Photography by Jen Roberts
Costa Rica
Tourism is one of the largest economic industries in the world, and it's growing at a startling rate. The World Tourism Organization expects tourist arrivals to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, up from 1,184 million in 2015. This means that for many destinations, tourism is often the main source of revenue. It has the potential to create jobs, improve restoration efforts, and protect natural environments. On the flip side, it can cause environmental degradation, loss of culture, and create issues of access for locals.
The travel bans during the pandemic only exasperated these issues. Natural environments flourished with fewer visitors, but people who depend on tourism dollars suffered. As the world begins to open back up and as travel numbers are expected to increase, it’s important that we think about how to support the communities that we visit. Here are a few ways to be a more mindful traveler:
Choose where to spend your money. One of the most effective ways to positively affect the communities we visit is, of course, with our wallets. Communities should benefit from tourism revenue, but many times they don't. When making plans for hotels, tours, transportation, shopping, and dining, it's important to ensure the money goes back to the community. To do so, consider staying at hotels that are locally owned, booking tours that are operated by or partnered with locals, hiring local drivers, eating at locally-owned restaurants, and buying souvenirs directly from artisans instead of gift shops.
Be respectful of the culture. Learn about cultural norms before traveling, so you aren't unknowingly offending others. When guidelines are given, be sure to follow them. For instance, because tourists were wandering off the marked paths at Machu Picchu, the Peru landmark instituted timed entries, in hopes that restricting foot traffic would prevent damage to the site.
Critically examine opportunities to interact with and support animals and children. Do research to ensure that animals are treated ethically before financially supporting any organization working with them. Also, giving money or small gifts to children on the street may seem like a kind gesture, but it can have an adverse impact, inadvertently encouraging them to remain on the street rather than in school. If you feel inclined to give, find a reputable organization or school to which to contribute.
Minimize your waste. Bringing your own water bottle will significantly cut down the use of plastic, as will bringing your own cloth grocery bag. More and more countries are adopting a no-plastic-bag policy; bringing your own will eliminate the need to buy one at the supermarket.
