How to be a More Responsible Traveler
It may be hard to believe, but 2020 is just a few weeks away. I always find that big milestones such as a brand new decade are an opportunity to reflect on the ups and downs of years prior. Since this is primarily a travel blog, today I’d like to take a look at the travel numbers of the past few decades. Global tourists amounted to 527 million in 1995, and then a staggering 1.32 billion in 2017. Travel has become more affordable and more accessible with each passing year, and multiple destinations are becoming entirely overcrowded. Needless to say, there are so many of us traveling now and we have become a huge group that is making an even bigger impact on the world.
Now that we’ve thought a bit about the past, let’s look to the future of travel. By 2050, there is expected to be an increasingly large numbers of tourists that will ramp up energy consumption by 154%, greenhouse gas emissions by 131%, water consumption by 152%, and solid waste disposal by 251%. It is almost impossible to imagine tourism’s impact at this scale. As 2020 dawns, I urge anyone traveling - whether it be locally, internationally or somewhere in between - to strive to be more responsible as they go.
Reduce your waste; avoid single-use plastics.
Enjoying some pre-dinner snacks with a view in Picton, New Zealand. Note our reusable bottles and bowl. (If only the bread hadn’t come with plastic wrap :|)
This is number one on the list because it should already be a part of your everyday life - travel or not. Single-use plastics are ubiquitous everywhere but especially in the travel industry. You almost can’t take a trip without being offered a bottle of water, plastic bag, or straw in your fancy cocktail. Luckily, bringing your own reusable shopping bags, straws, and water bottles has become a much more mainstream occurrence. But have you thought about other ways in which you can reduce your waste? Next time you are packing for a trip, please do bring those reusable bottles, bags, and straws. Also consider bringing a reusable container for potential leftovers, packing a bamboo toothbrush, using shampoo bars that come in a box, or ditching tampons and making the switch to a menstrual cup. These are all just a few ways in which anyone can further reduce their waste. There are so many more ways to be less wasteful in life and travel. Start now - what are you waiting for? It’s the least you can do for a planet that’s already got three huge patches of swirling plastic garbage in our oceans.
Contribute to locally-owned businesses as much as possible.
Emmett’s favorite type of small business - local record stores. // Wellington, NZ.
One of the biggest problems with mass tourism is that big travel companies are taking tourist dollars away from residents. This phenomenon is known as “tourism leakage'‘ and reports from the United Nations Environmental Program recently revealed that 80% of tourism dollars in the Caribbean and about 40% in India go to multinational corporations instead of local businesses. When you travel, try to be aware of where your money is being spent. Was that souvenir mass produced or did you buy it directly from a local artist or gallery? Why book an impersonal stay at a big hotel chain when you could stay in a charming B&B or even a homestay? For even more information on how tourism leakage happens and how to avoid it, Dan and Audrey from Uncornered Market have a great post about spending local.
Learn about the local culture and customs. Then respect them.
Showing off my long skirt (it hits just above my ankles) in culturally conservative Malacca, Malaysia.
Did you know that in Japan it’s actually considered rude not to slurp your food? Hearty slurping indicates to your host or chef that you are thoroughly enjoying your meal. Exaggerated slurping in Japan is just one of many cultural customs that may surprise new visitors. To avoid making a cultural faux pas on your next trip, do your research and find out what “unusual” customs are practiced in your upcoming destinations. One of the most obvious examples of this is finding out what to wear in public or in religious sites. For instance, if you are planning to travel somewhere with a more modest culture, please pack conservative clothing ahead of time. As an example, I wore pants and/or a long skirt during my travels around Malaysia (see photo above). Malaysia is a Muslim country and to wear short-shorts or skimpy tank tops would have been disrespectful.
