Why I’m Hesitant to Travel Abroad Right Now | Ethical Travel
Since the world “opened” back up, I’ve seen many people get back to traveling like normal. I thought I would do the same but something held me back. Here are the reasons why I’m hesitant to travel abroad right now.
Reason #1: Pandemic is still happening and other countries are having a hard time.
I feel like Americans live in a bubble thinking that the rest of the world is where we are at. As if they don't have their own cultures, languages, plight, and social structures. There are still countries dealing with the pandemic. Hell, we are still dealing with the pandemic. But what is different is that we have more resources than other countries.
For example, India recently had a surge in COVID-19 patients and had limited resources for the public to fight the virus. THIS IS NOT A TIME TO GO ON A trip to India. Not just because you might get the virus but because the resources should go to the people living there.
Reason #2: The escapism, exploitation, and entitlement I’ve seen in some travelers.
First off, I believe in people's right to travel. Their reasons to travel may be:
To explore, immerse in cultures
To improve quality of life
To take refuge from perils, government, social
To relax and take a breather
However, we must respect the people that have called it home. As of late, I'm seeing a lot of escapism and exploitation of the people and land of popular destinations from travelers on the internet.
For example, the 2 women in Bali earlier this year selling an ebook with information on how to bypass Indonesia's lockdown at the height of the pandemic. A man hosting a huge yoga festival in Bali during the lockdown. Expats in Jamaica looking to protest the government's COVID-19 regulations. Or the many stories of people avoiding different protocols in various countries.
But it goes beyond the pandemic. Certain countries are going through intense protests and political strife like Colombia. We have to be mindful of how the government would treat foreigners compared to their own citizens. In fact, I've experienced a few entitled people during my time in Playa Del Carmen. Questioning why Mexicans seek asylum in the States when they got it so good there, unaware of their privilege to escape their life in the US for a country that they have the upper hand in.
And trust me, I know that my presence abroad is privileged as well. You can't really be free from exploitation or privilege in this life. But damn, I wanna be a better traveler. A traveler that recognizes their privilege and uses it for the equity of people abroad.
How to travel ethically? How can I travel with the people and the environment in mind?
I don't know all the answers but here are a few things that come to mind.
Research the country you want to go to: This is a good tip for nomads and expats who are going to live somewhere long term. Go beyond knowing what city got the best food and look up politics, social issues, cultural customs, and more.
Learn a language: Don't assume that everyone knows English. And I'm not saying you have to be fluent when you reach your destination, but even struggling to twist your tongue into new words and sounds and having people look at you awkward will knock you a few pegs. When I traveled to Martinique, I met a man who knew Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Since my French wasn’t great, we couldn’t communicate much. He had a better advantage in communication knowing 3 languages compared to my one. This experience inspired me to learn more languages.
Get the right travel documents and know the law: Don't cheat the system. Don't skip steps. Not only it's illegal but it's disrespectful to think you're above the law.
Get to know locals and LISTEN to them: Hear their stories, discuss the news with them, build beyond "what's the best tourist site". Talking to my Airbnb host in Guadeloupe, I learned the lack of political representation that Guadeloupe citizens had in the French government. Similar to Puerto Rico and the United States, Guadeloupe is fighting to be heard. This conversation and many afterward truly opened my eyes to the ways other people were living across the globe.
Lastly, ask yourself these questions: "If this was your home, how would you feel if foreigners arrive during this time?" "How would you want them to act towards you, your neighborhood, your friends?" To dive in more, a great blog article by Tee of One Cup Of Tee called B.A.PS – BLACK, ABROAD AND PRIVILEGED. I thought it was very insightful about privilege and entitlement.
Overall, I don't know the answers. And I'm not trying to bash anyone who is traveling or looking to travel right now. I'm just hoping to open up a dialogue with nomads, travelers, ex-pats, and others about traveling ethically.
If you have any thoughts, tips, experiences, please share them in the comments below.
