Be a traveller not a tourist
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Be a Traveller Not a Tourist on Your Gap Year!
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The great debate: Travelling v tourism!
By dictionary definition, there's not much difference between a tourist and a traveller. However, the word tourist often conjures up images of someone in garish shorts, shouting in English at a bemused local.
To us, travelling is about taking the time to learn about a country, showing respect for its customs and broadening your horizons. To use one of those metaphors English teachers like - if going abroad is a meal, a tourist just picks out the best bits, whereas a traveller digs in, tries everything and comes back feeling a lot more satisfied. |
Be a traveller not a tourist
The proverbial bird avoids the crowds, queues etc.
Early morning is a good time to sightsee, if you can drag yourself out of bed. The streets and squares will be less crowded and probably more atmospheric, and queues at major tourist attractions are likely to be shorter. If you're visiting a hot country, it'll be cooler, too.
Plus, you'll get to see the country waking up - market vendors setting up or fishermen bringing in their catch or maybe the sun rising. |
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Be a traveller not a tourist - make friendsShow a genuine interest in the people you meet, and you could get a unique insight into their lives in return. If you can follow the language and they seem to be chatty, ask taxi drivers, bar tenders or hostel owners about their country - many locals are glad to talk about their homeland. People who don't have much contact with British people might see you as bit of a novelty, so if you really want to make an impression, give them a small souvenir of Britain - a post card or leaflet from your area, for example.
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It's a bit of a schoolboy phrase, but you are in a way an ambassador for your country, and how you behave will leave a lasting impression, particularly if the area doesn't get many visitors.
Travelling not tourism - respect
When you travel, you're a guest in a very large house. Hence, while you're there, you're expected to respect their customs to a reasonable extent. This is usually more applicable in countries with strong religious beliefs and in rural areas.
Wearing, or not wearing, certain clothes could cause offence and put up immediate barriers, as could getting ridiculously drunk or indulging in PDAs with your other half. Try to do a bit of research beforehand to see what's expected of you, and observe what the locals are doing before doing anything too radical. |
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Travelling not tourism - ask before you click
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Photos are fantastic souvenirs of your holiday, and locals make for a good picture. But some countries have quite strict ideas about being photographed - in parts of northern Africa, for example, women are not usually allowed to be in photos and Hindus won't appreciate you taking photos in their temples.
In Morocco, it's illegal to take photos of some buildings or personnel such as the airport, police stations or policemen. So, as well as being good manners, it's wise to ask permission. |
Blocking a busy pavement while you line up the perfect shot won't win you any favours, either.
Travelling not tourism - third world countriesVisiting underdeveloped countries can be hard, in that you'll come to face to face with a lot of poverty to which there's no quick solution. Young children will often have been taught to beg, which can become quite annoying.
A happy (ish, it's hardly a happy situation for anyone) medium between giving them all your cash and dismissing them coldly is to give them something useful, like a pen or something to eat. Or, if you have the time and you're in a safe, public place, chat to them or play a game. Whatever you do, don't be too harsh - remember, what you'd spend on postcards might feed them for a couple of days.
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Be a traveller not a tourist - communicate
English is one of the most spoken languages in the world, but travellers shouldn't go with the expectation that everyone speaks it. Politely asking: “Do you speak English?”, preferably in their language, will establish that you don't expect that they do. Learning a few common words, such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and do you speak English? will stand you in good stead. Even if you mispronounce them, people will appreciate you're making an effort and any mistakes will probably break the ice. A smile is universal!
Travelling not tourism - don't shout it from the rooftopsBeing a traveller also requires a certain degree of integrity and not making it abundantly clear that you're on holiday. That means not pulling out wads of money in a Brazilian favela (or anywhere else), not spreading out a map on the ground of the main square and looking like you know where you're going, even if you don't.
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Be a traveller not a tourist - Bus it!
Travelling by taxi is tempting, especially where they're cheap. But if it's safe to do so, you'll get a better picture of everyday life if you do as the locals do and take the bus, train, metro, waterbus, tram etc. You'll save yourself money, too. |
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