Another important way to show cultural respect that every traveler should remember is to learn at least a few basic words and phrases in the local language. This is a form of cultural adaptation that will show people that you respect their country. The alternative, showing up somewhere and expecting everyone to understand you, is entitled and rude. While the odds are that someone will indeed speak English, don’t always assume that everyone will and then you may find that you make more friends along the way. You don’t have to worry about becoming fluent or anything, just show your respect by learning as much of the basics as possible. Numbers and questions about locations are the best places to start. That being said, if you have a hard time learning and remembering foreign phrases, there are just two things to say that you should know no matter what: “Thank you” and “Do you speak English?” Learning those two phrases will allow you to at least show gratitude and to acknowledge the language barrier.
Don’t make “instagrammability” your primary motivation for visiting a location.
In a recent survey, about 40% of millennials admitted that “instagrammability” is the primary factor that motivates them to visit a location. Essentially, everyone in my generation wants to visit a destination merely because they want to share beautiful photos of the place on social media. Honestly, this revelation should hardly be a surprise only eleven years after the mass advent of the smartphone. Essentially everyone has a digital camera in their pocket and 87% of all photos taken worldwide were captured by a smartphone. Though people have been flocking to photogenic sights since long before smartphones, today places are becoming overcrowded or “ruined” solely because they are being over-shared on Instagram and other social media platforms. How can we stop “ruining” a location by oversharing?? 1) Don’t share at all. 2) If you do share, don’t use a geotag. In regards to the second suggestion, I have been seeing more and more Instagrammers with huge followings posting pictures of remote hotsprings (see below) or other locations without disclosing the location. That’s all it takes! We should all let there be a little mystery left in the world.
Lastly, while it is wonderful to behold incredibly stunning architectural and natural sights for yourself, the photograph-ability of a destination should not be your primary motivation for visiting. Photogenic views are only one aspect of the appeal of any place. There are so many other important things to consider besides the visual appeal - specifically the destination’s culture as a whole. The language, the food, the religions, the history, the architecture, the festivals, all of these experiences go deeper than just a surface image. Don’t get me wrong, I do absolutely love taking photos of places that I visit. I would never expect anyone to stop taking pictures of their trip. That’s entirely unrealistic. I just want travelers to consider more than their beautiful souvenir photos and to go deeper than the views and checklists of must-be-photographed places.
Stop describing yourself as a “gypsy.”
You may not know this, but the term “gypsy” is a slur. It’s a pejorative term used to stereotype the Romani people, who are one of Europe’s largest and most persecuted minorities. When you use the word “gypsy” to describe yourself as someone who loves to travel, you are diminishing the very real and negative history behind the term’s usage. For more information on why you should stop saying “gypsy,” please check out this post by Alex of The Mindful Mermaid.
Avoid Airbnb - particularly in the places where it’s contentious.
A delightful Airbnb we stayed at in the non-contentious location of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
This is tricky - I have long been an advocate of Airbnb as a budget accommodation option. In the past, Emmett and I have stayed in many Airbnbs that were just single rooms within a larger home. They have often been cheaper than hostel dorms and frequently felt more like homestays. We have had fantastic and friendly hosts in a number of countries including New Zealand, Australia, and Vanuatu. (In fact, our Vanuatu Airbnb stay was maybe the best ever). However, like many multinational corporations, Airbnb is not without it’s fair share of problems. In fact, Airbnb is actually illegal in a growing number of cities worldwide, including New York City, Paris, Berlin, San Francisco, Barcelona, New Orleans, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and Mallorca. Why is it illegal? Well, in many cities entire blocks of apartments that would usually be rented by locals are being converted into Airbnbs. The short-term Airbnb rentals bring more tourists in and push local citizens out. Thus, maybe it is time for all of us travelers to consider breaking up with Airbnb. At the least, if we don’t completely give it up we should try to avoid Airbnb rentals in cities where it is most definitely illegal.
If you want to volunteer on your travels - great! But know that voluntourism is a complicated and often sadly unethical industry within the travel sphere.
