Provided that I am currently in the process of getting my doctoral degree in Language, Equity, and Educational Policy, and that I have a passion for equity and inclusion, it would be negligent (and hypocritical) of me to not address critical issues associated with travel. To start, I want to talk about what conscious traveling means to me. 

 

Tourism in general has been highly associated with colonialism and truthfully an intrusion on local land while exploiting all the country or city has to offer. It’s an extremely heartbreaking and dark history. There are countless articles and pieces discussing the negative impacts of tourism, including information from Yes! Solutions Journal, New York Times, and countless others. The New Yorker actually shared an article for a case against travel!

 

Now the beautiful thing about being human is that you have the power and autonomy to decide whether or not you want to travel in the first place! For me, I side with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009), who gave a TedTalk in 2009 about “The Danger of a Single Story.”I highly recommend checking out this TedTalk if you have not seen it previously, it is one of my personal favorites! The main message I take away from this talk is that if you never learn, listen to, view, or experience different perspectives, cultures, and life paths than your own, you will be confined to a one-sided story or viewpoint on life. Travel is an amazing way to broaden your understanding of the world and challenge your preconceptions. 

 

Traveling is a privilege and a responsibility. There are many ethical considerations to take into account, including the impact you may have on the communities in which you visit. There are cross-cultural, environmental, and social ethics alongside countless others!