Five Tips for Conscientious Travel
Growing up in Thailand during the ’90s, I definitely saw the impact that an influx of tourists can have on a developing county. On one hand, tourism can be really great! It brings in money and helps the local economy to grow. It can also encourage cultural and historic preservation.
There are plenty of downsides as well. The infrastructure may not be ready for such a large number of visitors. It’s quite possible that the country hasn’t developed adequate protections for historic monuments or environmental restrictions.
It’s important to remember that as tourists, we are still guests in a country. We should treat the people we meet and the places we visit with the same respect that we would expect of guests in our home.
Sometimes this can be hard because we want to take advantage of our time in a beautiful place; we want to experience as much as possible during a short vacation! Which is why finding a balance is key.
Here are a few guidelines to help find that balance:
Research the Cultural & Religious Aspects of Your Destination
While planning your trip, do some research on the local culture and religion, and determine how this may impact your actions while on vacation.
Consider the following:
Attire: If you are visiting a country that is more religious, consider bringing clothes that are more modest. This is particularly important if you are planning on visiting religious sites.
Respect: Find out if certain behaviors are considered disrespectful or taboo. Obviously, there is a little forgiveness for tourists, but you should be mindful of these behaviors and avoid them if you can.
Which brings me to my next point…
Act with Humility and Kindness
Americans abroad have a bit of a reputation… so it’s up to us to squash it!
Common complaints are that Americans expect things to work like they do in the US, we expect everyone to speak English, we think we are important, and we think rules don’t apply to us. “We” is a generalization; obviously not all Americans are like this, but it’s helpful to know where we can improve.
When visiting a foreign country, it’s super important to understand that things may work differently and that’s OK. There are multiple ways to cut a pineapple, all of which result in a delicious plate of fruit. That’s why travel is so valuable! It gives us an opportunity to see a different way of life, and hopefully, our experience will teach us to be more open and accepting.
Try to learn a few words in the local language and use them when you can, such as please and thank you. If you’re worried about not speaking the local language, check out this post for additional tips.
Think About the Impact You’ll Actually Have
Countries that don’t yet understand the value of their natural resources or historic monuments often do not have sufficient safeguards in place to protect these treasures.
Machu Picchu is a great example because there has been an evolution of protection. When my parents first visited the site in the late 1970s, there were very few restrictions regarding where you could stay and how you could visit.
Over time, the permit process got stricter and more stringent as the impact of tourism became more evident. There was also a push from international organizations, such as UNESCO, which encouraged Peru to take action.
If you are visiting a site that you know is significant, but there are few safeguards in place, create your own. Think of your impact. Just because you’re allowed to climb all over an ancient structure, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should.
I know that from time-to-time we do things that we know we probably shouldn’t (especially now with the desire for an instagramable photo-op). Again, finding balance is key. Consider your impact and do what you believe is best for preservation.
It’s not all bad – you can also have a positive impact!
While traveling, consider how and where you’re spending your money.
This is your opportunity to give back to your temporary host-country while gaining so much in return. The best way to do this is to support local businesses: eat at local restaurants (my favorite part about traveling is trying different foods), stay at locally owned hotels, and support traditional industries by buying ethically made handcrafts (2nd favorite part about traveling).
Just Because Other Tourists Do It…
…doesn’t mean you should do it too!
Over the years, Thailand has developed somewhat of a reputation among young travelers as a fun place to spend weeks on end partying. It’s commonplace for people to get rowdy, obnoxious, and sometimes really rude. Now, I’m not trying to stand in front of the fun bus here, I’m just suggesting to take a minute to think about it. Even though everyone else is doing, it doesn’t necessarily mean the locals happily oblige. How would you feel if throngs of tourists regularly came to your hometown to get really messy? Maybe you’d hope they’d tone it down about? Just think about it…
Also, if an “attraction” seems particularly exploitative or marginalizing, don’t do it! Even if there is an industry around it, don’t do it.
Consider Animal Welfare
Animals often become part of the allure of certain places. Horseback rides along the beach, elephant rides through the forests, and maybe even a swim with dolphins. The experience that you have with these animals can vary greatly, and it’s important to consider the animals’ welfare before you participate in any of these activities.
One way to do this is through some simple online research before you travel. Do this as part of the planning process. While elephant rides are common in Thailand, there are many places that do not follow best practices when it comes to caring for these magnificent pachyderms.
In response, several elephant rescue organizations have sprung up and they can provide you with humane interactions with a charming ele (mostly you get to feed them bananas and they’ll give you a kiss on the cheek). Even this can be a bit tricky because you want to make sure the organization is legit. Just to be sure, poke around on Google for a bit to see if you can find anything negative.
If you’re dead set on taking a ride, find a place that contributes to environmental education and conservation as well. Before getting aboard, take a look around: do the elephants appear healthy? Does it seem like they are treated well? Are their corrals clean? If not, then don’t take a ride.
There are certain attractions that should be avoided at all costs, those that are just out-right abusive. A common tourist attraction in Thailand is to visit a “tiger sanctuary” where you can pet a full-grown tiger. These places are known for drugging the cats to prevent “mishaps” with tourists. They’ve also been caught killing “extra” tiger kittens so they don’t have to care for them; it’s heartbreaking! So please, please, please do some research before participating in any wildlife based activity.
Those are my guidelines for being a better tourist. I want to reiterate that none of us are perfect, and we all do things that in hindsight may not have been the best of ideas. It is about being conscientious and aware in a way that will help us to make better and balanced decisions!
Let me know what you think and, of course, if you have any tips or guidelines of your own that I didn’t cover here!
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