Responsible tourism provides travelers with the unique experiences they seek, while making a positive contribution to local communities and economies in a culturally sensitive (and appreciative way) and minimizing environmental damage and degradation.
The concept of and need for responsible travel has been a core value of mine since my very early days of travel. It struck me while studying in Barbados back in 1997. I was sitting on the beach with some friends I had made at the University of West Indies. We were basking in the sun, while staring at the cerulean sea and taking in the smells of fermented molasses from the local rum distillery. When literally out of the blue, a massive white Cruise ship approached, ultimately blocking our view. I found it an annoying intrusion, as one would a buzzing mosquito, but my Bajan friends and colleagues looked at the ship with complete disdain and disgust.
“We hate them,” stated a friend seated next to me.
I remember being confused by this and replied, “I can see it as being annoying, but don’t they contribute to the local economy?” To which they all firmly stated a resounding “no!”
I didn’t understand, as I had never been on a cruise, but my friends informed me that the tourists come to port only briefly, do not venture outside of the Cruise company boundaries, and are instructed to only patronize businesses and restaurants promoted by the Cruise companies (which included a Subway).
“Why even bother leaving home?” I wondered.
Now that was a long time ago and the Cruise industry has changed quite a bit and continues to improve on its environmental sustainability and cultural sensitivity. There are even companies that hold to these standards of immersing their guests in local cultures and experiences while reducing their ecological footprint, so good responsible choices abound in the cruising world these days.
But I clearly remember that being the defining moment for me in how I go about my travels. If I am leaving the comfort of my home to venture to a new place, these are the steps I take to make sure I am traveling responsibly:
First, I take the time to learn about the place I am traveling to: I educate myself on its history, cultures, people, and try to learn at least a few words of the local language (some greetings, please and thank you and always “one beer please”) and then I do my best to pick up whatever I can while there, as if I were a toddler learning to speak for the first time.
Second, I carefully plan and research where to stay and what to do: staying at local hotels/accommodation and visiting local restaurants/eateries and doing activities to help me learn more about the place and immerse myself in it. My cardinal rules of travel even in the United States are: 1. No chain restaurants, 2. No chain hotels, and 3. Get off the interstate/beaten path as much as possible.
When in country: I always treat local people with respect and take a genuine interest in them and their culture and humanity. I try the local dishes, I drink the local drinks, I listen to local music, I shop at local artisanal shops. I observe and take it all in and try to avoid the crowded tourist areas as much as possible, to ensure that I am having the most genuine and authentic experience possible. I also do my part to steward and protect the local environment to respect the place I am visiting and leave as little of a footprint as I can: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Finally, upon my return home: I make sure to share everything I learned. I distribute the gifts I bought from local vendors, I tell the stories I heard on my travels and bring people into my experiences. I do this because I firmly believe that the only way to know and understand each other is to get out of our own communities and comfort zones and connect to other humans on a deeper, more meaningful level.
I know firsthand the power of travel in bringing us closer together and reducing prejudices and misunderstandings and I do believe that by traveling responsibly we can make the world a better place for everyone.
So…where is next for you?
heatherlaneadventures.blog 
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