World Changing Response # 5 - Travel and Tourism

One of the worlds largest industries is tourism, which creates 9% of all the world’s jobs. A large portion of the population counts on tourism revenue for their survival. However, a majority of the money spend towards a trip rarely reaches the country. Many travelers seek for all-inclusive deals where the money usually goes to multinational chains. Local alternatives may be cheaper and more beneficial to the host community since product transportation costs are reduced. Traveling has become about efficiently getting from point A to B but traveling as a learning journey has not lost its flame. Traveling with this mentality elicits a deeper understanding of the impact of our actions. Programs like Mbonise (Zulu for “to show someone”) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa offer visitors an accurate insight into the rural Zulu community instead of a rural community pit stop transformed into a gift shop. One of Mbonise’s mission is to have travelers feel like a member of the community and uses home stays. “VolunTourism” is also on the rise where tourists work with local villagers to create a future tourist lodge. The revenue from the building will fund various community needs like schools and clinics. Programs like this act as a modern mode of philanthropy where making contributions to the advancement of a society involve hands on experience and a direct education (Steffen 363-367).

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User’s Guide For The 21st Century. New York: Abrams, 2008.