Me: sandy, salty, and happy working with Asociacion Salvemos Las Tortugas de Parismina in Costa Rica, 2013.
Voluntourism is a snappy sounding term that encompasses a very large portion of the travel industry - people who travel and give back. I honestly love the idea of this type of trip. Anyone who sets out on a volunteer trip more often than not has the best of intentions. And why not try to do some good in a place that really needs it? Well, the answer is that it’s not quite that simple. For example, mission trips are one of the most popular forms of voluntourism amongst my peers here in the American South. This may be a controversial assertion, but international mission trips are often more damaging than helpful. A lot of mission trips (or like-minded non-secular group excursions) take mostly unskilled but well-meaning helpers to do a job that should require a skilled laborer. Not only that, but volunteers on these trips are often doing work that would be better done by a resident than by an unpaid foreigner. Think about how many people you might know who have gone to visit orphanages or impoverished villages to “teach” or build houses and other structures. Unless the people who went on these trips were actual teachers or contractors, how effective of a job do you think they could have done there? Not only that, but even if they actually were skilled workers, how effective of a job can someone do on a trip that usually only lasts for a week or two? Genuinely effective voluntourism is rare - particularly when done by young travelers on a short stay.
Is it possible to volunteer abroad in a responsible and ethical manner? Yes, it is. Just be sure to ask yourself what your motivations for volunteering abroad might be and research legitimate nonprofits that have good reputations. For tips on finding legitimate and ethical voluntourism opportunities, check out these guidelines created by Erica of Treading Wander.
Don’t give to beggars. Especially children.
This is another tough subject to address. The altruistic inclination that leads people to give spare change to beggars is admirable. However, giving money to a beggar goes deeper than just that initial exchange of currency, especially when that beggar is a child in a foreign country. In many major tourist destinations worldwide, young beggars are frequently being forced into begging by their parents or worse - by kidnappers and other exploitative adults. Not only that, in some parts of the world children are being intentionally maimed with the goal being that they’ll garner more sympathy and thus more money. Exploitative child begging is an incredibly sad reality that needs to be acknowledged and should be at the forefront of your mind as you travel.
Last but not least, giving handouts to groups of children - even in non-urban environments - can encourage those kids to continue to beg. Thus, your quick handover of cash to that cute kid you met while hiking off the beaten track can encourage their dependency on traveler’s handouts from then onwards. It’s why Emmett and I encountered plenty of kids (and kids only) in the Annapurna region of Nepal who chased us while asking for money. Basically, what I’m trying to emphasize is that you should not give money directly to children no matter where you are. For an even more in depth look at why not to give to kids who beg, Dan and Audrey of Uncornered Market wrote a great post about the issue here.
All in all, if you do feel the need to give - great! Give your money to a reputable local nonprofit instead.
When interacting with nature, leave no trace.
According to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, there are seven principles to the Leave No Trace philosophy:
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Others
Hopefully these principles are already representative of how you conduct yourself during outdoor adventures. However, if you are an avid travel or outdoorsperson, you are not surprised by the amount of trash left behind on hiking trails or by the people who do approach wildlife too closely when taking pictures. Always, always photograph wildlife from a respectful distance. Don’t leave your trash behind. Don’t go off-track and trample fragile ecosystems. Don’t take anything from the local environment. Be conscientious of your surroundings and other beings. Not only that, but make an effort to politely yet firmly let people know when they are behaving badly. When I was in the Cloud Forest of Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands, our group ended up having to admonish some very disrespectful travelers who hopped off-trail to pose for photos. We informed them that they were standing on sensitive moss ecosystems that had been in place for hundreds of years and let them know that we didn’t approve at all.
A special note about Leave No Trace principle number four “leave what you find.”
