What to Know About Traveling
Terms and phrases associated with travel that every visitor should know, as well as travel considerations.
Be considerate while abroad
- Act as a guest while visiting another country
- Be mindful of how tourism impacts the local culture and communities
- Just because a place is “new” to you does not mean it belongs to you
Exoticism – Exoticism is essentially when tourists perceive a location to be “exotic’ just because it’s different. It can be harmful when it reinforces stereotypes, decontextualizes important cultural practices, and presents a sanitized version of history. Aka: Don’t treat other people’s cultures like your own personal Disneyland. Here’s a great definition I found online:
“A popular example of exoticism is when travel photographers travel to certain countries or indigenous communities that are vibrant and rich with culture and photograph individuals in their cultural settings, clothed in their traditional wear and carrying out certain customs. Despite this sounding innocent and something that is commonly done, especially by tourists, what it unfortunately tends to do is set those who are being photographed apart from what is considered ‘normal’, it highlights their differences instead of drawing attention to what makes them similar to everyone else…”
Read more here: https://www.nowahalamag.com/post/what-is-ethical-storytelling-exoticism
Colonialism – Commodifying local cultures, treating them as a means to generate profit for outside interests – is a long-standing pattern in Colonialism. This is why it’s essential to support local merchants and ensure that the communities you visit receive meaningful economic benefits from tourism.
Otherism – In tourism, Otherism refers to the practice of constructing tourists as “self” and hosts/locals as “other,” often based on stereotypes, power dynamics, and cultural, background, or status differences. It can manifest as the exoticization of local cultures, the commodification of people’s lives for tourist consumption, and the reinforcement of inequality, positioning hosts as objects of fascination rather than people.
Gentrification – In tourism, gentrification is the process by which neighborhoods become more expensive, commercialized, and geared toward visitors rather than residents, primarily driven by tourism demand. As tourism grows, local housing, culture, and daily life can be displaced or reshaped to accommodate travelers, often pushing out the people who live there.
Cultural appropriation – Taking a cultural practice (a recipe, ritual, tradition, healing method, yoga practice, etc.), removing it from its cultural context, repackaging or commercializing it, claiming it as one’s own “discovery”, then benefiting socially or financially from it (while the originating community receives no credit, compensation, or recognition) is called cultural appropriation. Please give credit to cultures and communities when sharing these practices.
Best Practices for Visiting a Different Culture
- Learn how to say hello, goodbye, and thank you in their language
- Be respectful to local customs and traditions
- Ask permission before taking photos or videos
- Research cultural etiquette before you arrive
- Be mindful of environmental impact
- Respect local time and pace
- Show gratitude and act like a guest