The UN designated 2017 as the International Year of Tourism for Sustainable Development. Orphanage tourism, however, has not been noted as a protection concern in the World Tourism Organization's draft convention on tourism ethics. 

In this BBC Radio interview, Jane Garvey speaks to Australian Senator Linda Reynolds, CEO of Australian Christian Churches International Relief Rebecca Nhep, and CEO of Lumos Georgette Mulheir about the motivation behind Australia's potential ban on orphanage tourism. 

With Australia's recent efforts to end orphanage tourism, Education Minister Simon Birmingham has declared that he intends to reduce the involvement and support of Asutralian schools and universities in orphanage tourism. 

This article describes a 60 Minutes interview with Tara Winkler, co-founder of Cambodian Children's Trust, about the exploitation of children in orphanages, the harm caused by orphanage tourism, and Australia's potential ban on orphanage tourism. 

This article describes the negative impact voluntourism can have on communities and provides tips for those looking to volunteer or participate in ethical tourism abroad. 

"There have been well substantiated reports of trafficked children in orphanages for several years," writes Harold Goodwin in WTM's Responsible Tourism Blog.

In an interview with David Bevan of ABC Radio, child protection advocate Karen Flanagan, Save the Children, discusses the harms of orphanage tourism and funding as well as the Australian government's consideration of a ban on orphanage tourism. 

Despite good intentions, volunteers and donors from Australia and the larger international community are supporting orphanages separating children from their families. Australia is seeking to curb support for orphanages in countries like Cambodia, where the trafficking of children into orphanages is a common practice. 

In September, a parliamentary committee will submit an interim report on the proposed Modern Slavery Act in Australia, which could criminalize the practice of organizing orphanage trips overseas.