I will be the first to admit that this is the leave no trace principle that I have struggled with the most personally. I grew up near Sanibel Island, an area where collecting too many seashells from the beach is actually actively encouraged by the local tourism board. In fact, I even went to school on-island and participated in the annual International Seashell Fair that is held there. Thus, ever since I was a small child, I had collected seashells from nearly every beach I ever visited. It was just normal - that’s what you did when you saw seashells on the beach. You took them.
When I first started blogging, I even encouraged other travelers to beachcomb, posting roundups of all the shells I found and on which beaches. One of my most popular blog posts for a good while was all about Beachcombing around New Zealand. (I have since deleted that post and the others encouraging seashell collection). I have recently become aware of how foolish it is to take shells from the beach. And I am ashamed that it took me so long. As someone who tries to travel responsibly in every other way possible, seashell collecting was an incredibly incongruous practice for me to participate in and encourage. Learn from my mistake - please don’t collect shells, rocks, plant matter, sand, etc. As the classic saying goes, “take only photographs, leave only footprints.”
Travel overland and/or via public transit as much as possible.
A train we had just departed in Bundaberg, QLD, Australia.
Did you know that air travel accounts for 2% of the average annual global greenhouse gas emissions? That’s why climate activist Greta Thunberg recently made the public decision to take a boat from Europe to North America for the U.N. Climate Summit. As I mentioned earlier in this post, it is entirely unrealistic to imagine that people are going to stop traveling altogether. It is also unrealistic to imagine that people will stop traveling via plane. That being said, you can supplement or replace your air travel with as many overland trips and public transit rides as possible. And you should. Obviously, it is not going to be possible to do this every single time you travel. But maybe all of us travelers ought to reframe our trip planning to include more boats, trains, and buses. Domestic or cross-continental trips particularly need to be more public transit-oriented. Wouldn’t it be fun to go to a bunch of European countries, American states, Japanese provinces, or Australian cities while traveling overland by car, rail, or bus? (It would.)
Last but not least, when you arrive in a new urban locale, consider trying to explore mostly on foot! (If you are physically able to do so). It’s my absolute favorite - and most environmentally friendly - way to get to know a place. I can guarantee that most major cities will be very walkable and that you’ll stumble upon something delightfully unexpected. My favorite cities that I have explored primarily on foot have been Brisbane, Berlin, Zagreb, Singapore, and New York City. Strolling down side streets and through residential neighborhoods on your way to other sights can give you more complete picture of a city rather than just the well-known buildings and views.
Respect sacred sites.
A very sacred site: Maya Devi Temple at the Buddha’s birthplace of Lumbini, Nepal.
For the love of all that is holy (literally), please respect sacred sites! Do not scratch your name into the walls of a temple or the pews of a church. Do not steal the offerings left at shrines. Acts of vandalism are a big no-no under any circumstances, but at sacred sites they are the ultimate signs of ignorance and disrespect. Some of you reading this may be thinking, “how could anyone do this?” Sadly, not only have I been to religious sites that have been graffiti-ed but I have actually met another traveler who bragged about stealing incense from a shrine in India. (She loved the smell so much, she didn’t care that she had to steal to get her souvenir). Personal anecdote aside, follow the rules regarding any sacred site you may encounter. These rules are often posted prominently throughout the location.
Did you know that, in many countries, there are entire locations that are so sacred that you shouldn’t visit or step foot on them at all? For example, tourists should not set foot on Australia’s most famous tourist destination of Uluru (also know as Ayer’s Rock). Uluru is sacred to the local Anangu people and up until just last month, Uluru was still technically legally climbable for visitors. Luckily, the Australian government finally got around to respecting the wishes of the Anangu and put Uluru climbs to an end by making the practice illegal. That’s only one famous example of a tourist site that shouldn’t be explored by visitors. Again, do your due diligence and find out before you go if there are any similar such sacred sites you might want to visit on your next trip.
Do your research before participating in wildlife encounters.
A rhino that we observed on our walking safari in Chitwan National Park, Nepal.
