Travelling the globe and scratching off as many locations off our bucket lists as we can have turned into a combination of an extreme sport and a benchmark of ultimate life success. With the rise of social media over the last decade or so, people of all ages seem to be competitively travelling to some of the most expensive, far-away locations imaginable and publicizing almost every detail.
Becoming culturally well-rounded and educating ourselves about the art, people and customs of foreign cultures is a beautiful and enriching part of life. However, with international travel becoming as popular as it has, I think there may be some social, financial, ecological, and cultural factors to consider – and I don’t mean simply booking fewer international flights to reduce your carbon footprint. We should prioritize educating ourselves and certainly the next generation, to the best of our abilities, about exercising some intentionality behind global travel. Below are a few initial thoughts I’ve had on how we could do so.
HOW TO PRACTICE CONSCIOUS TRAVEL
Research the language, customs and culture of the destination.
Learning an entire foreign language quickly right before you depart isn’t necessary, but I’ve noticed that sometimes attempting to communicate with locals in the city you are visiting, in their native language, can work wonders for building a connection while also learning said language.
Additionally, showing some appreciation and prior knowledge about the culture, such as the history, greetings, body language, proper attire, etc., can significantly deepen and diversify your experience, increase your safety, and save you some money from time to time.
Maintain a respectful attitude during and after your trip.
Coming away with your own opinions about your experience in any country is entirely expected and encouraged. Sharing stories, funny incidents, and travel tips with your nearest and dearest is part of the appeal of travel. However, there has been an increasing trend online of people mocking, ridiculing, and verbally degrading the people and places they visit once they return. It’s one thing to caution people about unsafe areas, people and practices you may witness in any country you return from, but simply judging isn’t necessary.
As far as demonstrating respect during a trip, this shouldn’t really differ from your conduct in your home city. General politeness to the locals, partying and celebrating in a civilized manner, tipping as necessary, etc., can all contribute to being welcomed back and representing your home country well!
Change your perspective on travel signifying success.
World travel has become equated to a successful career, raising a family, or getting a master’s degree. I’m afraid I have to disagree. While travel provides tremendous personal growth and a delightful psychological break from what may be perceived as mundane and repetitive lives, I don’t believe those who throw money at luxury vacations and post them on social media to symbolize social status are demonstrating any superior life skills.
If you’re not doing it silently and invisibly, at least sometimes, then perhaps your travel intentions must be revisited.
Customize your vacation style based on your personal preferences.
The sustainability of giant hotel resorts is a complex issue. While large hotels and resorts have historically had significant environmental impacts due to high water and energy consumption, waste production, and carbon emissions, there are efforts to make them more sustainable.
There are numerous other creative and sustainable accommodation options besides massive luxury chain hotels. Air BNBs, smaller boutique hotels, and hotels built with a sustainable focus are phenomenal ideas for places to stay. These venues also encourage you to leave the premises and explore the city rather than incentivizing you to shop, dine, and lounge on-site.
Regarding vacation durations, you don’t always need to spend an extensive two or three weeks away in any one place to feel like you’re getting an in-depth, authentic experience. If you are on a conservative time and financial budget, customizing your trip to a shorter time to include the essential experiences can work just as well.
Maintain an overall open mind.
Lastly, keeping an open mind while travelling will never lead you astray. Travel marketing and advertising can create surreal visions about what the ideal getaway is supposed to entail, but sometimes, reality can turn out quite different. Detours, delays, disappointing recommendations, losing your way, or anything that you may initially perceive as a setback can give you extraordinary learnings you never imagined you’d gain in the first place.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope what you have read has somehow educated, informed, or inspired you. If you’d like book recommendations on conscious travel, follow this link to GoodReads.
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