This piece might sound a bit preachy, but honestly, there’s something to be said about those tourists who don’t respect the place they visit. It feels like these issues need some attention. I mean, it’s not just Bali, there are similar cases happening in other countries too. And you know what? to come out with this idea, I think being an ethical traveler isn’t that hard.
I heard about how people in Barcelona are getting fed up with all the foreign tourists disturbing their community. In an ideal world, tourists should not disturb the local community. But as tourism grows, it seems like the industry itself isn’t paying enough attention to the locals’ conditions.
Sure, some will argue that tourism boosts the local economy. Yeah, no denying that, but being an ethical traveler should be about lightening the load on the places we visit.
Ethical Tourism
From Young Scout, ethical tourism or responsible tourism means thinking about how your actions as a tourist affect the environment, local people, and the local economy.
Based on that definition, travel isn’t just about moving from one place to another. It’s not just about checking off new destinations. Yocan be an added value to the places you are visiting, or at the very least, not create new problems. Sounds easy, right?
Because in reality, tourism needs to be designed in a way of making it sustainable. Sustainability means that when you leave a place you’ve visited, it can run as the community runs it.
It might take a bit more effort, but isn’t it better as humans to take responsibility for what we do? The world’s getting old, and we should do more to take care of it.
So far, scientists haven’t found another planet we can live on in our solar system or others. That’s why Earth will likely remain the only home we’ve got.
How to do it?
There are a few things you can do to foster and become an ethical traveler. Here are several things you can do when you visit a new place.
Learn a Few Local Words
A simple greeting can make a difference in a new place. Knowing a few local words shows that you respect the place and want to know about them. Plus, using some local phrases and words will give you a better shot at being accepted in their community.
Understand the Culture You’re Visiting
Culture comes from many things, and even a little understanding of the culture you’re visiting goes a long way in being an ethical traveler. Maybe find out how they dress or talk, it shows respect for their culture.
In Bali, for instance, there are sacred places that require specific attire to enter. Or just respecting the local rules and laws is part of understanding the culture you’re visiting.
Try New Things
Isn’t the whole point of leaving home to experience new stuff? To try things you don’t have back home. Finding out about things beyond your usual surroundings. So, when you’re in a new place, trying new things could be a must on your itinerary.
Being an ethical traveler means trying new things as a way to give more exposure to the place you’re visiting. Or introducing new local foods you’ve tried to the outside world.
Take Care of the Environment
Taking care of the environment is everyone’s job. Not just while traveling, but wherever we are. It’s how we keep our environment sustainable and not messed up.
As an ethical traveler, reducing the environmental impact of the places we visit should be a must. Not littering, even small stuff like that makes a difference.
Let Wild Animals Be Wild
Natural ecosystems are designed to be balanced. Imbalances in organisms can mess up ecosystems. Preserving wild and endangered animals is a hot topic. The decline in these animals messes up the ecosystem’s balance. As an ethical traveler, you can help by not buying products made from these animals, to stop the hunting of wild and endangered animals.
So, those are a few simple ways to be an ethical traveler. Being an ethical traveler is about respecting yourself and showing appreciation for the places you visit. The beauty you see needs to be preserved and passed down to the next generation.
Read also: Solo Traveling and Why It is So Much Fun
