When you’re traveling, you’re not just on vacation; you’re also investing in the destination. Investing in a place means engaging with the community. If you visit a new place, try to engage with the locals and have a small conversation with them. During your stay, remember to give back to the community and engage in sustainable practices. It’s important to remember that the locals depend on you as a visitor, so try to be as helpful as you can.
Investing in a destination
If you are looking to invest in a tourism industry, consider a destination with a good reputation for quality travel. The Netherlands, South Korea and New Zealand are among the best countries to invest in for quality travel. However, you should be aware of the risks involved in this kind of venture. While you will have the opportunity to enjoy quality travel at affordable prices, there is no guarantee that your money will be safe. However, you can invest in gold, which can be sold anywhere and at any time.
Engaging with the locals
The importance of engaging with the locals is one of the most fundamental components of quality travel. It is difficult to achieve a sense of immersion and enrichment if you don’t engage with the locals. However, without an exchange of ideas, experiences, and culture, you risk returning home with only the memories of low prices and the friendly receptionist. Eventually, this will become boring. Hence, engaging with the locals is an essential part of your travel experience.
By paying for the accommodation of the locals, you can make an effort to know the people better and get to know their lifestyle better. This is a win-win situation, since you get to interact with the locals and also contribute to their livelihood. Not all people will be willing to help, and you may not be satisfied with their response. But if you’re curious about a place, ask the locals to show you around, and you can enjoy the local cuisine and culture as well.
Another great benefit of engaging with the locals when traveling is that you’ll be more likely to have meaningful conversations with them. You can get to know the locals more if you go off-the-beaten-track and stay in a homestay, for example. You’ll get a more complete sense of the local culture and can help put tourism dollars in their hands. It may even help you make friends as you travel.
Being a responsible traveler
To experience quality travel, you must be a responsible traveler. Be respectful of local customs and laws when you are abroad. One simple way to be a responsible traveler is to dress modestly. In some countries, such as Sri Lanka, women are expected to cover their bodies in public. If you are visiting a temple, you should wear modest clothing. Likewise, you should avoid wearing loud clothing and traveling in large groups.
Be respectful of animals. Whether you are on a safari or just traveling in an exotic location, be respectful of the environment. Do not feed wildlife. This is considered highly irresponsible, as it breaks their breeding and migration cycles. Don’t feed ducks bread because it’s an American custom! You should also try to engage with children, and if possible, let them interact with you. However, do not impose your presence on them, especially if they are children.
Be a responsible traveler means exploring off-the-beaten path. Travel to popular destinations but explore the towns and villages off the beaten track. In Morocco, for example, you can explore villages in the Atlas Mountains that are not as touristy as the ones in tourist centers. Similarly, you can travel to lesser-known destinations, such as Wellawaya, which is known as a backpackers’ hotspot.
