Travel holds great potential. For the traveler, it offers a path to personal transformation, education, and experience. For local host communities, it provides a means to cultural exchange and economic benefit. As a tourist, you have a responsibility to respect the environment and culture of the country you are visiting. There are a lot of ways to have a positive impact on the world when traveling.
The main idea behind ‘not traveling like a basic bitch’ is to exist in today’s world without being disrespectful and oppressive to other cultures. Following are some tips that will help make your trip as guilt-free, meaningful, and positive as possible:
Keep an Open Mind
Embrace the environment you are in. Take the time to talk to people, respect their customs, and get to understand the local culture. People are the heart of responsible tourism. So, put yourself in their shoes, not just in their country.
Dress Appropriately Where and When Necessary
You may see other tourists behaving a certain way but that does not mean it’s okay. Always dress respectfully, particularly in rural villages and at temples. Maybe dressing that way does not align with your own beliefs, but you have decided to visit that particular country and hence, you should respect their customs.
Eat Like/With the Locals
When you are abroad, sometimes it may be tempting to seek out the comfort foods of your home. However, it is recommended that you eat locally as it will open your eyes to all different types of flavors. Not to mention, it will also mean money in the pockets of people growing, cooking, and serving the food to you.
Play Fair, Pay Fair
Everyone loves to bargain but when you are abroad, look at the bigger picture. Before you start haggling over one dollar, think about how far that extra amount could go for the person you are dealing with. It can make a huge difference to independent artisans and traders in developing countries. So, don’t bargain at someone’s else expense just because they might seem desperate to get by.
Say Hello!
Be sensitive and be friendly. Basic manners and a smile are hugely appreciated. Respect the locals. Demonstrate proper etiquette, understand local customs, and learn a bit of the language. In this way, you will get a better insight into their culture and have a much richer experience.
Give Back
During your travels abroad, you will find all kinds of volunteering opportunities. If it’s possible, take the time to support local communities. It’s a rewarding experience and it is not too difficult to find work at small NGOs abroad where you can spend some time and give back to the local community. It is also a great way to get to know a place.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways that you can help make a big difference to the people of the world by simply being more educated and mindful about the decisions you make when abroad. Remember, your actions can have a huge impact on the world while you travel. By following the above-listed tips, you can make sure that it is a positive one.
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