HOW TO BE A RESPONSIBLE TOURIST & SUPPORT REGENERATIVE TRAVEL

Are You a Tourist or a Traveler?

You’re wandering the charming streets of Naples when you see graffiti that reads “Tourists Go Home.” How does that make you feel? Do you think it is directed at you?

With growing awareness of the adverse effects of tourism, nobody wants to be labeled a tourist anymore. Many of us prefer to see ourselves as travelers – sophisticated wanderers eager to dive into new cultures and landscapes, unlike those tourists who flood famous attractions and get stuck in crowded selfie spots.

We strive to set ourselves apart from the less mindful crowds. But working as a hotel receptionist, I can tell you this: whether you’re backpacking through Europe or on a honeymoon, to the locals, you are still a tourist.

Tourist or Traveler – Does the Label Matter?

Sure, I may have a more interesting conversations with a backpacker asking for hiking tips away from sightseeing hotspots, but that’s no rule. In the end, the difference between a tourist and a traveler is not about labels – what counts is our mindset and our actions. 

When I spent a month in Cusco, I lunched at the same local restaurant daily, explored the diverse café scene, and bought fresh vegetables and fruits weekly at the farmers’ market. But no matter how long I stayed or tried to blend in, I was still a tourist.

A responsible tourist? Maybe. A more conscious one? Sure. But still, a visitor, traveling for my own pleasure and interest – the very definition of a tourist.

The distinction between tourist and traveler exists even in tourism studies. While I understand the attempt to create conceptual frames, these distinctions in the form of labels are not always constructive. No matter for how long or where we go, what matters is how we engage with the places we visit.

I have met incredibly curious, respectful, and kind tourists, and I have also met self-proclaimed travelers who only stay in their own bubble or participate in unethical animal tourism. You can be an ignorant traveler just as much as an ignorant tourist.

Rather than judging others for taking a two-week holiday instead of making travel their lifestyle, let’s recognize that travel is a privilege.

Travel Is a Luxury, Not a Right

If you have ever been on a plane, you are in the minority. Estimates suggest that only about 20% of the world’s population has ever flown. Additionally, a 2020 research paper found that approximately 89% of people did not take a flight in 2018.

Traveling abroad has become a granted part of life for many of us. We book weekend getaways, take long-haul flights for vacations, and plan trips simply for the joy of discovering somewhere new. However, the ability to travel freely is a privilege that many people – due to financial, political, or logistical barriers – cannot access.

Passport Privilege – The Freedom to Move

One of the most overlooked aspects of travel privilege is passport privilege.

Most European passports rank among the strongest in the world, with Spain consistently near the top of the Global Passport Index. Since 2021, the United Arab Emirates has held the top spot, offering its citizens the highest mobility worldwide.

At work, I often prepare visa confirmation letters for our Indian and Chinese guests, reminding me of the complex and frustrating visa processes many people must undergo. For European or American travelers, who can enter many countries visa-free, this level of bureaucracy is less of a concern and can be difficult to fully relate to.

Privilege can be uncomfortable to acknowledge and is often met with the instinctive response, “But I worked hard for this!” While that may be true, hard work doesn’t erase privilege. Instead of feeling guilty, we can see it as an opportunity to be more intentional.

Privilege isn’t something to be ashamed of – it is something to recognize and understand. Whether it is passport privilege, economic privilege, white privilege, gender privilege, or the privilege of time, the real question isn’t whether privilege exists, but rather which ones we hold and how we choose to use them.

The tourism industry is built around the needs of tourists, often at a high cost to local communities. Consumer choices influence how destinations evolve, which businesses thrive, what experiences are prioritized, and, at the end of the day, how local life is shaped.

So instead of asking, “Am I a tourist or a traveler?” a more important question is:

“How can I travel in a way that gives back more than it takes?”

What is Regenerative Tourism

While eco-friendly travel options grow, social media continues to fuel a culture of travel as consumerism and a status symbol – glamourizing jet-setting lifestyles, wildlife selfies, and picture-perfect moments that often exploit local cultures and environments.

Meanwhile, climate change is affecting communities worldwide, especially the most vulnerable. Tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. This makes a shift in our travel mindset inevitable.

Sustainable travel, which focuses on reducing harm, is no longer enough. Considering the damage already done, we must take it further.

Regenerative travel isn’t only restoring nature and biodiversity – it is about understanding that we each play a role in the interconnected ecosystem of tourism. It is an ongoing conversation between all stakeholders –  one that requires listening, adapting, and understanding the unique needs of each place and everyone (including nature) involved. It is about rebuilding relationships between people and landscapes, traditions and modernity, and economy and ecology. 

Some destinations may need stronger community empowerment, while others benefit from environmental restoration, biodiversity protection, tourism redistribution, sustainable infrastructure, or simply being valued on their own terms.

Regeneration invites us to listen first rather than imposing our own ideas of what “better” should look like. Nonetheless, as travelers, we can take concrete actions to become active participants and promote the movement of Regenerative Travel. 

Simple Steps to Be a Responsible Tourist