Do we really travel or are we mainly posing for “the ‘gram”?
Expect many tourists here. The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
So more and more people travel and that is great. I’m all here for it. Heck, I’m doing it myself for the past two years straight now and can only encourage it. Traveling is wonderful. An otherworldly experience in a worldly place. It widens your mental horizon, gives you joy, excitement, new experiences, gives you a break from your regular life, opens new ways, promotes tolerance and destroys prejudices towards other cultures, relaxes or pushes you (depending on where you go and what you do) and so much more.
And nowadays traveling is - more than ever - easier and accessible. It is not a common luxury any more, like it used to be. No more traveling in extravagant suits and dresses because flying was a rare event with fancy food and beverages on board. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) of the United Nations a total of 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals were count in 2018, all thanks to a growing global middle class, living-on-a-credit trend, cheaper airfares and targeted influencer marketing through social media apps. Compare that to a mere number of just 25 million travelers in 1950. “The growth of tourism in recent years confirms that the sector is today one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth and development.” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. That is why governments also put an emphasis on expanding tourism, engaging agencies and, again, travel influencers on social media.
And the power of social media is undeniable.
Social media is omnipresent in most of our lives. Approximately 3.2 billion people actively use the major social media networks. The user of today spends an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes “socializing” online. Social Media (in extension of the internet in general) creates its own language for today’s life, like FOMO, BRB, FTW, POTD, TFW and the by now almost outdated YOLO. It became a way of living, especially when you are traveling to far away places. How important social media in the world of travel and consumption is, can also be seen in the way how shops, restaurants and venues all over world try to accommodate the need of taking a visually striking photo by creating colorful interiors, walls with flowers or wings graffitied on them, specifically designed for posing or simply how the staff is well-trained in taking more-than-acceptable photos of their customers. All in the name of attracting new customers and to be shared on Instagram or Facebook. You want another example: Add a swing to a beach and I guarantee you, this place will be poppin’ in the foreseeable future. So for establishments it is only a sensible (marketing) thing to do, to create an Instagram haven.
But through my own experience - and posting every bit of it online -, watching myself and other fellow travelers, I couldn’t help but wonder: Do we really travel or are we mainly posing for “the ‘gram”? I know this is not a new question. Since the rise of social media, this discussion comes up frequently and inevitably. But with the increasing number of travelers and many sights closing temporarily or indefinitely due to overcrowding, immense damages to its structure and failure of respecting local culture - the super trendy poppy fields in California, the Philippine island of Boracay, the canals of Venice or Thailand’s Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi, just to name a few - and my own experience of frustration and anxiety due to over-tourism at palaces and temples in Bangkok, the Roman Colosseum or any New York City building for that matter, I’ve been thinking - again:
Tourists and travelers at Angkor Wat Temple. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Do we really see (!) what’s in front of us, do we indulge in the experience or are we simply checking off a (bucket) list and show off?
How authentic is our travel experience? Are we genuinely curios about our destination?
First of all, let’s be clear: I am including myself in this because I am very much aware that I, too, pollute the touristic sights and streets of various countries. Yet I believe it is more important than ever to check yourself, your behavior and most importantly: your intention. Why are you here? Are you aware where you are?
Tourism oils the wheel of economy. A lot of people make a living by serving tourists. Yet over-tourism is becoming a bigger problem. So, how can we be traveling without leaving a negative imprint? And is it still possible to enjoy traveling with all main sights being so overcrowded?
Piazza di Spagna in Rome, Italy.
Many experts wrote articles and essays about over-tourism. With the help of their input, my own experiences and a healthy dose of common sense, I put together a mental list, which I go through in my mind before and during my travels, to check myself and to make travel experiences more authentic and less superficial:
Talk to a local and engage in a conversation, ask for recommendations and, don’t forget to ask for their names so you can thank them personally, preferably in their native language.
Which brings me to my second point: Learn some simple phrases in the local language like hello, how are you, thank you , please, goodbye etc. And use them. Speaking in the native language emphasizes the admiration and true interest in the locals. They feel more respected and are - most of the time - ecstatic if you give it a try.
Try authentic local food, go to a place recommended by a local. Ask around: Where do locals eat?
Use public transportation. This is one of the best ways to get to know a new place and where you get a genuine glimpse of what real life looks like in this city.
Go to a local supermarket. If you want to get to know the people in a new country, see what they eat and how they snack. Watch the locals, too.
Ask yourself: Would go to this museum, church, park, square etc. back at home? Do you even like to go to museums? Just because it is unique to this place, you shouldn’t be under any pressure that you have to see it.
Check out off-the-beaten-path and not so popular but worth-seeing places. Again, ask locals for recommendations.
Plan better. What can I book beforehand so I don’t have to queue up? With this being said, I am absolutely pro limiting the number of travelers at certain sights. If I want to see a place, I need to plan and maybe wait.
Did you read about the city/country BEFORE going there? Do you know about their special customs? How to dress and how to behave in certain places? The history?
These points should be all considered within appropriate safety measures. Sometimes it is simply too sketchy or even dangerous as a foreigner to go to a local establishment for example. Which brings me to the very important last point: We should read about the place before visiting. And I highly recommend novels, essays and biographies, besides regular tourist guides, if you have the time. While traveling through Southeast Asia I did not read too much about the places beforehand, yet once I dove into some background information, the experience was much deeper, exciting and memorable. There was more understanding. My rule of thumb is: Read as much as necessary, but not too much because you also do not want to be biased based on written information. Allow yourself a little room for surprises and magic. A bit of research also helps with the most important rule while traveling:
Be respectful.
You are a guest. And luckily most locals welcome us to their city/country with open arms. Kindness, open-mindedness, respect and talking in their native language (or the effort) can take you places. Be a mindful traveler. I do wish that we all are more aware of why we do things and check ourselves every now and then. That we demand from ourselves to be more authentic. Because while traveling is easier and more accessible today, it is still a privilege rather than a right.