Ethical tourism
 

Hi folks. No politics intended in this post - just some questions. There's no doubt that we are privileged people - to ride in other countries or around the world. There's also no doubt that we sometimes ride through countries where poverty is extreme, or freedom is questionable.

What's our responsibility? Do you feel that you spend money there, thus help the economy? Do you go out of your way to buy local? Do you volunteer while travelling, or make donations or what?

I've watched hundreds of hours of video's of folk riding around the world. In none of them has this been discussed publicly, nor have I seen them actively pursuing this. I contacted some of the more famous ones and asked - cause they may be doing lots, and not showing it...but I got no response.

Thanks. As I get ready to leave - this question is important to me.

I'm not surprised you didn't get much response from the usual big name suspects. At that level it all shades into the business world, and if you're not buying ....

As you've probably found there's plenty of info out there about which bike to use, what luggage is best etc - all sorts of practical but trivial stuff. Mainly because it's easy to separate the wheat from the chaff, brand X is better than brand Y, and install in you a fear that if you don't have the right stuff the trip will be a disaster.

The area you're asking about though is far more personal and far more difficult to monetise. It's also a moral minefield, with Facebook outrages only a click away no matter what you decide to do. People will talk about this stuff in private but not in any form that could end up backfiring on them. My take on it, from the amount of travel I've done, is that whatever vision or role you see yourself having before you start won't last long once you're there, and that pragmatism is the best approach.

With volunteering, anything I (we - it includes my travelling kids) have done has always been arranged beforehand. Just turning up at the door of an agency and offering your services has never been welcome - they don't know you and without a paperwork trail are unlikely to be able to make use of you. They'll take donations though!

Other people's experiences may be different - and probably are as there's no hard and fast rules with this. This stuff has been discussed here before but maybe it's time to update it. Lat's see what others think

At the end of the day what you spend goes to the ordinary people of the country, and that's OK by me.

Ethical tourism
 

Its a really good question to ask.

When i did my biggest trip (through Africa) I arranged some stuff in advance (for me that was in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia), and also did some ongoing follow up after I got home.

We are all touched by different things. It good to think about what concerns you, what outcome you are wanting to support, what you have to offer (that the local community don’t have) and how you avoid getting snared in the parasitic gravy train that surrounds aid projects.

I had previously visited Zimbabwe and time on the ground gave me insights on what i felt the biggest need and opportunity was. So when i came home i spoke to some charities about what i had seen, and agreed how i could help a particular project that aligned with my concerns. On my big trip i then went to visit the project and people post completion, which was really insightful.

In Ethiopia I was already contributing to some other projects there and again went to see the reality on the ground. That changed how i supported the charity going forward.

Meanwhile in Malawi i did just bump into a local education project. When i got home i sent them a small amount of cash, as this seemed my way of doing my bit.

In contrast my daughter went on a volunteer building programme for 2 weeks to Tanzania. Given my time again we’d have done much better just sending the money we spent on the trip to a charity who could have achieved their aims more effectively using local labour, rather than unskilled first world volunteers. And then taking her to see the project after.

I agree with the previous post - plan in advance. Hard to say more on a forum but if you want a bit more info, or a link to a blog, by all means drop me a pm.

Cheers
Andy

Spending
 

I try to spend the money as local as possible.
As close as possible to the producers.

So that the money end up with the people that do the hard work.
Ans less in big companies that distribute.

But not only for money. It is more interesting, the closer you come to the local people (I do not know what word to use without offending people. But if I say "poor" people, try to interpreted that in correct way), the more you learn.

Pictures

Perfect lunch place. Much better than Hotel with many stars

Clothing. Direct from producer

I've booked marked a series of websites dedicated to this topic, in that they are ways of contributing and yes, planning in advance. Packing for a purpose, and other ideas.

I travelled India and one had to cautious when donating....but we did it...directly to those who needed.

But as a sustained effort over a long journey...its a tough call. Spending local makes sense. I would anyway, but staying away from 5 star hotels...and fancy restaurants....not that there's anything wrong with doing that - its just not grassroots.

It is something I wish to include in my travels, and to publicize when it makes sense. Not for me, but to help raise funds for good causes.

Examples and ideas most appreciated.

