Improving tourism and the touristic experience

As we become global citizens and see our lives intertwining with our peoples around the planet we want to become more respectful, better stewards, economically just, and culturally aware. Whenever onetravels to countries as far apart from our homelands, as China is from the United States, this may seem more daunting. This should not prevent one from traveling and taking on this challenge.

Brittany and I often have talked about the pain we feel when we visit beautiful regions in the world that have been exploited and inexorably altered by the power of touristic influences. In early experiences of travel, most backpackers rely heavily on guide books to help them navigate new cities, countries, and hard to reach areas. These books, (Lonely Planet, Footprint, Rough Guide etc), help reveal special places often recommended by other travelers experiences. However, there is a corollary effect to tourist and guidebook recommendations. After 'making the guide' influx impacts of new tourism on remote indigenous, culturally unique, environmentally pristine, or ethnically sacred territory often destroys exactly what made each great. Edward Abbey made good descrition of how this occurred in the development of USA National Parks in his book Desert Solitaire. New Orleans native, Mark Plotkin, draws a similar comparison to missionaries, drug companies, and tourist impacts on the last remote tribes on the planet in his ethnobotanical memoir Shaman's Apprentice.

I have lost track now of how many times I referred to those of us who began hostels in Colombia in the last 10 years in the following way,"We are in the tourism business; but, we do not want any more tourism." Tourism, it seems, is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

How can we behave differently as tourists and guides to mitigate the negative effects of too much tourism and facilitate sustainable travel?

Here are some ways of building positive touristic experience:

As the tourist:

1. When you reach the end of the road, keep going.
   In Latin America the tourist trail is referred to as the Gringo Trail. Travelers go to the same spots other travelers have gone before. As travel increases, tourist businesses develop to meet increasing demand. To reach nonimpacted areas all one has to do is go 2 km from any tourist route. Generally, one will find that one is welcomed as an honored guest, helped more eagerly, and given a more local and complex view of the area one is wanting to visit.
2. Respect local customs and yourself in the process.
   We are always ambassadors for the people who come after us and for the lands and people from which we have come. Lacking knowledge or language skills is not enough of an obstacle to being dignified, polite, and generous of spirit. Across the planet, observing how locals interact, treating people the way we hope to be treated, and engaging our hosts with thankful and joyful honesty opens doors for others to follow us.
3. Keep your game face on - and put your best foot forward.
   Travel is difficult, fraught with unexpected events, sudden changes, and uncomfortable new challenges. While one may feel overwhelmed, tired, or bemused in the moment, hold on to what is usually at the root of why we come in the first place: This place interests and intrigues us; and, while we may not be 100% at ease in every moment, our previous experiences (and the wealth of those who have experienced travel before us) all point to the overwhelming majority opinion that negative and uncomfortable memories are erased and our positive memories have staying power. We remember smiles and pleasant differences.

As the tourist developer:

1. Think 'green' locally, act globally
2. Behave outside the Box
3. Make your tourism unique
   Most parts of the world where tourism begins start off when someone recognizes that others would like to visit a place we have fallen for completely. Starting a business in this condition only insures that copycat businesses will follow and replicate your success. Not only does this present an annoyance and undercut your hard work's achievement, it utterly ruins the sacred place you aimed to share. Generally, if you have any business principles or memory this will force you out figuratively or literally.

Emerging Trends in Tourism: Ecotourism and Sustainable Development

In earlier blogs, we have discussed ZERI or Zero Emmissions Planning Ecotourism, Volunteer Tourism, and Zero Carbon Tourism are new ways travelers seek to fully engage new peoples, lands, and places while allowing their footprints to fade ecologically into the sands of time. Allowing tourists to take increased responsibility for their impact changes behaviors between locals and visitors. This also enhances the overall experiences of visitors and hosts.

The future is here, how do we embrace it more fully?