanage tourism. In 2018, Australia became the first country to formally recognise orphanage trafficking as a form of modern slavery, and governments including the UK and Australia now advise travellers against visiting or volunteering in orphanages.
They say: The opportunity for travellers to visit or volunteer in orphanages overseas – no matter how well-intentioned – is contributing to the global proliferation of orphanages across the developing world, and there is strong evidence of psychological, physical and emotional harm caused to children by orphanages. These orphanages can also contribute towards incidents of trafficking – where children with families are recruited to pose as orphans and solicit income from visitors. Together we believe there is no place for tourism within orphanage settings.
ABTA has been taking an active role in supporting child safeguarding for many years and advises its Members to move away from offering volunteering in, visits to or donations towards orphanages or other child-care institutions. The new taskforce is an opportunity to harness the leadership that organisations from across the travel industry have already shown by:
- Increasing traveller awareness of the topic of orphanage tourism;
- Providing evidence to the UK government to inform travel advice on the issue;
- Work with tourist boards and local suppliers to transition away from orphanage visits;
- And to engage the travel sector press in raising awareness.
General problems with orphanages
When it comes to orphanages, everything is not always as it seems. They may be presented as somewhere for orphaned children – e.g those with no living parents or legal guardians – to live and be taken care of. The reality in so many cases is actually a lot different.
Many children living in orphanages around the world actually do have at least one living parent. They may be placed in orphanages to get easier access to healthcare, education and substantial meals which the parents are unable to provide. People in poverty have also been known to sell their children to ‘orphanages’ which are, in fact, part of trafficking and exploitation rings.
Lumos, an international children’s charity, says ‘an estimated 5.4 million children worldwide live in institutions that cannot meet their needs and neglect their rights and where they are exposed to multiple forms of exploitation and harm’. This 2021 article from The Guardian goes into more detail about a report from the charity.
The article mentions ‘instances of sexual exploitation, as well as children being forced to work and coerced into performing for foreign donors to secure more funding. In some instances, children were left malnourished and held in cramped, unhygienic conditions to attract money from donors and volunteers.’ In the case of orphanage tourism – visitors are among these donors. Even paying the cost of a tour or visit can contribute to this.
Video: What is volunteer tourism? The pros and cons
Should you visit an orphanage on your travels?
As shown by ABTA’s work with Hope and Homes for Children, and the advice of governments and child protection organisations, the answer to this question is ‘no’. Visiting or volunteering in orphanages directly funds and promotes institutional care, and the evidence shows that children grow up best in families. Travellers who want to make a positive difference can instead support organisations that keep families together and strengthen community-based care, and follow the principles of responsible tourism.
ReThink Orphanages, a global coalition of organisations, is working towards countries in the global north shifting their current support – funding, mission, volunteering and orphanage tourism – away from orphanages, and towards strengthening families in the global south.
Orphanage tourism: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about orphanage tourism.
What is orphanage tourism?
Orphanage tourism is when tourists visit or volunteer in orphanages while travelling, usually in lower-income countries. It ranges from short visits to play with children and bring gifts, to volunteer placements lasting weeks or months.
Why is orphanage tourism bad?
Orphanage tourism creates a demand for orphanages, which can lead to children being separated from their families and even trafficked to pose as orphans. It also exposes children to safeguarding risks and repeated feelings of abandonment as volunteers come and go.
Do most children in orphanages have parents?
Yes. Research by child protection organisations has found that the majority of children living in orphanages around the world have at least one living parent, and are often placed there because of poverty.
Is orphanage tourism illegal?
Orphanage tourism is not illegal in most countries, but governments including the UK and Australia advise against it, and in 2018 Australia recognised orphanage trafficking as a form of modern slavery.
What can travellers do instead of orphanage tourism?
Travellers can avoid orphanage visits and volunteering, and instead support reputable organisations that help families stay together and strengthen community-based care for children.
Orphanage tourism: Further reading
If you found this article on orphanage tourism useful, these articles may also be of interest:
- Volunteer tourism: Why people volunteer
- What is ethical tourism and why is it important?
- How to be an ethical tourist
- What is responsible tourism?
- What is dark tourism?
