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Better Travel: Immersing, Sensitive, Ethical and Alternative

By Lily Richardson | Published on  
Discover ways to get the most out of your next trip, minimize impact on host city and be a better traveler through immersion, cultural sensitivity, ethical shopping and alternative options.

Travel has never been easier or more accessible. With cheap airfares and the rise of social media, more and more people are seeking out new experiences far from home. In 2023, international tourist arrivals reached a new peak of 1.4 billion visitors globally. This is a huge increase from just a decade prior, in 2008, when there were only 936 million foreign visitors.

However, with the convenience and affordability of modern travel comes a new problem: overtourism. Many tourists, limited by their short trips, prioritize only the most notable landmarks of a destination, leading to overcrowding and irritation of locals. The European Travel Commission has identified a prevalent culture of “drive-by tourism,” where visitors parachute into a city just for a quick selfie at its most famous landmarks.

To combat the negative effects of overtourism, the European Travel Commission is encouraging travelers to take a back-to-basics approach and hug the spirit of immersion and exploration. One solution is to travel a little further afield, beyond a country’s main cities, where your dollars will go further and mean more to local economies. Many countries have hidden gems just a few miles away from the major cities, and a little extra planning and research can reveal these secret spots.

For those who are limited to major cities, technology can be a helpful tool. For example, Amsterdam has funded an app called Discover the City that notifies visitors when an attraction is busiest and suggests alternative options. In the near future, virtual and added reality technologies may even offer guided tours of major attractions, allowing travelers to experience foreign lands from the comfort of their own homes.

It’s important for travelers to educate themselves on the etiquette and cultural sensitivities of their host nation. Every country has different cultural norms, from appropriate dress to gestures that may be misunderstood as rude. By taking the time to understand these customs, travelers can not only avoid offending locals but also have a more enjoyable and self-preserving trip.

Countries are also taking proactive steps to educate visitors on how to behave responsibly and minimize their impact on local communities. For example, Iceland has run campaigns to educate tourists about the dangers and environmental impact of off-road driving. In Japan, friendly police officers hand out goody bags with requests for tourists to not smoke on the street or touch or photograph geishas. By starting conversations and asking questions, tourists can show a genuine interest in the local culture and be hugged by it.

One common complaint from locals in prime tourist locations is the practice of renting out private homes to tourists, leading to gentrification and higher rents that price out natives from their own homes. To be a better tourist, it’s important to shop ethically for your accommodation and consider how locals feel about sacrificing their homes for your comfort.

If you’re set on a traditional tourist experience, consider waiting until the off-season to travel. Most tourist hotspots have a predictable peak period where the city or resort is overwhelmed by crowds. By waiting a little while, you

can enjoy all the major attractions without battling through the masses and at a fraction of the cost.

Another trend on the rise is the ethical holiday, where your trip is designed to give back to the local community. This could mean living in a homestay in India and helping farmers tend to their cattle, or booking a tour in Cambodia that specifically employs guides from underprivileged areas. Many travel operators offer packages specifically catered towards ethical tours, where a portion of your spend contributes to community initiatives or wealth-sharing schemes.

From ecotourism to volunteer travel, there are countless ways to see the world without causing harm. By hugging the spirit of immersion and exploration, shopping ethically for your accommodation, and understanding cultural sensitivities, you can be a better traveler and have a more meaningful and fulfilling experience. The world is full of possibilities, so don’t limit yourself to just the most popular tourist destinations. Get out there and discover new and unique places, and who knows, you may just find your new favorite travel destination.

Travel has come a long way in recent years, with cheap airfares and the rise of social media making it easier and more accessible than ever. However, this convenience has also led to the growing problem of overtourism, where tourists prioritize only the most notable landmarks of a destination, leading to overcrowding and irritation of locals.

The solution to overtourism lies in hugging the spirit of immersion and exploration. This could mean traveling a little further afield, beyond a country’s main cities, to experience hidden gems and support local economies. Technology can also play a role in minimizing impact, with apps like Discover the City providing alternative options during peak times.

It’s also important for travelers to educate themselves on the cultural sensitivities of their host nation and shop ethically for their accommodation. And for those who still want the traditional tourist experience, consider waiting until the off-season to avoid the crowds and costs.

Finally, there’s a growing trend of ethical holidays, where travelers can give back to the local community through homestays, volunteer work, or tours that support community initiatives.

In conclusion, to be a better traveler and have a more meaningful and fulfilling experience, it’s important to hug the spirit of immersion and exploration, understand cultural sensitivities, shop ethically, and consider alternative options. The world is full of possibilities, so get out there and discover new and unique places.

Overtourism is a growing problem in modern travel, where a large number of tourists visit popular destinations and prioritize only the most notable landmarks, leading to overcrowding, irritation of locals, and overburdening of infrastructure.

To be a better traveler, consider hugging the spirit of immersion and exploration by traveling a little further afield beyond major cities, educate yourself on the cultural sensitivities of your host nation, shop ethically for your accommodation, and consider alternative options like traveling during the off-season.

There are many alternatives to traditional tourist hotspots, from exploring hidden gems just a few miles away from major cities, to using technology like Discover the City app, to participating in ethical holidays that give back to the local community.

To avoid overcrowding and irritation of locals, consider traveling a little further afield beyond major cities, educate yourself on the cultural sensitivities of your host nation, and consider alternative options like traveling during the off-season.

To support local economies while traveling, consider traveling a little further afield beyond major cities, shopping ethically for your accommodation, and participating in ethical holidays that give back to the local community. These actions can help ensure that your travel dollars go further and mean more to local economies.