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Traveling is good for the soul. It is enlightening to go see homes with an interior barn door and other trendy decor, taste new food, and find out about cultures in another place. However, tourism can either have a negative or positive impact on the places that we visit.
We have learned from a team of travel experts to gain some insight into tips tourists can use to avoid common pitfalls that are associated with tourism. Get the most out of your experiences while respecting the people and places that you choose to visit.
1) Conduct Your Research Before Visiting
In order for you to be a good tourist, you have to conduct some research about the country you wish to visit. As you research, you’ll be able to learn about things that can help to ensure that you get the best out of your experience. For instance, become more familiarized with the language they speak, the currency they use, and some of the most popular local attractions you can visit.
2) Have an Open Mind
Before you visit another country, you need to consider the fact that they may have an entirely different cultural environment than you’re used to. Therefore, you should remove stereotypes and prejudices from your mind. For instance, the concept of eating certain kinds of foods, such as beef liver or kidney, may seem disgusting at first glance until you look at the fact that some cultures consider the concept of eating medium-rare steak to be equally terrifying. Therefore, you can become a much better tourist by opening your mind to learn new things.
3) Support the Local Economy
One of the most basic yet considerate things you can do as a tourist is to support the local economy. This entails staying at independently-owned hotels as well as eating at non-chain restaurants. This also entails purchasing locally produced souvenirs that also serve as a permanent reminder of the place you visited. To gain some insights into the best places to visit, you should consider hiring a local tour guide as well.
4) Follow the Rules
Regardless of which country you visit, you should become aware of that country’s list of rules and laws are. For instance, some places are very strict about the concept of throwing gum or spitting on the sidewalk. Additionally, if you’re visiting a country that is very hostile about public displays of affection, respect said country’s rule and avoid doing so. A good tourist respects the customs, values, and rules of the places they visit. Breaking these rules can lead to bad experiences as well as expose you to criminal or civil liability.
5) Clean Up After Yourself
In order for you to become a better tourist, you have to clean up after yourself. Regardless of which country you visit, ensure that you place trash in its proper place. As you may already know, many of the world’s most famous tourist locations are filled with trash. Discarding trash irresponsibly is disrespectful to the people and country you’ve visited and it can but the ecosystem of said place is at risk.
6) Promote Their Country
If you recently visited a different country and had a memorable experience, be sure to let your friends and family members know about it. By promoting a place you recently visited, you’re essentially helping to expose said place to other tourists like yourself, which can help to boost their economy.
7) Live the Moment
Don’t ruin the experience by spending the vast majority of your time on your smartphone. Instead, ensure that you stay in the moment and enjoy the scenery and atmosphere that your chosen destination provides. People have a bad habit of spending too much of their time on social media profiles when they go on trips and they, unfortunately, tend to carry social media toxicity with them. Respect the place you’re visiting by giving it the attention, appreciation, and time it deserves.
8) Free Roam
Free roam tourism consists of connecting with the locals in an attempt to show them that you care to learn more about their culture. Leaving your smartphone at the hotel and following your nose, enables you to experience things you typically wouldn’t have found via a guidebook. Many travel experts suggest that you should communicate with the locals to get a deeper understanding of their culture.
