- The potential issue in question
- Spending more money is not necessarily better.
- Haggling
- Haggling “Don’ts”
- Extending your travels ethically
The potential issue in question
There are ethical ways to travel, and not so ethical ways — traveling on a budget is no exception.
Critics of budget travel argue that it is unethical because it does not support a destination’s local economy as much.
Ensuring that your money stays in the local economy is immensely important to make tourism as beneficial as it can be, as I’ve covered in many previous articles on responsible tourism.
But just because a traveler is not spending as much in a destination, does this make it “unethical”?
No — the situation simply isn’t that black and white.
Spending more money is not necessarily better.
Someone traveling with more disposable income is not inherently better than someone traveling with less.
Suppose I add in some hypotheticals to this picture:
What if the person with greater wealth is spending money on all-inclusive resorts and cruises? These are two of the least beneficial sources of tourism revenue for local destinations, as neither one funnels profits into the host country nor encourages interactions with it.
Or what if the wealthier person is participating in unethical wildlife experiences, even if it is the most expensive one? Those kinds of experiences only hurt the local destination by supporting exploitation.
Lastly, even if the traveler with more money is supporting the local economy, if they act from a place of ignorance and entitlement, rather than respect and humility, does their money really even matter?
My point:
How you spend your money is more important than how much money you spend
Buying bread from a local vendor on the street is more ethical (from a responsible tourism standpoint) than Starbucks, even if that means you spend significantly less money.
Quality over quantity, in essence.
Ensuring that the businesses you spend money on are actually contributing to the local economy, rather than leaking out of the destination (tourism leakage), is what makes a greater positive impact more than anything else.
Whenever possible:
- stay in locally-owned accommodation
- take overland transportation (rather than flying)
- eat at locally-owned restaurants
- support locally-run tourism companies and experiences that prioritize sustainability
Furthermore, how you engage with the host destination is just as important as, if not more important than, your purchasing decisions.
Remembering your privilege as a traveler and practicing respect and humility is the most important part of traveling responsibly and ethically.
If you don’t know about your privileges as a traveler, I encourage you to read this article.
Haggling
Bargaining is a way of life in many cultures.
A man buys from a street vendor selling cakes in Casablanca, Morocco. Notice how there are no set prices, as bargaining is expected in outdoor markets such as this.
Rather than getting offended when you’re charged more as a tourist, you have the right to respectfully negotiate.
My only experiences so far with bargaining have been in Mexico and Morocco — so I am not an expert in how to negotiate for the best prices — there are plenty of other Internet articles on this topic.
My concern is when tourists, particularly those from economically advantaged countries, take haggling too far.
As Elina Mattila writes in “Is Budget Travel Ethical?” published on the Broke Backpacker:
“Haggling 50c off the price of a pipe from an Indian street merchant may feel badass, but then the question arises: who really needed that 50c more?”
Haggling “Don’ts”
- Don’t get mad if you’re charged more as a tourist —ESPECIALLY if you’re from a more economically wealthy country (at least your money is going to a person trying to make a living rather than a big corporation)
- Don’t haggle over an amount that wouldn’t matter back at home. The goal is NOT to get the lowest price, but rather a reasonable one.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s really not a big deal to be “ripped off” or “scammed”. If this is the biggest problem you had during your travels, consider yourself fortunate.
Extending your travels ethically
Another critique of “budget” travelers is in instances where they take advantage of local people’s hospitality for personal gain.
In “Is Budget Travel Ethical?”Matila uses the term “begpacking” to differentiate these kinds of travelers.
Examples include asking for money on the street, inviting yourself to stay over at someone’s home, or simply being ungrateful when others show you generosity.
This is not the same as actually working for money in some way abroad.
Work exchanges are one of the most responsible ways to travel, because you are contributing your skills to local communities.
And established platforms like Couchsurfing would also not be considered “begpacking” because both parties mutually consent to the interaction, believing it advantageous for both in some way: even if it is simply a pure exchange of positive energy.
The takeaway is, once again, your mindset is the most important factor for being a responsible, ethical traveler.
Treat others with kindness, respect, and open-mindedness.
Eliminate biases or stereotypes when possible.
And never expect anything in return.
Conclusion
Ultimately, while tourists’ purchasing decisions do make an impact, it’s not the end-all, be-all when it comes to truly making a positive contribution.
As travel writer and activist Bani Amor emphasizes, “A vacation is not activism.”
The more conscious we are of our impacts as tourists and the more effort we put into being respectful and humble guests, the more ethical our travels will be — irrespective of how much money we choose to spend.
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