Well I'm going to be honest. I'm on holiday. No hippy stuff about expanding my mind and doing it for the good of humanity. No missionary work, the locals can work stuff out for themselves and its rude to assume we know better . I buy from whoever seems likely to do a good job. Sometimes that's the local char stand bloke, sometimes it's McDonald's because they are less likely to give me food poisoning (and employ locals anyway).

Andy

Ethical tourism
 

Haha, fair enough. I am not opposed to a good holiday either.

But if you are someone who is concerned about poverty and global inequality, and you are also into adventure travel, at some point those two interests (for want of a better word) are going to bump into each other.

Complete aside, but that brought back memories of meeting some ageing American missionaries in a bush hotel in Zambia. It was breakfast time and the chap (at the breakfast table next to me) was moaning about some minor inattention in the service he expected to receive. I gently pointed out that it was highly likely that none the people serving him had ever stayed in a hotel like this, so probably didn’t intuitively get the first world service expectations he had from 5* America. It appeared a completely new revelation to him. It didn’t bode well for the cultural sensitivity of the rest of his mission (whatever that was)!

Years back I met an American peace corps volunteer drinking his troubles away in a restaurant in Senegal. He was on a break from working in a remote village in Mali, trying to introduce sustainable 'agriculture' (planting new trees to replace cut down ones etc). He'd been there six months and managed nothing. All he got was blank stares and 'Allah will provide". Different cultures indeed.

I'm not going on a holiday. This is my retirement and I have no intension of returning. That changes things.

Here's a point for you to consider. Even if I take no action, just thinking about Ethical Actions, including tourism or travel, takes the mind to different places. Suddenly, it's not just about you. Its not just ME going somewhere - but about how I interact - with intension - to the people and situations I experience. I'm pre-loading my mind to consider why? What am I doing? How am I going to affect people around me?

Most of you may not think this way, and that's fine. But I do. For me, the motorcycle, the scenery, food, everything is secondary to the people I'll meet - and the purpose I give to going.

So its not just about can I help. But should I? When? How? Why?

We are the privileged. The fortunate. It is incumbent upon us to think deeper than our own desires, and to give back.

So I seek some new directions. Maybe a really cool door opens that turns part of a a ride into a real adventure that's not just good for me, but others.

Interesting question. Difficult question.

In conflict, building bridges is important, but so is picking a side. It is important with first hand cultural and informational exchanges, and to support the oppressed -but doing so can be difficult without it directly or indirectly benefiting those which one wants to take a stance against.

It may be impossible to visit or reside in a country without oppressors benefitting. One can however make the better choices whenever possible, and boicot oppressors and their henchmen whenever possible. One can stay away from being a patron of big business (national or international in the country).

But, how would you visit south-africa during the apartheid boicots and international sanctions without the oppressing side having a greater benefit of your wallet than the oppressed?

Pretty sure no one has a problem with that krtw - its a pretty diverse and accepting bunch around here and I didn’t read any criticism of your question in people’s responses.

But i also appreciated threewheelbonnie’s response too. It is true that sometimes it is just about the travel.

Sounds like you’ve got a interesting journey ahead. What’s the itinerary?

Of course I agree too. As stated clearly, this is only MY belief and approach. I will say - at this point I have no answers...Lots will be a jam. On the spot. Some planned. And lots of - this is not the the time or place to do anything, so just ride. All the above.

Canada - there's 2 places in Newfoundland I have not been. So generally - There first, then the Labrador Hiway, cross the country and north to TukTuktoyaktuk - Alaska, then straight south to Central America - few months there, and into South America for two to three years. Fly bike across the South Africa - and from there play it by ear depending on conditions....That's generally the plan, but subject to change.

I'd like to spend a year in Europe - but conditions may decide otherwise. Its a strange world emerging from the pandemic...Flexibility the key to everything me thinks.

Actually, I think you may have misjudged your audience. I’d submit that MOST of us think that way, although we may arrive at conclusions and courses of action different from yours.

No argument from me.


I’m not clear whether you intend this to sound belligerent, but that’s the way it sounds to my ear. If your goal is to engage in dialogue with others on this site, you might consider adopting a different tone. That’s not intended as an attack—more a suggestion attached to a bit of feedback which may or may not interest you.

There are people here who’ve dedicated small and large parts of their lives to thinking about and acting upon their desire to give and share. I’m interested in your perspectives, and I’m interested in hearing more—from you and others.

Hope that’s helpful.

Mark

I edited my post and apologize, cause it did sound belligerent, but not intended.

Sorry.