What the … is ethical tourism?
Many of us dream of an exotic trip, a fantastic adventure tour and a holiday in the paradise. Some people can easily realize these desires due to their social situation and some by saving for many years, taking out a personal loan or getting an unexpected inheritance. And of course, there are many people for whom this will remain only a dream for the rest of their lives.
Some people plan every moment of the trip meticulously, some start with a precise concept and some people enjoy every minute of the holiday completely spontaneously.
There are so many people and so many approaches but there are still very few who plan their journey with the interests of the people living in the tourist destination in mind.
The problem is very complex and requires careful preparation. It is necessary to know the social, religious, ethical, cultural customs of the destination, the functioning of its ecosystem and its current political and geopolitical situation.
What can we do to keep the rules of ethical tourism?
First, think carefully about why you want to visit your chosen destination. Why do you want to go to that place at all costs? What is our personal motivation?
If we know the answer to this question, it is much easier to wonder whether our visit will add to or take away from the daily life of the people living there. It is also worth considering carefully how long these places can be visited if the tourist destinations are overloaded. Will they survive for future generations or will we devour them piece by piece like a hungry lion? Are we going there because of the mass attraction or because the locals are gaining from our presence?
The simplest approach, however, is to put ourselves in the other’s position. We should play with the idea that we were born in a part of the world that is a favourite destination for tourists. How do we want those who visit us for a longer period of time to behave with us, our immediate natural environment, our values, our talents, our built heritage?
Would we always like to be kind and friendly to those who do not respects our customs, leave garbage behind, damage or take away our values, exploit our natural resources, are loud, disrespectful, demanding, have high expectations of us, expect a lot for little in return, do not follow or just naively believe that they are helping us when they are destroying?
Once these questions are answered, we are much closer to the solution. Then we can peacefully put on our hiking shoes, put our backpacks on our back, pay for our dream vacation or our exotic adventure tour and conquer the world because not only we, but also those who are waiting for us with an open heart and unforgettable hospitality, will be the winners of this adventure.