'I'm Left with a Year of Nothing': UK Gap Year Students Lose Thousands of Pounds as Tour Operator Closes The recent collapse of Global Vision International (GVI), a UK based tour operator that offered volunteer placements on conservation projects around the world, has left hundreds of students with thousands of pounds lost.
The company's demise is a stark reminder of the risks and pitfalls associated with "voluntourism," a trend that combines adventure travel with altruistic intentions.
Students who paid tens of thousands of pounds for placements on wildlife conservation projects in Africa and South America have been left high and dry when GVI shut down without warning.