Being in Cambodia has never made me more aware of tourists actions including my own when travelling and how they effect the people of the countries you are exploring.
Everyday I see tourists pointing cameras literally in people’s faces. I see countless tourists taking snaps of children or asking to hold babies to get a photo. Even standing on beaches snapping away at children in the sea. Children are not tourist attractions. I know these kind of pictures might show people back home the everyday life of the people you see travelling but you need to ask yourself, would you be happy back home if tourists started taking pictures of your children on the beach or of you at work when you’re not looking your best?
I have found that by actually getting to know the people you meet, asking them about the work they are doing and their customs, asking them what life is like in their country, then you actually get a meaningful insight and probably an invite to dinner where there will be photos taken of the evening on both sides. These pictures will surely mean more as there will be a memory attached. A memory of a family you met and came to know rather than one titled simply ‘a man working in a field’. Sometimes travelling is about living the moment. It’s great to have pictures to look back on but sometimes it’s just not right.
I also want to take this time to explore the ethical dilemma of tourists visiting perhaps under the volunteer umbrella. I’ll speak about orphanages and the huge implications this has on countries and the children there, but really the same can be applied when visiting any country experiencing hardship. Firstly, you can visit many orphanages with no background check into your character meaning that anyone with any motive can spend time alone with children. You might be thinking well I know I’m a good person that only wants to help. That’s great but you need to consider how you are helping. Research shows that spending a day, a week, a month, several months in orphanages will have serious long term impacts on the children that are placed there. These children have already lost their families. They then see countless volunteers that they will form relationships with only to have to let go again and again when the volunteers move on. It is always hard saying goodbye but the psychological damage it causes (separation anxiety, attachment disorder) for children when they have no real guardian is devastating. The other point to mention is that sadly a lot of the children in orphanages may not be there legitimately. Organisations have been known to borrow children from their parents even kidnap and traffic children to fill orphanages to make a profit from them. Visiting such establishments only fuels the industry and does not help the children there at all. Not all organisations are corrupt, but by in large the ones that are genuine will not let perfect strangers come and go.
If you want to help out a country with a particular issue than join a humanitarian project that is solving something the people of that country actually wants solving.
If a child approaches you for money or milk etc it is heart breaking to say no and turn a blind eye. But in truth these children won’t actually get what you have gifted them. I saw children in India selling pens, books and all sorts of other things that they have acquired. Unfortunately again they are probably being sent out each day by organised criminals and so by giving them money and gifts again the industry will keep going. The best thing you can do if you see children at risk of abuse or being exploited in any way is to report online to Interpol. It sounds drastic, but the more information they have on a particular street, hotel, business that may be harming children, the greater the chance that something can actually be done.
The sex industry is often targeted at tourists whether it be shows in hotels down to street prostitution. It should not be supported regardless of its guise. What maybe seen as entertainment will certainly not be the full picture. Nobody wants to be in that line of work and will only be doing so to appease traffickers or to support families. If it is not an option then it can be eradicated from the mainstream.
The environment needs to be considered too. Many parts of the world don’t have refuse facilities let alone recycling plants yet never have I been bombarded with so much plastic as when I am in Asia. You will get a big thick plastic bag with even the smallest of purchase and straws with everything too. If you can, just say no to the straws and take your own bag when shopping. It’s only a small measure but if every tourist did just that it will make a huge difference. Make sure all waste goes into the bin which is easier said then done in countries that don’t appear to have any. Just keep it with you until you find one. Think about your use of water and energy making sure things are turned off when not needed.
There are huge problems in every country in the world and obviously when on holiday you don’t want to be thinking about the bad stuff. It’s not your job to be solving international poverty, slavery and corruption but when these issues are highlighted in the tourism industry then we all do have a small part to play in trying to stamp it out 👍
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