Ethical Travelling

In order to really experience the country you are travelling to, it is important to respect its ways and traditions. Most people just want to come see the sights and are not all that interested in the people, their culture, and their environment. Here is where ethical travelers tend to differ, for them responsible travelling is the most important aspect of visiting and exploring a new country.

So in order to better understand the many benefits of ethical traveling, let’s see how one goes about it.

Do Your Homework

If we want to become responsible ethical travelers it is important to get to know the country we are about to explore. This does not just include the locations, travel routes, and sleeping accommodations. There is much more to it. First of all, make sure that you opt for the most eco-friendly manner of transport around your destination. This way you will not only minimize your carbon-footprint but also get to interact more with the locals and get to see areas not included on the regular tourist maps. Then, try to change your manner of interaction with the locals. Research their culture, how to greet them, what is considered respectful and what isn’t. They are your hosts and will do their best to show you what their home has to offer. Local guides tend to be truly passionate and proud of their homeland, you just need to show interest and they can be your best source of knowledge.

Bali

Discover More

By opting for ethical travelling and immersing yourself in the local culture you can learn so much more and have many unique experiences. For example, instead of just visiting some of the great Australian national parks, you will have the option to spend some time in them, volunteer to help the park rangers, and even get to explore some new areas. A typical tourist does not get to do these things on account that they usually do not show interest. But someone who is interested in responsible traveling wants to help the country they visit, is willing to learn about the heritage and history. This allows them to experience everything on a much deeper level.

Australia

Manner of Travel

Instead of just booking a regular trip for you and your family, you can opt to provide your teens with a much more immersive experience. With programs such as Schoolies in 2018, they can have the opportunity to spend their school break volunteering in an orphanage in Cambodia. This is a great way of getting to know a new country, seeing how we can help others, and getting acquainted with the culture and customs first hand. These types of trips are what ethical travelling is all about. Parents who chose to send their kids on such journeys know that they will be providing them with more than just a trip, they will be teaching them an important lesson and helping them get to know the world around them from different perspectives. And that is an experience that will last them a lifetime.

Cambodia

Opting for an Eco-Friendly Accommodation

Being a responsible traveler also involves choosing the right accommodation. For those of us who are really adventurous, opting for camping is definitely the least invasive way of exploring a country. However some ethical travelers do love comfort, so for them it is best to opt for some of the great eco-friendly resorts around the world. They are built from sustainable materials, specifically designed to minimize the impact on the environment, and by opting to stay in one of these you can be sure that you are in no way harming the ecological balance of the country you are visiting. This type of tourism is on the rise and hopefully, we will get to see more people opting for such accommodation, and making responsible traveling a priority.

These are just some of the ways ethical travelling can enrich our lives and help us make our planet a better place.