How to Travel Responsibly and Support Local Communities
Traveling is the most incredible way to immerse yourself in local cultures. It’s how you can see sites and enjoy foods you would never get to at home. However, it also can have a dark side to it as well- tourism can bring resources and opportunities to places. But it brings some problems as well. Like litter/trash, damaged historical sites, increased crime, etc.
Which is why it is so so so important to travel responsibly! Being aware and informed about how you can travel responsibly and support the communicates you are traveling to is how you can truly be a good member of this world.
So below I share the ways I have found to help us all travel responsibly!
Let’s get into it-
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How to Travel Responsibly and Support Local Communities
Tips for traveling to new places responsibly:
Tip 1: Choose actually local accommodations
There is a time and a place for the big chains (Marriott, Hilton, IHG, etc.) but when you are traveling destinations where there IS local options that are safe then try to choose those every time.
Also, make sure to book directly if at all possible.
Meaning, don’t book through Expedia, booking.com etc. Those 3rd parties not only take a lot of the profit away from small businesses and prioritize businesses that can pay to be promoted on their sites BUT ALSO as a traveler it is a worse experience. 3rd party websites don’t actually guarantee a lot of things like bed types so you could end up with a horror story travel experience
Source? Working in hotels for 7 years. Trust me on one thing above all else- book direct!!
And guys- you can’t get an experience like the one above staying at a chain especially in unique places.
On the island of Paros in Greece we stayed in a historic (renovated of course) windmill! You know those gorgeous windmills you see all over Pinterest when you search for Greek islands? Yeah we got to stay in one of those for days. Literally the coolest and most unique accommodation I have ever experienced. And you don’t get that when you don’t stay at local accommodations!
Tip 2: Hire local tour guides
One of the best ways to bring both your tourism money and get an authentic experience is to hire a truly local guide.
That means not a major tour company and ideally do a little research beforehand to ensure the tour guide is from the area (and not a college student studying abroad!).
You will also get the best experience this way! One of my favorite tours ever was a guided run by a local man in Athens Greece. Not only was it just us and him but also we got to see things we never would have and hear awesome stories from someone who grew up in Athens.
Tip 3: Shop small!!
Okay so you know when you get to a major tourism strip in the place you’re visiting and every store seems to have the same exact souvenirs?
That’s because they do unfortunately and they are ordering it from major suppliers in other countries.
So making an effort to find locally made goods and souvenirs is the way to go. I find that typically the best way to do that is searching on Instagram!
Tip 4: Research local customs before you go
Before you leave for your trip it is essential to read about and research the local customs and how to ensure you are respectful.
A few examples of this I want to share are:
- Temples, mosques, and churches often require covered shoulders and knees (sometimes even head coverings for women).
- In the U.S., tipping 15-20% is expected in restaurants and service industries. But in Japan is considered rude and you should never!
- In India and the Middle East, eating with your left hand is considered unclean so always use your right hand for eating and passing food.
- In the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), public kissing or hugging can lead to fines or even arrest.
So as you can tell it is really important to research the culture of where you are visiting to ensure you are being respectable and considerate.
Tip 5: Make eco friendly decisions even on vacation
Making eco friendly decisions isn’t just for when you are at home. When you are visiting a different communities home it is just as important to take care of it.
This can mean a lot of different things especially depending on where you are visiting so let’s quickly chat about some examples:
- When visiting a tropical location only wear and bring reef safe sunscreen.
- Bring a reusable water bottle (I have this filtering one and bring it on every trip!) instead of getting plastic water bottles.
- Try public transit! Taking the local bus, trains, etc or even opting to walk when you can is a great an easy way to be eco conscious when you are traveling.
Tip 6: Share online responsibly
When you are sharing online you are representing so many people who call that location home. Be cautious and aware of what you are sharing.
Sharing an off the beaten path trail that locals use could lead to over tourism of the trail. Sharing large businesses in the area instead of small isn’t going to help anyone. Sharing pictures of people without their consent especially in situations of poverty or controversial practices in the region is unfair and inconsiderate of you! So please be aware and responsible when you are thinking about sharing pictures or videos from your trip.
That being said- sharing online can also be amazing for local communities! Don’t let this scare you away from posting and sharing your amazing travel experiences. Just be aware and think about it for more than a few seconds before posting.
Tip 7: Keep differences to yourself
Everyone does things differently and every culture has their own practices. One is not better than the other and there is no need to comment on things you believe is better about your culture. Especially when you are out in public or within earshot of others.
Every culture has things that others think are rude but people in that culture don’t! As an American I will only call out our own- we talk so loud!! And a lot of cultures consider that to be rude and inconsiderate. But when you are in America you have to accept it not complaint about it. And the same is true for other “rudeness” that you may experience somewhere that you are traveling to.
Remember- if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all!
Okay guys that is all for now! Make sure to check out my other travel tips, itineraries, outfit ideas etc throughout the site and I hope that we can connect!
Korra The Explorer
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