ethical travelling tips

• Be aware of where your money is going and patronise locally owned inns, restaurants and shops. Try to keep your money within the local economy, so the people you are visiting benefit directly.
• When choosing a tour, research both the tour and the company thoroughly and ask lots of questions about its ethical policies and interaction with local communities: does it use local guides? Does it stay in locally owned hotels.
• Before visiting any country, take the time to learn basic courtesy phrases: greetings, and “please” and “thank you”, and as many numbers as you can handle. Rarely in another country will another human refuse a direct request for help. Being of service, and inviting others to reciprocate, is what the phrase global community is all about.
• Remember the economic realities of your new currency. A few rupees one way or another is not going to ruin you. Don’t get upset if you have to pay a little bit more than the local sat next to you on the bus or ferry, after all you probably earn 100 times more than they do.
• Bargain fairly. And with respect for the seller. The final transaction should leave the buyer and seller both satisfied, but its not a bargain if either party feels ripped off or exploited.
• Learn and respect the traditions and taboos of your host country. Each culture has its own mores, and they are often taken very seriously. Never for example, oat a thai child on the head, or open an umbrella in a Nepali home.
• Curb your anger and cultivate your sense of humour. Anger is the real issue for westerners – even the dalai lama remarks on this. Anger never earns the respect of locals or defuses a bad situation. A light touch and a sense of cosmic perspective – are infinitely more useful.
• Never give gifts to children. Only to their parents or teachers. When giving gifts find out what is really needed and who best can distribute these items.
• Have a sense of the social political and environmental issues faced by the people you visit.
• Learn to listen. As a western traveller it pays to try and get a feeling of peoples perceptions of you.
• Learn to speak. People from developed countries often express their opinions as if they are the absolute truth. We suggest using phrases such as “I believe”, “my view is” rather than “everybody knows”.
• Leave you media based preconceptions about the world at home. The inhabitants of planet earth will continually amaze you with their generosity. Be open to friendship, and aware of our common humanity, delights and hardships.
• Finally, never forget travel writer Kurt Vonnegut JR’s best line: “strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from god”. In other words: go with the flow, and give rein to your sense of adventure.