The list of places I want to go remains long. And although it is mainly outside of Europe, I’ve always wanted to see St Petersburg. But that destination remains elusive. During a final dinner on our last RS tour, I asked our tour guide what was his favorite (with an implied feature of the question of “relatively under traveled European destination” ?)
“Bulgaria— just go. The RS guide there is fantastic. People just don’t know how good it is…yet.”
Then I asked him his least favorite. After the obligatory, everyplace has something he said “Russia. Back when, I’d lead a RS tour that included St Petersburg. It’s not that didn’t have its charm but the corruption was just too much.” And of course that was before the war. Given what going on, there are places I’d like to go— like St Petersburg— that are on the that’s-a-bit-too-dicey-ethically list for me to travel.
I know Rick Steves went to Iran. His show on the country was thought provoking. He wasn’t visiting the “government” that sponsored groups like Hezbollah. He was visiting the people, the culture, the art, the history and so on. I suppose same could be said of Russia. But for me, I still couldn’t go right now.
So one aspect of ethical travel is answering the question can I travel somewhere that my travel dollar could help a government that is too antithetical to my beliefs.
Another milder variant of place-discrimination is just “hey, there are lot of places to go, I’d just as soon spend my dollars places I prefer their policies, culture, war-footing, whatever.”
Other aspects of ethical travel are things like being conscious of environmental impact, helping local businesses, general respect, and tolerance. Learning basic phrases and customs to be polite. Be aware of your tourism impact on their cities, their lives and their well-being.
Take cruising. We’ve found it be a great way to assemble a large multi-generational group who have varied interests, physical abilities, and energy— yet all want to share some experiences of Europe together. We’ve done it a couple times now but I wonder if joining such things that can totally swamp a destination with 1/2 dozen mega cruise ships letting thousands out on islands at the same time— is that a good thing? I’ve rationalized it in my head that locals can decide how to limit the numbers, so who am I to second guess them? I dunno. I am thinking I really ought not spend my tourism dollars that way. Smaller ships or river cruising may be the answer for us.
I think the solution is probably this: just stay in Cleveland. Is there anyplace finer? I don’t think so.
Happy travels.