Are we travelers or tourists? To do service work or to not do service work? Should we even be traveling to our destinations in the first place? These are questions raised by our recent Journeys trips.
Merriam Webster defines “tourist” as one who makes a tour for pleasure or culture. Is that not what we did? Did we not go to the Galapagos to immerse ourselves in the culture of “island life”. Did we not take pleasure in swimming and snorkeling on the beaches and spending our money in the shops designed for us to shop in? We were tourists, yes, but what is so wrong about that? We’ve heard about the impact of tourism, we know the damage that is being done to the environment, but we still go anyways. So if we’re going to go anyways why not do it in a mindful way? Oh, wait. We did… We educated ourselves on the flora, fauna, and culture of the Galapagos before we even stepped foot there.
a : one that goes on a trip or journey
Above is the definition of “traveler”. One that travels. I don’t want to hear any more about the high horse that travelers sit on above tourists. Whether or not you call yourself a tourist or a traveler is irrelevant. Throw an adjective in there and make it matter. Say you’re a “mindful tourist” or a “respectful traveler”. That’s what matters.
So why travel? Because we can, because we want to, because we should…Traveling is important because it lets you see a different part of the world other than the city you grew up in. Why does it make you bad if you want to see the sights just for the hell of it? Traveling is crucial to understanding the difference between cultures and people, and ultimately recognizing that we are all the same. It opens doors for research and science; how can you study an organism that lives a continent away if you can’t even see it in person? There are reasons for travel, and none of them are lesser than the other, despite what I think we’ve started to believe.
