But after careful study, nothing is completely free, and travelers themselves need to undertake the obligation of improving their personal image as an organization or providing cheap labor. The latter's loose contact is different from the factual labor relationship and lacks security. Travelers mainly rely on spontaneously formed organizations to help each other in an emergency.
Organizers not involved in travel agency business
As the year is approaching, Hainan, which has a long summer and no winter, has become a popular destination.
The detailed itinerary revealed the ratio of "volunteers" to "itineraries": On the first morning, participants and wetland protection workers went out to patrol the sea, plant trees and test the quality of seawater; In the afternoon, explore the uninhabited island to pick coconuts, drink coconut juice, and then bask in the sun in a small wild luxury camp by the sea; In the evening, camp by the sea.
The next day, participants experienced water sports in the morning, visited the marine animal rescue and protection center in the afternoon to rescue animals, cleaned the sea lion's residence, made turtle feed, and experienced Southeast Asian cuisine in the evening. On the third day, I went hiking in the rainforest garden and visited the Institute of Flavor Beverage of Tropical Academy of Sciences. On the fourth day, we mainly engage in rural cycling, sailing and other recreational activities.
"After the successful completion of the project, you will receive a volunteer certificate issued by the local NGO International Volunteers Association to praise your perseverance in the past four days and your sweat and hard work on the road."
According to the platform, participants can get 4-8 hours to punch in, and the volunteer card is endorsed by the International Volunteers Association, Hainan World United Public Welfare Foundation and Blue Ocean Animal Rescue and Protection Center.
It is worth noting that a cultural communication company in Beijing has launched a copy of Hainan's itinerary and commitment of 3,200 yuan. When I first asked, the staff insisted that the project was self-operated by the company and the founder had visited it on the spot. The price difference is due to the different "depth of participation in the project". But also, according to the industrial and commercial data, the business scope of the company does not involve travel agency business at all, and even does not include tourism consulting services. When asked about the qualifications, the staff also said that the agency is also taking the road of cooperation with travel agencies.
"Free" Tourism and the Business Behind it
The clearly marked "volunteer travel" is not all.
There is a common copywriting saying that "if you have time, you will have no money, and if you have money, you will have no time", which can best hit the sore spot of college students-now you have an opportunity to travel without spending money. I don't know how to spend my holiday. Do I need to sign up?
Some applicants said that after submitting the materials, they immediately received accurate sales promotion for learning the local language, and they suspected that the information was leaked. Some people also quoted screenshots to question that free mass promotion is paving the way for paid projects, because after the shortlist of a few people is announced, these platforms can quickly push to spend money to experience the same trip.
Nothing is completely free, and the "experience officer" exchanges it by helping the platform increase its exposure. They need to sign a portrait rights agreement. According to the agreement, the platform can publish photos and videos of participants during this trip. Another obligation is to finish a travel story of Weibo every day and publish it on Weibo to interact with the official platform.
On the whole, Xiao Lu thinks that although the itinerary is very tight, it is not a cursory trip. "Not to take a photo and get a certificate, but to listen to the local introduction and learn something seriously."
Similarly, the business scope of Shanghai Mayfly Culture Communication Co., Ltd. says "travel consultation (no travel agency business)", and Yang also said that this problem should be solved through the "ground connection" of small intersections, that is, local travel agencies.
As for the business model of such platforms, "our official WeChat account has nearly 6 million fans, mainly relying on some advertisements, such as CET-4 and CET-6 training, small language training and accounting. We are an activity platform, not a non-profit organization, "he stressed.
New games and hidden friction
In recent years, the concept of "volunteer travel" has also undergone some changes, from volunteer projects of non-profit organizations to paid travel including some public welfare activities, and then extended to "working for accommodation" in exchange for free accommodation. The concentration of "volunteers" is gradually diluted, while common destinations are reduced from overseas to domestic tourist attractions due to the epidemic.
When youth hostels and homestays that need to control costs meet young people who want to make friends and are willing to work for accommodation, short-term and loose relationships will be formed between them, and various frictions will also occur.
The original agreed work content is to make tea and receive guests. After you go, you actually have to clean the guest room and all the public areas, wash dishes, take out the garbage and make tea. It says that working hours are until 1 1 p.m. "In short, I have to do everything my aunt asked me to do, and I have to be scolded." So there is a feeling of cheap and insecure labor. "Others take three or four thousand yuan a month, and you take 800 to do the same thing, which is a bit of a loss."
How can these situations safeguard their own security and rights? These young people all gave a similar answer: "There is no way but to find an excuse to leave."
In the judgment documents, it is even more clear-in some accidental injuries, the parties want to seek the protection of labor law. In order to obtain the judgment of the establishment of labor relations, it is necessary to clarify the work content, determine the salary and treatment, and the identity is recognized by the court as "different from volunteers".
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