My goal has always been to make this blog about my learning journey as a travel professional and agency owner of trying to navigate and build a sustainable business that reflects my goals, and ultimately my values, without seeming judgemental or sanctimonious. This is not meant to judge anyone as it is to educate as I am continuing to learn about this topic while, simultaneously, tossing a line to possibly catch other friendly folk with shared interests and values.
I highlighted a few of the most common forms of truly sustainable or responsible travel in the post prior to this one. I am much more hesitant to call out unsustainable forms of tourism because the issue is complicated. My goal is to be knowledgeable about the potential problems of tourism with either alternative choices or a conscientious mindset that provides a positive impact to the world without the deprivation of an experience. With all of that said, there are some clear signs of tourism that can be very harmful. I would like to highlight these to be more conscientious as you move forward on your vacation planning - look a little deeper… Voluntourism that involves children, especially orphanages or schools, appeals to the altruistic side of people who want to do good in the world. Understand that many of the orphanages for these experiences are often kept full in order to bring in tourists, not vice versa. The “helping” is creating the problem. Of course, this is not to say that all voluntourism is bad. It’s not. Be extra vigilant if children are involved. Animal experiences and selfies, even at animal sanctuaries or under the guise of helping with conservation efforts, can be harmful to those animals. The Sloth snuggling photo-op has become increasingly popular. The riding of elephants, swimming with dolphins, selfies with a lion or tiger cub, etc.. make for some great photos, but animals are either stressed, drugged, or abused for that photo opportunity.. Some sanctuaries advertise experiences as a conservation funding source which puts the practice in an ethical gray area. It’s a tough call. The general rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t do it in the wild, you shouldn’t do it. In general, keep a 2 meter distance from all wildlife. The all-inclusive resort concept was built to bring tourism to areas with beautiful beach landscapes and high poverty levels. By creating a bubble of paradise with everything from activities to meals and alcoholic beverages conveniently included in the price, there leaves no need to venture out beyond the walls of the resort. The concept of everything included in the upfront cost is not *bad* as much as the isolating of the tourists from the surrounding communities deprives those areas of the economic benefits of tourism as well as potentially displacing the locals, cutting local access to resources, and/or harming natural resources. Although these resorts can bring jobs, workers can be exploited and “jobs” don’t necessarily provide wealth to a community. With the warnings of the potential negative impacts that all-inclusive resorts can have on a local community, the convenience of a prepaid vacation in a tropical paradise is inarguably attractive to tourists, and some resorts have taken a more sustainable approach to the all-inclusive business model. Here are some positive efforts to look for:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorThis is my journey as I navigate the world of sustainable travel for myself and my business. Archives
April 2024
Categories |