Spending the tourist dollar on a cause - or is it just a gimmick?

I came across this place while surfing for potential lodging while in Siem Reap and this tour got me really excited. Showed Marcus the site and asked him what he thought about it, and he said it seem rather too choreographed. I have to agree about that as well, as it can actually come across as being too gimmicky, or simply hard up for the tourist dollar.

On the sidebar of the site it included this bit about their commitment to Responsible Tourism which is one of the reasons why I am very tempted to give my tourist dollar to them. Yet I worry it might just be a part of the marketing hype to make it come across as a 'eco-friendly' option as 'going green' seems to be the cool thing to do. The first half of the trip (helping host family) thing actually bothers me quite a bit because it comes across as trying too hard. How much can you learn about village life just by spending one day there? Perhaps it's just half a day. We can probably have a very vague and wrong idea about village life. People who have been there and done that will most probably tell me that to understand what these people go through, you will at least need to spend a week in the fields to have a feel of how things really are.

Dad will most probably scoff at this and tell me that if I want to experience village life I should just head back to Melaka (where my grandma lives) and learn how to farm from her. Which is really quite true.

On retrospect, such skepticism is one of the main reason why social enterpreneurship can fail sometimes. I really hope I can support these meaningful projects such as promoting sustainablity and eco-tourism even though I may not know much about them. There are indeed selfless / socially responsible people out there who wants to make the world a better place, by being transparent about what they do and who will benefit from their projects. I've thought about going into such social enterprising business as well but unfortunately I haven't thought of a niche which I can really work on.

Day in a Life Village Tour
Full Day Guided Experience
We believe every tourist makes a difference. Why not make yours a positive one! This tour is providing Khun Ream village with a sustainable future. Together we are developing a program that delivers confidence, self respect and most importantly an opportunity for families to derive an income to and build a brighter future.

• We set off early and head out to a local village near Kbal Spean called Khun Ream Village, home to around 700 households. The drive out takes you through some fantastic local countryside. We drive through local villages, past rice plantations and herds of cows or buffalo.

• Arriving at Khun Ream Village
We meet our host family for the day. The families participating in the program are some of the poorest in the village. This tour program provides them with a sustainable stream of income, and creates opportunities for the entire village. Every tour contributes funds to the participating family and to a community fund.

For the next few hours we help the host family complete their daily tasks.

Life in a Cambodian village revolves around the seasons. Rice planting, makes way for harvest and then rice sorting and de husking. The dry months allow for the making of thatch roof panels, a tricky task that takes a few attempts to master!

• Each trip is different as our goal is to participate in true village life, without creating a set up tourist environment. Other activities may include learning how to make the infamous Prahoc (fermented fish paste).
A challenging task and definitely a new experience for most! We may visit and watch the production of local rice wine, trying a shot or two all part of the fun. You may also have the chance to ride or even learn to drive a bullock cart.

• We enjoy a picnic lunch with salads, sandwiches, fried rice and more. Following lunch we head to the Angkor Centre for Conservation and Bio Diversity. This is a chance to see some of Cambodia’s rare and endangered animals.
This is not a zoo, rather it’s a centre aimed at educating locals on the environment and providing some management of the local natural environment. This is a great chance to hear about some of the challenges faced by ACCB in their mission to help protect Cambodia’s amazing wildlife.

This is an incredible experience and one you will never forget.

Please ensure that you do not give money directly to villagers, no matter how dire their situation seems. We are working with ACCB to develop a sustainable program without creating a system reliant on handouts or begging. ACCB is pleased to take donations for the Village or for the Conservation Centre which will be properly administered. At all times please follow your leader and do not stray off the well defined paths.

Booking Information
• $30 per person – part of this fee is paid to your host family and the Khun Ream Village projects
• This tour fills up quickly, please book early to avoid disappointment
• A non refundable deposit of $10 is required to secure your booking.
• As we spend time in local villages please wear reasonable footwear.
• You do not require a temple pass for this tour.
• You must be ready to depart for this tour at 7.00am in The Villa reception

Tour Inclusions
• Fully guided adventure tour with contributions to both participating family and village,
• Maximum group size 8
• Packed picnic lunch and water
• Air-conditioned Van Transport provided
• Tour activities vary and depend on the season.

Perhaps I should ask November and see what she thinks about this. She should be much more familiar with eco-tourism and the likes.. sigh. I really hope this isn't too gimmicky. It isn't, right? I'm feeling ambivalent about this option now. How?

Toss a coin, perhaps?