One of the most exciting things about traveling is the opportunity to see rare and unique native wildlife. The best way to experience said wildlife as a traveler is to see it (from a safe and respectful distance, of course) in it’s natural habitat. Whether you achieve this by going on a safari or tour from a reputable and ethical vendor (see section below) or by visiting a wildlife preserve or sanctuary, there are many ways to view wildlife in an ethical and fun manner. Please, please, please do not seek out any sort of animal activity that involves human-to-animal contact with a captive and/or restrained creature. Examples of this include tiger photo ops where the tigers are drugged beforehand, elephant “sanctuaries” or anywhere else you “ride” or pose with an elephant, anywhere that allows you to pick up a sea turtle or touch them in tanks, any Sea World and it’s similar ilk, swimming with dolphins or manatees, posing for photos with chained monkeys… The list goes on. Don’t do any of those things! In fact, please don’t even give your money or time to any captive animal institutions, including zoos and aquariums. As much as many of these organizations try to do important research and animal conservation, more often than not the zoo animals are suffering - thanks to cramped enclosures and other unnatural conditions. For even more information on why it is important to avoid zoos, aquariums, and even some “sanctuaries,” please check out this helpful list on 10 Reasons to Skip Zoos.
The bottom line: go see wildlife (again, from a safe and respectable distance) while they thrive in their natural environment!
When going on group tours, book your trip with sustainable and responsible travel providers.
As I mentioned earlier in this post, it’s best to spend your money locally whenever possible. I’ll say it yet again: do your research ahead of time. Check your guidebook, read blogs (!), and even check TripAdvisor reviews. If you do a thorough investigation of these resources, you are bound to discover small and locally-led sustainable tour companies to support. In Malaysia and Nepal, Emmett and I specifically sought out local tour companies who had the best reputation for a) giving back to the local community and/or b) were environmentally sustainable.
Our favorite eco-tour leader: Appu, of Discover Camerons in Tanah Rata, Malaysia.
When you can’t book locally, or when you are crunched for time and want to do a quick tour of a destination, seek out the larger tour group providers that are committed to responsible travel. Chances are you’ve heard of a few - do the names G Adventures or Intrepid Travel ring any bells? There’s actually a growing number of responsible international tour operators with group trips available throughout the globe. Basically, regardless of where you’d like to go, there are ways to book group travel with companies that care.
Avoid poverty tourism.
STOP before you think about participating in poverty tourism. // Photo credit goes to Unsplash.
Have you ever heard of poverty tourism? It is a very real phenomenon in which travelers pay to take tours of famously impoverished communities such as slums and favelas. Poverty tourism is, more often than not, exploitative and takes real people living their very real lives and turns them into entertainment and photo-fodder for extremely privileged people. (Quick aside: if you don’t think that you are extremely privileged to be able to travel, especially internationally, I urge you to consider that you are wrong). I understand the benefit in privileged people seeing and knowing that these places exist. I certainly do not believe that everyone should travel in a resort-style bubble of generic cleanliness while avoiding poorer people and places. However, specifically seeking out a tour of an impoverished place just for the novelty of seeing it is incredibly problematic. Don’t treat people’s neighborhoods as zoo-style exhibits. Period.
In conclusion, the absolute number one way to start to be a more responsible traveler is to be more reflective and do more research. Before you even start to plan your trip, ask yourself how you can make a more positive impact on the world around you. Also, as you may have noticed throughout this post, I believe that the very best thing you can do is research. Put in some time and effort before your trip to find out about the impact of the types of experiences you hope to have on your travels. Make a pre-trip list of all of the things you want to experience. Want to see some wildlife? Research the best ways to do so and the best guide companies to use. Where will you stay? Research places that aren’t illegal airbnbs and try to seek out locally-owned accommodation. Your travel experiences will probably be more unique and memorable as you make more considerate and responsible choices. Put in the effort to be the most responsible traveler that you can. You - and the world around you - will be better for it.
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