It is forcasted that 38% of travelers are likely to volunteer while on vacation in 2008.

While more and more concerned citizens are looking to enrich their travel by volunteering on vacation, many still don't know where to begin or what types of itineraries fit their needs.

Travelocity's annual travel forecast poll recently found that 38 percent of respondents are likely to take volunteer vacations in 2008, whether that be an entirely charitable trip or extending a vacation to include volunteer activities.

To connect like-minded individuals while providing inspiration and ideas on the types of volunteer opportunities available, Travelocity and IgoUgo have launched a voluntourism community forum where users can share their own trip experiences complete with photos and personal commentary.

By exploring the voluntourism community site, would-be volunteer vacationers are able to see photos and read first-hand accounts of other travelers' experiences. As part of the company's broader Travel for Good (SM) program launched in 2006, Travelocity is providing another helpful resource to allow travelers to dream about and begin planning their volunteer vacation with as much information from real people as possible.

"The idea of going off to a remote destination to volunteer can be daunting to many people, and the best way to find out if a trip is right for you is hearing straight from other people who have gone," said Jeffrey Glueck, chief marketing officer for Travelocity. "We've used powerful technology from IgoUgo to create an online community that lets people inspire others by sharing personal stories about the impact voluntourism had on them."

Current Volunteer Vacation Postings:

"Staying at the orphanage with the kids and sharing all their meals with them was very rewarding. This trip made a profound effect on my life to see the difference in their culture versus ours," said a volunteer from Boca Raton, Florida regarding his trip to Albegue Orphanage in Cusco, Peru. "Coming home made me realize what is really important in this life, which are people and not things. I would definitely recommend this trip to others, especially going through the GlobeAware organization."

"It felt good to help the families we were put in contact with. They really appreciated having people who cared about them and who wanted to hear their story. The need is so great that I am deeply changed and moved to do more," said a volunteer from Greenwood, Indiana of her trip to New Orleans to help victims of Katrina rebuild their homes. "My life is changed because I know that I can make a difference. I can also encourage others to do the same. Together we can make the world a better place."

About the Travel for Good Program

The Travel for Good (SM) program was created by Travelocity employees as a means to better the world through travel. The program consists of two primary initiatives – Go Zero (carbon offsetting) and Change Ambassadors (volunteer vacations).

The company launched its Go Zero program in conjunction with the Conservation Fund to help customers lessen the effect of climate change on our world and enhance forests and wetlands through forestation programs. Carbon offset purchases, available for flights purchased on Travelocity, have nearly doubled since the beginning of 2007.

Since the program began just over one year ago approximately 8,200 trees have been planted in the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, which is located 45 miles north of New Orleans. Over their lifetime, those 8,200 trees will trap more than 21 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (nearly 10,500 tons).

Travelocity's Change Ambassador program makes it easy for volunteers to find opportunities to help serve local communities while on vacation. Travelocity, who acts as an aggregator for pre-screened voluntourism organizations, has teamed up with some of the top volunteer organizations in the country, including Cross-Cultural Solutions, Earthwatch, Globe Aware, and Take Pride in America.

Key components of the Change Ambassadors program are consumer and employee grants that are being awarded to people who wish to help others through volunteering, but do not have the financial means to take a volunteer vacation. Travelocity is awarding two $5,000 grants per quarter to customers and one $5,000 grant per quarter to employees. More information can be accessed at www.travelocity.com/t4g