“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” — St. Augustine
The Magic Castle children’s book series was my absolute favorite as a kid. My mom used to gather me and my sister into the “secret” nook in her walk-in closet with a small stack lined up to be read before bedtime. All of the books told different stories with different characters but each began the same . . .
“Come to the magic castle
when you are growing tall.
Rows upon rows of Word Windows
line every single wall.
They reach up high,
as high as the sky,
and you want to open them all.
For every time you open one,
a new adventure has begun.”
I loved this idea of word windows. Each book was a window that fed my curiosity, letting me peek into a new world, a world different than my own.
While my childhood was filled with word windows of all kinds, adolescence brought a desire for more. I didn’t want to just imagine what it was like to live in these worlds I was reading about; I wanted to experience them for real.
Thinking back to that curious little girl, it’s no surprise that travel has become a top priority of mine. Travel is the ability I once wished for: to step into a word window.
However, we can’t simply step into a new world and expect our presence to have no impact; because in most ways it will. We have seen negative impacts on both local communities and the environment as a result of travel and tourism. But let’s face it: we aren’t going to stop traveling. And we shouldn’t.
Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Travel is a learning opportunity. It is a time for enjoying and a time for growing. It is a chance to experience new worlds filled with new people, recreation, worship, languages, food, sounds, even new colors. The pros can outweigh the cons if we play our cards right.
While there can be difficulties in examining the footprints we leave on new lands, it’s important that we understand how heavy our footprints are and how they affect these places and the people who call them home. To my fellow explorers, ethical travel is possible! Here are some tips on how to leave the right mark on your next destination.
Support Local
Supporting local businesses can benefit a community both economically and environmentally.
- Eating and drinking local products means your food and drink traveled a short distance to get in your belly. Less food miles = less carbon pollution into the air.
- Buy souvenirs, clothes, and other items from local artisans. Strike up conversation and ask the vendor how and where a product was made to be sure that it is fair-trade and ethically produced.
- Check out the outdoor markets and food stalls where locals do their shopping to stay away from tourist traps! - Use family-owned companies when booking tours to make sure that your money is going directly back to the community. There can be controversy over certain cultural excursions, as some types of performance or activities can potentially demean a group of local people. As a whole, it’s imperative to know the history and intentions of the companies you give business to.
- Stay at family-owned bed and breakfasts if possible as opposed to large hotel chains. If you do choose a hotel or hostel accommodation, look for one that is committed to sustainability. Try out a LEED certified hotel or stay in an eco-village. Make sure you’re staying somewhere that has effective waste management and is as energy efficient as possible.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
Don’t let the beautiful words of Aretha Franklin leave your mind as you journey through new places. Always be mindful to respect the culture, customs, and land in which you’re exploring.
- Without being outwardly culturally appropriative, know the norms for dress code of your destination. You don’t want to offend anyone, nor do you want to stand out in more ways than you already might. Think about proper attire for: on the streets, at the beaches, at places of religious worship, etc.
- Be tolerant and open to the beauty of a new and different culture and/or religion. Some religions allow non-believers to enter their worship space and participate in ceremonies while others do not. Be knowledgable, aware, and accepting of the possibilities of each situation.
- Always clean up after yourself! Don’t litter. Whether it’s in nature, a small suburb, or a big city; you wouldn’t want trash around your neighborhood so why would you toss your granola bar wrapper in someone else’s?
- You don’t want to disturb the ecosystem. Don’t remove plants or feed animals, and stay on trails and public footpaths (probably for your own safety, as well).
Volunteering
Volunteering abroad can be a wonderful experience, but it can occasionally bring more harm than good. There is a lot of controversy with volunteer services across the world, especially in third-world countries and impoverished communities. These are the most important things to ask yourself when considering the ethics of your volunteer service:
- Are you volunteering for the right reasons?
- Are you simply showing up at an orphanage to play with some kids, take some photos, feel fulfilled, and then head back home to long hot showers, fro-yo, and Facebook to tell everyone else about it? - What are the long-term effects of your work on the community?
- Did you do something such as help establish a program that will be sustainable beyond the time you serve? Did you provide the community with the tools to succeed after volunteers have left? - What are you taking away from the work you’ve done?
- Has a new way of living opened your eyes and acted as a catalyst for change in your own life?
Animal Welfare
Animal welfare is also a tricky subject to address during travel adventures. Do you visit the zoo? Ride the elephant? Swim with the dolphins?
- Research, research, research. Try your best to find out as much information as possible about any excursions involving animals or animal habitat to be sure that little to no harm is done. There tends to be a lot of gray areas and debate regarding what is and isn’t harmful.
- The Ethical Travel Guide is a good place to start for information, like this article on elephant trekking in Thailand. - Watch what you buy as a souvenir! You don’t want to buy products made from any parts of an endangered species (i.e. body parts, ivory, coral, tortoise-shell, animal hides). Besides the morality aspect, they could be illegal.
Getting There
One of the biggest environmental impacts caused by travel is the carbon output from transportation. How can we reduce it?
- Taking public transportation: Choosing to see the countryside from a bus or train instead of a five-hour flight can cut your carbon footprint by as much as one whole tonne. Public transportation is also a great way to meet other travelers and interact with locals. (Check out our recent article on traveling by bus in the U.S.).
- If you do have to fly, try to nail direct flights to avoid the short haul trips (500 kilometers or less). More pollution is emitted at the start of the engine and during take-off, so limiting the number of aircraft you take to get to a particular destination is most environmentally-friendly. Also, try to choose airlines with higher occupancy rates and more efficient aircrafts.
- Pack Light! I’ve always been a fan of packing light for the pure convenience, but it turns out that every kilo counts when you’re flying. A plane produces more carbon emissions the more it weighs, so packing one bag instead of two makes it easier on everyone.
Habits for Always
Sustainability shouldn’t stop when we leave our homes. Keep up any sustainable habits during your travels to reduce your footprint and possibly inspire others along the way. (If you don’t do any of these already, start now!)
- Someone once told me, “act in a hotel like you would at home.”
- Avoid getting clean towels when it’s not necessary; don’t take excessively long showers; turn off the TV, lights, and air when you leave the room. - Don’t take plastic bags.
- Some countries require that you pay for a bag in the grocery or clothing store, so not taking (or expecting) one will save you money.
- It’s ultimately easier to carry one sturdy backpack or canvas bag to hold all of your souvenir type things than to have a bunch of small bags hanging off your arm. - Avoid other plastic waste like water bottles.
- It can be tough to avoid bottled water in places where tap water is unsafe. Invest in a water bottle with a built in filter. You will find that you’re hydrated more often and saving money.
[Alaina Kiesel | Editorial Assistant Intern | North Carolina & New York, USA]
Be sure to download the Tiplr iOS app and check out Tiplr.com to see more of Alaina’s tips and adventures.
