9 Tips For Travelling The World With A Conscience

Brought to you by G Adventures.

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Travel has always been considered a positive: the more we connect with other cultures and people, the more we learn about the world. It can also bring in helpful tourism dollars to areas that may otherwise struggle. Unfortunately, it isn’t always this simple — when conducted irresponsibly, our holidays can have an adverse effect on cultures and communities.

In the ‘80s, the travel world began to treat regional environments with heightened respect — ‘eco-tourism’ was a boon for the world’s flora and fauna, but it didn’t necessarily take into account things like culture, custom, and the rights of the local inhabitants themselves.

Today’s ‘ethical tourism’ is ‘eco-tourism 2.0’: a style of globetrotting that seeks to replenish and give back just as much as it yields. With a bit of awareness, we can all leave an even more positive footprint along the tourist trail. Here are a few tips and techniques on how to become a more ethical traveller.

1. Read Up Before You Go

It can be exciting to arrive in a new place ‘carte blanche’. However, travel always tends to favour the researched — even if just a little. Before you scoot off, read up a bit about the local cultures you’ll be immersing yourself in, including customs, traditions, and expectations; locals always appreciate an actively engaged foreigner.

2. Choose Your Destination Wisely

What is the human rights record in the place you’re heading? Any major environmental issues or problems with social/animal welfare? How does it view gender or sexuality? No nation is without its faults, but some really are worth researching beforehand. Do your homework, consider your destination sensibly and sensitively, and be aware of the issues before planting your tourist dollar.

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3. Pick Ethical Companies

There’s a sea of tour and trip companies out there. It’s worth using your judgement and picking those making an effort to do some good! Grass roots, low-impact, high sustainability groups are the way forward; look for operators who engage with local communities and businesses, pay local workers fairly, and use eco-friendly practices. This can be hard to spot as not all are transparent, but looking out for reputable certifications (like the International Ecotourism Society and Rainforest Alliance) is a good start.

4. Have A Little Respect

Always, always, show respect to your hosts. Local inhabitants are the direct recipients of your custom, and it’ll be mutually beneficial if you travel with them in mind. The world is a profoundly diverse place, with a spectrum of ideas and attitudes on everything from clothing, dining etiquette, public decorum and social interaction – get savvy, make sure you’re on top of the local norms, and go with the local flow.

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5. Think About What You’re Buying

Everyone loves a bit of homecoming show-and-tell, but think about what you’re actually buying before you lay your cash down on that rare souvenir. Is it fashioned from an endangered species? Keep shopping. Elephant ivory is a big no-no, so too are sea turtle shells, big cat fur, and things like shatoosh (shawls made from the wool of Tibetan antelope). Lastly, as long as you’re buying sustainable goods that don’t harm ecosystems or degrade local custom, bargain and barter to your heart’s content, but always make sure it’s a fair deal for all.

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6. Eat Something New!

Mealtime is the common human denominator, whether you’re from Tahiti or Timbuktu This means there’s no better place than the dining table/floor/carpet to discover something different. Wincing at that ant salad or BBQ’d frog? Stay open to the new, and reap the benefits of risk — like TV chef Anthony Bourdain reminds us, risk is what good food — and good eating — is all about.

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7. Respect The Environment

Cue: the eco bit — it’s a central tenet of ethical travel, and in a perfect world, a core function of everyday life. Appreciate the local wildlife, but don’t mess with it; observe the fauna, but don’t feed the animals; never litter, carry little, and dispose of trash sensibly. Obviously, the flight getting you there and back remains a carbon conundrum. Keep your air miles to a minimum where you can and spend those extra few dollars to offset your carbon emissions if that’s an option.

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8. Don’t Ride The Elephants

It ain’t cool, folks. Same goes for ‘animal prop’ photos stops (to say nothing of sport and big game hunting). Don’t support any businesses that keep wildlife captive, and avoid any festivals or cultural events that implicitly condone cruelty.

9. Be Aware Of Grey Areas

There can often be a fine line between what is and isn’t ethical, and it sits at a different point for each traveller. We’re beset with a range of dilemmas on the tourist trail — should you give money to begging children? Will boycotting a country based on human rights abuses further disenfranchise those being abused? Should you take part in a ‘spiritual’ ceremony, or conform to local dress you don’t personally agree with? When travelling, as at home, always fall back on your own discretion and make decisions based on both knowledge and your own conscience. Know the facts, weigh up grey areas, and forever travel smart. Your hosts, environment, and planet with thank you for it.

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