An average tourist plans a vacation, travels to a new country, finds familiar-looking restaurants, takes a few pictures of themselves in front of some of the sites, and goes home. However, real traveling is more than that. It is a way to experience different cultures and to interact with the people from across the globe. Conscious travel teaches us how to make our trips more wholesome and meaningful.
Locals
Let’s start by pointing out that not all people have the same opportunities in life presented to them. Big cities and popular tourist sites are there to draw in the crowd, but often neglect to account for how this impacts the local community. Often, it means that the cost of living in these places rises exponentially with each tourist and the living expenses shift during the season.
Instead of following the crowd, it is good on occasion to take the road less traveled and to experience the local life firsthand. This is good for two things. First, you will learn more about the country itself from the local populace, including the mentality, beliefs, and history. Secondly, you will get an opportunity to impact the lives of people around you positively. You may enhance their education, stimulate the local economy by purchasing from local shops and eating at local restaurants, or something else that has a similar effect.
Ambassadors
Bear in mind that when you are visiting a new country, you are essentially an ambassador of your own. We are not talking about negotiating about the political cooperation between the two countries in question, but of how the locals will perceive others coming from your country in the future. One of our members at coneyislandusa had the misfortune of being a tourist in a country where his fellow countrymen had wreaked havoc with littering and the noise. As a result of this, the member in question was denied a number of visiting privileges. To put it simply, it is important to be mindful of the local customs, traditions, and expectations. Don’t litter, recycle if possible, keep the noise levels to a minimum, and try not to offend anyone.
Why?
As we’ve mentioned before, when you travel to a different country, you also affect the lives of the people you are visiting. It is up to you to make this experience a positive one for them, as well as for yourself. While there are tourists that don’t care about the experience and are simply looking for a good time, it is important to treat traveling as visiting an untouched piece of nature. Leave no negative footprints and see what you can do to make this experience more meaningful for you and those around you.
