Whether it is a business trip, luxury beach
villa, volunteering project, solo trip to any other type of vacation it is very
important to remember that tourism carries with it a sense of responsibility.
This responsibility, termed, as ‘responsible tourism’ is the management of
tourism, where economic, social and environmental benefits are maximised.
When was the last time that you went for a
holiday and actually paid attention to the culture of the region that you were
in? Although tourism is one of the main reasons for uniting hundreds and
thousands of people, it is absolutely important and imperative for travellers
to abide by certain travel ethics and prevent destruction of a region’s
heritage, culture and habitat.
A very popular adage, “Take only
photographs, leave only footprints” can very aptly be used in this context. Besides
tourism being of different types such as ecotourism, sustainable tourism,
medical tourism, pro-poor tourism, mass tourism, social tourism to even
creative tourism; there are plenty of leisure-oriented trips that are popular
in summer, winter and other seasons across the world.
One of the most important aspects to being
a responsible tourist is being sensitive to the culture, people, customs and etiquette
of a place that you are visiting. This is especially the case in Asian
countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, China, Korea, etc. The
western manner of conduct is not necessarily the right way in all parts of the
world. It is extremely important to mix
with the locals of the community, as you are first of all visiting their
country and land. You may be viewed with suspicion or curiosity but you have to
maintain an open mind and learn from your experience!
Dressing appropriately is one of the most
important local guidelines that one can abide as a responsible tourist.
Dressing inappropriately, even if it’s to a historical site can be viewed as
offensive.
Littering is one of the most common
pitfalls of tourism, especially in developing countries, which do not even have
a refuse collective system! Avoid purchasing products in disposable packaging.
Visiting countries that are well known for
their wildlife is one of the main reasons why tourists flock to a certain
locality. It is very important to remember that these animals also need to be
respected in their habitat. Littering again in parks or trying to feed animals
when not permitted should be avoided!
Even if you are trekking or mountain biking
with a group, some friends or alone you should stick to the marked paths at all
points of time. While this is not only for safety sake it will also help to
prevent unnecessary soil erosion in the region!
There are many ways by which you can be a responsible tourist. This includes ensuring that things are done before you leave for holiday, during the holiday and after you return.
While many people may at the most pay
attention to one or two of these aspects it is extremely important to focus on
all three approaches. You need to ensure that you do your research about the
destination beforehand.
Be well aware of the cultural, ecological
and religion specifics of the region you plan to visit! Even when you are
packing make sure you carry appropriate clothing, especially when you intend to
visit historical and cultural sites!
Upon returning from your holiday it is also
very important to share your knowledge with other people; whether it is tips,
hints or any information that you can pass on to a fellow traveller. You could
also donate to different NGO’s or charities that work on causes in the area
that you had just visited. I am blogging
for #ResponsibleTourism activity by Outlook Traveller in association with BlogAdda." Are you going to be a responsible traveller or not?
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