‘Humanitourism’ tackles animal welfare in Greece

“inside/out“, developers of innovative “humanitourism” trips that combine humanitarian project work with guided adventure travel, announced today an assistance adventure trip to Greece June 12-22, 2009 to aid in the shockingly inhumane conditions that exist for dogs and cats in Greece.

inside/out offers travelers the opportunity to provide hands-on help to a project which desperately needs outside assistance. In this largely unknown crisis, dogs and cats are struggling to survive in an environment of overwhelming overpopulation, neglect, abuse, cruelty, abandonment, poisoning, starvation and apathy all over Greece. The purpose of the trip is to assist a small contingent of animal welfare workers in Greece to provide contributions in education, care and feeding programs and to gain further insight into the culture by actively touring in the local region.

The trip will be centered in Ioannina, located in the mountains of northern Greece, the Zagoria region. Following the humanitarian work in Ioannina, travelers embark on an eco-adventure tour of this lesser-known but extraordinarily beautiful mountainous region, to include trekking, rafting, sea kayaking, culture and history.

Ioannina was selected as the destination because it is part of an area which is truly Greek and visited by very few tourists from outside the country. It is also the site of a number of mass poisonings of the area’s dog and cat population, one of which recently triggered a small protest from area locals.

“This represents a notable departure from previous Greek attitudes and indicates that this area is ripe for a shift in consciousness which was previously unthinkable,” enthused inside/out founder Zoe Katsulos. “It is the idea location for our educational work.”

Greek attitudes toward animals have long been apathetic at best and outwardly cruel at their worst. One of the more highly criticized issues is the systematic poisoning of the stray dog and cat populations, which can sometimes result in the deaths of animals that have homes as well. Sterilization is significantly underutilized and sometimes outwardly rejected, and there is a stunning lack of education on and support of humane treatment and care of animals. The humanitarian portion of the trip is designed to address these issues.

Other upcoming trips include Africa, August 15-29, 2009, which will include a tree planting project for biofuel with the Maasai tribe in Kenya along with a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro and safari, and Guatemala, November 2009.

Details of the trip and a complete itinerary can be found on the website at www.theinsideandout.com.

What is “Humanitourism”?

Humanitourism is a unique concept that promotes longer-term relationships between communities and travelers. Participants on inside/out’s trips dispatch to destinations around the world to work on humanitarian projects that have been largely overlooked or under-served. Following this rewarding volunteer work, the travelers are treated to a guided multi-sport adventure local to the area served. The goal is to create a more intimate experience with the local culture and land so that travelers return home with more than just photos and memories, rather with a real connection to the people and places they have visited.

The travel experience includes stays with local hosts or in small culturally significant accommodations and enables travelers to experience local food and culture through both the project and the adventure. Small group sizes, from 6-12 people, are designed to provide opportunities for each traveler to personally interact with the local population, hosts and each other.

“This trip will give people the opportunity to view Greek culture in a more authentic and intimate way,” offers Katsulos. “We also hope that it will provide a needed awareness of the problems with animal welfare that exist in Greece.”

About inside/out

inside/out provides “humanitourism” trips that enable travelers to explore a culture more intimately, creating a lasting connection while making a difference in the world. “Humanitourism” combines humanitarian project work with fully guided adventure travel in a variety of international locations. For more information, visit www.theinsideandout.com.