Sarah WallockSocially responsible and sustainable travel is imperative to making the world a more equitable, culturally accepting, and better place. A few small actions go a long way.
For the past 10 years, I’ve explored and questioned the identity of the tourist through collegiate studies, living and studying abroad in various capacities, literature, film, media, and firsthand travel experiences. In the Spring of 2019, I authored an 80-page college dissertation on the impact of travel guidebooks and the media on tourism destinations. Many of the threads of socially responsible travel that I explored in my dissertation have recently resurfaced for me, inspired by my recent travel to India.
I continue to study tourism and ask questions on how to be a respectful, socially responsible, and environmentally conscientious traveler. Here are a handful of important considerations I’ve adopted thus far:
- Make a Genuine Effort to Connect with People
- Dress Appropriately with Respect for Local Cultural Norms
- Respect Local Laws and Cultural Considerations
- Make an Effort to Learn the Language
- Spend Money, Tip, Write Reviews
- Go Reusable and Be Sustainable
- Pack Lightly and Travel with a Low-Impact
Make a Genuine Effort to Connect with People
Reciprocity.
Talk to people who live and work in the communities you visit. Take a genuine interest in people. Ask thoughtful questions. Promote intercultural engagement. Socially responsible tourism is reciprocity. Places shouldn’t just be constructed and manufactured for a tourist to consume thoughtlessly.
You are a visitor to the places you travel. A guest in another culture. A visitor in a community. The place you are visiting does not belong to you. It is a massive privilege to travel recreationally in the first place, so take a deep breath and take it all in.
Beyond connecting with locals, connect with other travelers. Take an interest in where they came from, why they are there, where they are going. Contribute to a global dialogue and help heal the world through meaningful conversations.
Open your mind to a different way of being.
Dress Appropriately with Respect for Local Cultural Norms
I loved living in a homestay in the old medina of Rabat, as part of my college semester abroad with the School for International Training. My homestay mom would help me dress appropriately for different occasions from going to the gym, spa, events, or visiting temples and religious sites. I intimately lived in someone’s home, was looked after like a member of the family (without question), and shared so many special moments with her and her husband.
My times spent abroad in homestays – where families welcomed me beyond barriers of language, culture, and religion – were some of the most meaningful experiences of my life. And I too, know, my family would reciprocate the gesture and welcome visitors with open arms and open hearts.
Do your research on where you’re going, and what’s culturally and religiously appropriate for your gender identity. Dress to your comfort, functionality, and chosen activities. Your choice of apparel is up to your personal comfort, but at the end of the day, showing respect for another culture through your dress is a great way to be a socially responsible traveler.
Spend money in the local economy, buy local clothing, wear it with pride. You’ll probably feel more comfortable this way and attract less attention anyway!
As a woman, I’ve always felt most comfortable traveling in neutral, baggy, and breathable clothing. When I’ve stayed places for longer, I find that mirroring the outfits of women my age is a good way to gauge what’s appropriate and draw less attention to myself.
Respect Local Laws and Cultural Considerations
Learn about where you’re traveling before you go. Are there any social or religious considerations you need to respect? Monitor your activity on social media. Keep your safety in mind and that of those around you. Actions that might be tolerated at home, may not always be appropriate abroad. It is always good to educate yourself on topics that might be taboo in an unfamiliar environment.
What is the culture around dating? Drinking alcohol? Religious events? What are some of the social norms?
Make an Effort to Learn the Language
Language learning can be intimidating and overwhelming, but a little bit goes a long way.
Take 5 minutes to learn a few phrases of the local language. Not only will it show your appreciation of a new culture, but it might grant you access to experiences you may not have had.
If you are a native English speaker, you have a natural advantage. When you open your mouth to speak and words pour out, you may have a presumption that someone, anywhere in the world, will understand you. And with 1.35 billion English speakers, someone just might.
Speaking in another language is free. With a little bit of conservational language skills, you might even make someone smile. Cherish that beaming grin that spreads from ear to ear. Relish in a local’s expression of pleasant shock and then intrigue. This has to be one of my favorite human expressions: surprise and pure joy, with a radiant warm glow.
As my British partner would say, “Manners cost nothing.”
¿Qué tal amigo? ¿Cómo estás chica?
Spend Money, Tip, Write Reviews
Socially responsible travel means participating.
See something you like? Meet someone who inspires you? Definitely let them know.
If you can afford it, one extra drink, souvenir, or larger tip for great service, keeps places on the map. Write Google or Yelp reviews. Recommend places to friends. Blog about it. Contribute to a larger conversation on travel, cross-cultural acceptance and appreciation, international awareness and language learning.
Budget travel and backpacking are great options for those who can’t afford to travel otherwise. But that doesn’t mean being a stingy traveler or losing perspective. It always helps me to take a moment and take a step back from the situation. No one likes to feel as if they’re being ripped off, but what’s the difference of a few dollars if you just flew halfway across the world?
Tourism-based communities are reliant on tourist dollars to sustain themselves. While having a deep conversation is nice and saying shukriyaa is nice, letting someone know you appreciate them in the form of money or recognition, like writing online reviews or recommending places to friends, is a much more sustainable action.
Go Reusable and Be Sustainable
Choose water bottles, bags, and travel clothing that last. Of course, things may get trashed, destroyed, or heavily adventured-in along the way, but that’s all part of the fun. I love my Eagle Creek packing cubes, that I’ve owned for 10 years, and Osprey packs for my carry-on approach to travel.
Pack Lightly and Travel with a Low-Impact
A key component to socially responsible travel and environmentally friendly practices is to pack lightly. Try to make a low-impact everywhere you go.
Air travel is one of the leading causes of CO2 emissions and a significant contributor to climate change. Hop on a bike. Go by foot. Hitchhike, when safe to do so. Grab a spot in the chicken bus. Utilize sustainable transportation options.
All in all, recreational travel is a massive gift and by just putting a small amount of effort in, you could help contribute in a big way to a more sustainable and equitable future of travel.
To learn more about socially responsible travel and what solidarity work is: check out this incredibly thoughtful conversation on Cultural Appropriation produced by PBS Roots, Race & Culture.
Excellent Sarah, good advice
Thanks for reading, John!