For this assignment, we were tasked with analyzing a case study (Decolonizing Travel by the Rise Travel Institute) on tourism and reflecting on its intercultural and ethical implications:

This is a reading everyone who travels should read. It’s intelligent and thoughtfully
written. Coming from a country with a high rate of tourism, I was able to clearly see how many
of the ideas discussed in the reading play out in real life. It also helped me gain new insights
about the impact of travel and representation.

The reading mentioned ways travelers can support local economies, such as staying
in homes or accommodations owned by local people. When my family and I went to Oaxaca, we
stayed at my aunt’s house. She told me how housing prices have been rising because many
foreigners, especially Canadians, buy or build luxury apartments there to escape the cold
winters. This has made it much harder for locals, who have worked for years to afford a home, to
achieve that goal.
During that trip, I also spoke with a local man who told me, “Please don’t tell people
about this place, we don’t want tourists.” He mentioned Acapulco as an example of a destination
overwhelmed by tourism, where beaches have become dirty, and the environment is neglected.
He said he didn’t want that to happen to his home. That conversation made me think about how
some travelers carry privilege rather than humility when they visit new places. Social media has
amplified this problem; local businesses often adapt to tourists’ preferences to survive. For
instance, in some Mexican restaurants in tourist areas, spicy salsas have disappeared because
visitors “can’t handle it.” This shows how local traditions shift to please tourists out of economic
necessity.
Finally, the reading made me reflect on how travelers behave in more conservative
countries, where behavioral norms may differ. Some people find these expectations offensive,
but I believe travelers should remember that they are visitors. It’s fine to engage in respectful
dialogue, but it’s not our role to change an entire culture in a week. Expressing your views is
important, but so is recognizing that your role is not that of a reformer: it’s that of a learner and a
guest.
Overall, this reading helped me understand that travel should come from a place of
respect, awareness, and humility. It reminded me that every action, from where we stay to what
we post, carries meaning and impact.