Where do we draw the line on our own preferences and behavior while traveling abroad? You’ve saved up enough money and convinced your boss to let you have time away from the office… so why should you limit your level of fun? Or is it possible to be an ethical tourist while simultaneously checking items off your bucket list?
Of course it is! This is a notion that first resonated with me while cruising in 2010. The excessive food waste (read: gluttony), boat pollution, and exploitation of foreign staff on low wages really bothered me. It distracted me to the point that I could barely enjoy myself. Sure the island ports were beautiful, but with only a few hours to explore each, was it really worth the consequential environmental footprint?
While cruises are fitting for some people, I can say with confidence that they aren’t for me. But this post isn’t about cruises. I do credit that epiphany, however, with alerting me to the various ways through which we can all do better as tourists:
Be kind
Always make it a priority to be kind and respectful while in a new place. Yes, I was singing at high volume on a recent boating excursion around Palawan, but I adjusted this by befriending the captain and staff, and helping clean up lunch after it was served and eaten. Put out kindness, and it shall be returned. It’s such a simple concept. It’s also a great idea to learn basic phrases (e.g. hello, thank you, goodbye) of the primary language where you visit. I’ve learned that even if your pronunciations are way off, your efforts will be appreciated!
Don’t litter
An easy practice to adhere to while traveling is to keep clean. Garbage pollution is particularly rampant in developing countries. In Bali I spent some time cleaning a heavily-littered beach, as I happened to have a large plastic bag on hand. It took 10 minutes, gave the beach a makeover, and made me feel like I was doing just a tiny bit of good for the local community. Do not discard your trash in the street even if trash is already present!
Avoid the tourist traps by supporting local businesses
I am absolutely guilty of riding the hop-on hop-off bus when on a time crunch in a new city. But when I can, I prefer to go beyond the central tourist bubble to see how the locals really live. Support families by buying from artisan villages, shop at the smaller markets (food here is the freshest of the fresh – and much cheaper), and avoid franchised, Western restaurants. We all need that American comfort food sometimes, but the more you can buy from a small business owner, the more security you have in knowing that your money is going straight into their pocket, which directly benefits their family. Fair bargaining is also important; offering too little for an item up for sale is just disrespectful- and trust me, you will be cussed out called out on it!
Protect the animals
When researching “where to ride elephants” prior to a Thailand trip a few years ago, I was shocked to learn the truth about this popular activity. The reality is that baby elephants forced into captivity (for tourism purposes) are taken from their mothers, and tortured as a means to break their spirit. Aside from being forced into submission, their bodies are physically damaged because their backs are not made to carry such weight (be it humans or for logging) on a regular basis. You can counter this bad practice by volunteering at a no-ride sanctuary that rescues elephants from unethical trekking companies. I spent a day at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and it was the most rewarding experience of my entire holiday.
In other instances, I question the decisions I’ve made. This past January I swam with whale sharks in Cebu, Philippines. While the creatures are technically free in the open ocean and swim toward you on their own accord, local fisherman are luring them in daily, with plankton for tourism. This can affect migration patterns and I imagine prevent young whale sharks from learning how to fend for themselves at the same rate as their seniors. It was a powerful experience but I’m still not sure at the end of the day if I did the right thing.
Above all else, do your research to learn about possible risks before contributing money to questionable tourism agencies. And for God’s sake, don’t pet or “walk” a heavily sedated tiger at a cat park.
Ultimately the decisions you make while traveling will affect local communities and the environment. With minimal effort, you can consciously protect these often less-fortunate populations, while still ensuring an enjoyable vacation. Can you think of other practices that promote ethical tourism? I have a lot to work on and I’m interested in becoming a better traveler (and person) every step of the way.
