Globerovers Magazine, July 2019

DILEMMA 1: Making secret places not so secret
IT’S OK: “When I discover ‘undiscovered’ places such as remote villages and unspoiled beaches, I love to write about it (and how to get there) and
post on my blog and all over social media because that gets me a lot of follows and likes”.
IT’S NOT OK: “That remote village and beaches I wrote about 10 years ago now gets bus-loads of tourists so locals set up tacky tourist junk shops
and the kids beg for handouts. I keep the best places secret and only tell close friends. I protect villages from tour groups and irresponsible travellers”.
IT’S OKAY IT’S OKAY IT’S OKAY IT’S NOT OKAY IT’S OKAY
The world is there to be
explored and shared!
Nowhere stays the same
forever and places are
constantly adapting and
growing. By sharing our
knowledge of ‘undiscovered’
places we can also
share responsible travel
practices
I don’t think individual
travelers “own” or “discover”
places—the idea
that places are “secret” is
almost always false as local
people know the place
is there. The forces of
tourism can be damaging
and need regulating but
that is not going to happen
through individuals not
posting on social media.
The world is becoming
smaller and smaller with
social media and the frequency
that people are traveling.
There are becoming
less ‘undiscovered’ places in
the world. As a blogger, I will
inform people of beautiful
and special places around
the world because I want to
share it with others. I won’t
keep it to myself because I
want others to have similar
experiences. At the same
time, I do encourage travelers
to act responsibly when
visiting the world and I share
reasons why it is important
to be mindful and kind.
One of the best things
about discovering a new
place is being able to
return and find it’s as good
as you remember it. My
main reason for travel is to
have new experiences, not
to become more popular
on social media or be the
‘first’ to show a new destination.
So it is NOT OK
to share, when it’s likely
(as so often happens) to
destroy what attracted you
to the destination in the
first place.
Nothing is really secret
in the world, at least not
anymore. There are spots
that are and aren’t as well
known, but I’ve never been
the first person anywhere,
at least I don’t think so. My
job is to encourage people
to travel and explore, and
sharing where I go is a big
part of that. It is incumbent
on the destinations to learn
how to best manage their
resources in order to avoid
some of the pitfalls associated
with over-tourism.
EDITOR’S TAKE AWAY: Except for one panel member, our panel likes to share their finds with fellow travellers—no wonder they are leaders in
the travel blogging sphere. I like to share too, but my most favourite unspoiled locations will remain my secret to protect against mass tourism.
IT’S OK: “It gives me great pleasure to take educational gifts such as pens and paper to poor kids, or healthy foods for the people, or give money if
deserved”.
IT’S NOT OK: “Taking gifts into slums and poor villages create child (and often adult) beggars so next time travellers visit these people will be very
disappointed if you don’t give them something. They become dependent on visiting tourists who sometimes give and other times not”.
IT’S NOT OKAY IT’S OKAY IT’S NOT OKAY IT’S NOT OKAY IT’S OKAY
I don’t take gifts with me
when I travel. There exist
many reputable organizations
around the world
empowering locals by involving
them with tours in a
way that makes them partners
and not be exploited.
Avoid orphanage tourism
and instead take part in
activities like a bike tour in
a South African township
led by a resident.
DILEMMA 2: Taking gifts to villages in poor countries
How many national heroes
from humble beginnings
tell the story about how
they got an unexpected
lucky break—a gift,
donation, sponsorship or
experience—that changed
their life? And how they
wouldn’t have got where
they have without it? A
lot! So yes, it’s OK to
give—especially when the
gift is meaningful to the
recipient’s situation and
helps them move towards
a better and more sustainable
life.
I generally do not take gifts
to people in poor countries
because I do not want
them to rely on tourists
for handouts. It becomes
problematic when adults
send their children to
beg for handouts rather
than going to school. An
education will serve these
children far better than any
gifts from tourists. It also
creates an imbalance within
a village or community if
some people receive more
gifts than others.
Handouts are nearly never
the answer to systemic
problems—giving a pencil
today will not improve access
to or quality of education.
What is worse, offering
incentives for child begging
often has the opposite
effect, as children can be
kept out of school as they
can make more than their
parents can at work from
begging on the street. If you
want to help people in the
country you travel to, think
about making a donation to
an organisation working towards
solving those issues
sustainability
I am completely OK with
this. Your gift could be the
difference between a child
receiving an education or
not. Ponchos to walk in the
rain and school equipment
can make all the difference
to an underprivileged child
and their future
EDITOR’S TAKE AWAY: I think we all can agree that taking candies and packaged goods into remote villages is a bad idea. When it comes to
taking educational items and much-needed medicines, this becomes a more contentious debate. Best is to give such items to the school master.
Opinion Panel • Travel Ethics | 97