Why it’s ok to be both. Being a good one is what matters.

I used to think of myself as a traveler. Someone who’s searching where the locals hang, someone who goes beyond taking pictures of monuments and dives deeper into the city. (A little pretentious I know.)

The stereotypical tourist is thought of as someone obnoxious who sticks out from the local crowd. Selfie sticks, souvenir t-shirts, someone only coming to see the Eiffel tower and eat a croissant.

But that’s not a fair assumption.

In all my travels I’ve realized I’m actually a little bit of both. I find local spots, but then take pictures of everything. I stand out completely. But what’s wrong with that? I paid great money to be here!

Sometimes I just want to see the attractions of certain places and stay at an expensive hotel. Sometimes I’m in the middle of a random city staying in a hostel. (Thank you hostelworld)

In Grenada, Spain I joined a walking tour. With the guide carrying a little flag to lead the group, SUPER TOURISTY! In Krakow, Poland, I walked around by myself exploring every alley and hidden bar. But there’s nothing wrong with either.

The word “tourist” has a negative connotation, but I think that’s just a couple of bad tourists, (and yes travelers too), giving everyone a bad rap. Thus, having the locals dread our arrival. Here in Hawaii, tourism is a love and hate relationship. Tons of local businesses benefit from tourism. But many tourists/travelers simply don’t have respect. Trashing the hikes, abusing the wildlife, turning calm local spots into areas so crowded they aren’t enjoyable anymore.

How do we change that belief? Well for starters we need to remember we’re on vacation in someone else’s home. We need to:

·         Support local restaurants and shops

·         Respect the local customs

·         Do a little research on the history

·         and avoid Airbnb’s! 

Be a tourist, be a traveler. Be both. As long as you enjoy where you are and respect the land, you’re on.