I love to travel. And since you are following along, I would say you have an interest in traveling as well.
Good news, we are not alone! According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in 2016 over 1.2 billion people left their home countries and participated in tourism abroad. Whoa. That is a lot of people…and a lot of money.
I am currently one of those tourists. I stay in Airbnbs, guesthouses and hostels, I eat at restaurants and local food stalls, and I sign up for the sightseeing trips and local tours. And what I have realized is that I have a lot of influence as a tourist.
My choices and those of other tourists can have a powerful impact on the places we visit, both good and bad. The way we choose to spend our money and time while traveling abroad can positively or negatively impact the surrounding economy, culture, environment, and more.
I find this fascinating and intriguing. While others may be sipping beers on the beach and dancing the night away, I find myself drawn to the locals - those brave souls who put up with us tourists - and how tourism is impacting their life. I believe that there is great power in tourism, it has tremendous economic potential and can be utilized as a means to improve education, develop local economy, provide valuable opportunities and promote environmental conservation, among many others. However, it also can wreck havoc and leave lasting damage on the local economy, culture, and environment.
As I explore the intricacies of travel and tourism, I will be sharing them with you here on the blog in the form of interviews, reflections, and whatever I happen to collect. I hope you find this as fascinating as I do! And I hope that together we can contribute to positive, sustainable, and memorable tourism.
Has anyone else seen the positive and negative effects of tourism? I would love to hear about. Comment below!
And for those nerds, like me, who found the statistics from the UNWTO intriguing, you can view their 2016 Annual Report here. It is a fascinating read and offers so much hope for the future of global tourism.