This is a quick-guide for travelers who want to make responsible tourism decisions.
When we travel, we get to skate across time zones, exchange cultures, and fumble in translation. While we come away from a trip having grown and learned, we also leave a part of ourselves behind. We leave ourselves in the people we meet, the money we spend, and the ideas we impart. As we continue to explore, we owe it to our fellow travelers and hosts to make sure this exchange is mutually beneficial.
Principles
Keep it local
Spend on local businesses and goods to ensure the money you bring stays in the destination for the local community to re-invest in themselves
Go slow
Minimize environmental harm and deepen cultural immersion by traveling slowly
Avoid peaks
Reduce strain on a destination by seeking out less popular activities or visiting during slower seasons
Do no harm
Do your research to ensure you aren’t participating in activities that perpetuate harm