We can spread awareness

I mentioned in an earlier post that the media play an influential role in our decisions about where to travel and how we choose to travel. Travel agencies and the media portray countries as beautiful picturesque destinations, however these images are isolated from the true reality of the country.

It is easy to believe that the images on websites such as Expedia and Travelocity are true, especially if you are an inexperienced traveler. These images appear to be accurate images of the destinations, however it is merely a secluded view that is separated from reality. This view does not incorporate the history, turmoil and local culture of the country.

Perhaps it is fair to give tourists the benefit of the doubt--they were persuaded by the surrounding media. They were persuaded to believe that the nirvana they are experiencing is the reality in that country.

This tactic is being used by travel agencies in order to make the customer as comfortable as possible. This entails placing them in a location similar to their lifestyle. The travel agency opts out of providing opportunities for their customers to learn about and experience the country in order to generate a higher revenue.

By visiting other blogs or doing more research online, travelers will be able to find images of the real country--poverty, filth and all. These are the images that portray real life without a filter.

It is possible to find responsible travel on blogs and non-profit organization websites, however, mainstream travel agencies, like Expedia and Travelocity, never advertise responsible travel anywhere on their website.

Someone who is explicitly interested in volunteer travel has to search for it online. The option is not readily offered through many outlets.

We can spread the idea of responsible travel easily by word-of-mouth and by utilizing social media to create awareness about this new trend. The trend is emerging amongst the younger generation (teens and 20s) so by utilizing our resources, we will be able to help speed up this trend.


Sources:

www.expedia.com
www.travelocity.com

You can still stay in your comfort zone.

There has recently been an increasing trend in travel (versus tourism), especially amongst the younger generation.

More and more people are participating in volunteer abroad projects through programs such as International Student Volunteers (ISV) and the Peace Corps.

The average age for a Peace Corps volunteer is 28 years old and at least 90% have at least an undergraduate degree.

International Student Volunteers is a similar, though much shorter program for college students to participate in. It involves only two weeks of service followed by two weeks of being a responsible tourist during an adventure tour.

However, the Peace Corps and even International Student Volunteers is an extreme example of practicing social responsibility in tourism.

Websites such as responsibletravel.com offer alternative ways to travel responsibly. It offers categories for types of travel (i.e.: honeymoon, adventure, cultural, luxury, short breaks, etc.) in order to satisfy your travel needs.

I recommend exploring different avenues such as responsibletravel.com that offer deals and itineraries while still promoting eco-tourism. This site coordinates lodging at eco-friendly lodges and hotels that will help sustain the local economy in the country that you would like to visit.

I stayed at a family-owned hotel, called Casa Bonita, while in the Dominican Republic. Certain family-owned hotels such as Casa Bonita are even more beautiful than resorts because it is in a quiet, isolated city and still offers great amenities.

Here are some pictures I took of Casa Bonita during my stay in August:


(Photos by Sapna Patel)

Practicing responsible tourism does not have to mean foregoing a relaxing vacation. It does not require volunteering or even living like the locals if that is not what you want during your vacation. It can simply mean spending your hard-earned money at a local business and on local food.

Maybe the next time you plan a vacation, you will choose to utilize websites such as responsibletravel.com in order to become a responsible traveler.


Sources:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about.fastfacts

http://www.responsibletravel.com/

http://www.isvonline.com