The word ‘holiday’ conjures up images of children building sandcastles, couples walking hand in hand along golden sandy beaches and evening dinners watching the sunset as the waves lap up. What could be more innocent and fulfilling than taking a week or two in the sun to totally unwind?

Nowadays, however, holidays are just as likely to involve trekking in a Malaysian jungle, riding elephants in Africa or visiting indigenous villages in South America as they are ice creams and pleasure boat rides. And it’s not just the young school leavers who are taking these intrepid trips overseas. Companies are evermore keen to allow their employees extended time off to encourage the brightest and most able workers. Furthermore, parents are increasingly taking their children on far away trips that will educate and inspire, whilst travel for the over 50s is one of the fastest growing sectors in travel.

As we have arrived into the 21st Century, we have become more aware of our social and environmental impact on the planet and with travel now the largest economic sector in the world, ‘responsible travel’ has become a buzz-phrase of the times. Many people are now starting to realise that what may be the highlight of their adventurous trip to another continent, may come at a high price to local communities.

Whilst much of our money spent on tours and travel within developing countries trickles out to the Western-owned hotels, agencies and tour companies, local communities are gradually losing their culture to Western influences and finding themselves balancing precariously on an economy dependant on foreign capital and labour rather than locally-based development from the bottom-up.

So how can you ensure that local communities are benefitting the most from your visit? A volunteering holiday is an option many people are choosing. A carefully chosen organisation and project can be an excellent way of getting off the beaten track and immersing yourself in a new culture whilst doing something to help underprivileged parts of the world. There is a blinding array of different types of projects on offer from health promotion to elephant conservation, however be aware that this is an unregulated industry and many volunteer and Gap Year organisations make a profit on what you pay so it is important to ask where your money is going.

Scott Pralinsky, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Tropical Adventures (www.TropicalAdventures.com), a non-profit organisation offering volunteer projects and tours in Costa Rica, recommends asking the following 11 questions to any potential volunteer project provider before making any decisions:

· Does the volunteer organization operate as a non-profit, or are they merely a tour operator?

· Does the organization respond in a timely and friendly way to your requests for information?

· Are they willing to let you speak with past volunteers to get an idea of what their experiences have been like?

· What kind of services does the organization have in place in case of an emergency?

· Is the organization from the country they are supporting?

· What is their refund policy?

· Will they customize your volunteer experience so you can get the most out of your time there?

· Does the organization accommodate any special needs you have (physically or dietary-related)?

· Are the employees hired from the communities in which they serve, or do they bring people in from other countries?

· Do the employees of the organization also participate in the work that volunteers are doing?

· Are you supported once you arrive, or are you just "dropped off" to fend for yourself?

Being based in Costa Rica, volunteers benefit from Tropical Adventures’ deep knowledge of the country and its needs as well as its close ties between the organisation and local community leaders. Volunteers or holiday makers to Costa Rica can also benefit local communities by booking tours and accommodation through Tropical Adventures, who put the commission they earn from the bookings back into helping them support the projects they work with.

Like any industrial sector, the flow of money and the power differentials within tourism remain complex and sometimes unethical but being aware of your possible impact will help you realise ways in which you can alleviate any negative influence. It’s muddy terrain but research is key. Choose a tour provider you trust and be aware of tourism-related issues within the communities you visit. “Gone are the days of travelling blind,” says Sarah Morris, an avid traveller who now works for a travel non-profit. “We all have a duty to ensure we travel responsibly.”