Comments on: A slight rant about the rhetoric of “ethical travel”

By: Ethics in the world of travel. « This Is Africa

Ethics in the world of travel. « This Is Africa — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:49:38 +0000

[...] Potts, having been asked, “What is it like to be a privileged white American traveling through the second or third [...]

By: Boris

Boris — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:53:26 +0000

Nicely put, Rolf! I totally agree.

By: Gary Arndt

Gary Arndt — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:07:47 +0000

Excellent. You echo many of my views.

By: Maya Frost

Maya Frost — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:04:38 +0000

Thanks so much for this post, Rolf. You said it all so simply and eloquently.

I especially like your credo at the end and appreciate your use of the word “mindful” to describe the way we can pay attention more fully in order to avoid being inadvertently condescending, wasteful or just plain obnoxious.

A great reminder!

By: Tim Patterson

Tim Patterson — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:27:52 +0000

Right on, Rolf. Thanks for laying it out there so articulately.

By: Michael Pugh

Michael Pugh — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:15:04 +0000

Fantastic insights here. If your final paragraph were an oath that all conscious travelers took before leaving their countries, the world would be a better place.

I’m also skeptical of NGO projects or volunteer vacations where Westerners travel to developing countries to do physical labor. In many cases, those developing countries have nothing but physical labor.

Instead, people in the West could donate their unique talents. If you’re a designer, find a small shop or organization who’s doing good work and donate a logo, identity, brochure, whatever. If you’re a lawyer, help someone get a deed to their land. We all have talents to give. The last thing developing nations need is for Westerners to come and dig ditches.