A little over two years ago Ljuba Simic packed in his job driving trucks for a local cement factory for a new life - as a pioneer of rural tourism in Serbia's lush Fruska Gora region.
Everyone needs a spa these days. From the holiday cottage that engages the local woman with the collapsible massage table, to the five-star resort with over-water massage pavilion. But the Longevity Wellness Resort, now, this is serious stuff.
It's the hottest topic in travel. Knowing how to be a responsible traveller means that you get to connect more closely with local people and gain a much deeper understanding of the society and culture that you are visiting. This will garantee you a more authentic and meaningful experience. Here are a few tips on how to be a responsible traveller.
Societal Customs
Learn some lingo Learn a few words of the language (words for 'hello', 'please', 'thank you' and 'excuse me' are a good start) - it shows a sense of courtesy and you'll be amazed how appreciative people are that you have made an effort to speak their language.
Etiquette Learn the everyday local customs and etiquette. For example, it is rude to point your feet at anybody in Thailand and to sneeze in public in Japan, whilst giving yellow flowers to anyone is a sign of contempt in Chile.
Dress appropriatelyThis cannot be stressed enough. As a general rule outside of Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, shoulders and knees should be covered and just because other tourists dress inappropriately doesn't mean you should too...
Frances from the UK couldn't understand why some local people seemed a bit unwelcoming to her in Koh Tao, Thailand until she saw how the other tourists were behaving - topless sunbathing, walking through town in nothing except bikinis and drunken antics. Whilst no doubt the islanders are grateful for the income from tourism, tourists were behaving in a highly offensive manner towards local Thai people without any care.
Photography Always ask before taking a photo of people or their possessions and accept that sometimes it just isn't appropriate to take a photo of something or somebody. It is usually good to give people a small tip for being your subject.
Sadly, a disharmony between local people and tourists is something that can be seen and felt in many areas in the world. There may be a certain amount of contempt from one or both sides, however, it is the opinion of MyTravellersEarth that, as travellers, we are privileged guests and therefore must behave like guests.
On your travels you will notice that in almost every society, no matter how poor people are, they will always welcome you as a guest into their homes with gifts of food and drink, which can be a very humbling experience. However, being a foreigner in a commercial context can pose several dilemmas…
Money
Tipping and bargaining Whilst in some poorer countries you may be keen to get across the message that you are not a walking bank, always remember that an extra 20 pence is the cost of 2 text messages to you and a family meal to someone else. Try not to bargain too low and tip at every opportunity you get. When you do get ripped off (and this WILL happen), never lose face by getting angry - accept that the person probably needs the money a lot more than you do and walk away having learnt a lesson. In countries where tipping is expected, learn what the usual percentage of your bill is to be tipped as this differs across the world.
Using locally-owned services Spend your money wisely; try to ensure you use local businesses as much as possible to ensure your money stays within local economies and doesn't circulate back to the West within the likes of multinationals like Starbucks and McDonalds. Don't support repressive government regimes by avoiding staying in government-owned guesthouses or using government-run services.
Begging Whether or not to give to begging children and adults is a contested issue. In general, it is advisable to offer something for a small service rendered but not to encourage begging by giving money for nothing. That being said, certain members of some societies (e.g. landmine amputees and other disabled people in countries with no social security) may have no other way of making an income so giving a small amount can hardly be a bad thing. In richer countries, money often goes straight towards drugs so unless you specifically want to buy tonight's heroin fix, food and clothes are best.
Conserving Your Environment
Be aware of your impact Avoid funding tourist resorts that do not function in an ethical way with regard to the environment and local people. Make sure your rubbish is recycled wherever possible and always leave a camping spot in the same (or better) condition that you found it in.
Check your consumption Learn about local environmental issues and make sure that you are not using products that are produced by unsustainable methods. Limit your water consumption where there is a water shortage.
Volunteer Volunteering is a great way to understand the culture, lands and social issues of an area, whilst doing something to help. Research any volunteer organisation well and make sure that any money you pay (and in general, you shouldn't have to pay any more than a small amount towards your food and board) goes DIRECTLY to the project and not into any profit-making scheme. Our advice is to avoid the large, profit-making "Gap Year" organisations. Keep an eye on our jobs boards in the Travellers' Market Place for volunteering opportunities. Your Safe Planet(www.yoursafeplanet.co.uk) has loads of great advice on volunteering and will put you in contact with volunteer projects in various countries worldwide.
It's the hottest topic in travel. Knowing how to be a responsible traveller means that you get to connect more closely with local people and gain a much deeper understanding of the society and culture that you are visiting. This will garantee you a more authentic and meaningful experience.