TIPS FOR THE RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER
If you are considering a trip abroad – whether with PEPY Tours, another operator, or on your own – we want to help you do it responsibly. To do that, we put together this handy reading guide covering all the things we ourselves wished we knew before setting out on our adventure. Arm yourself with basic how-to responsible tourism knowledge and make informed decisions along the way.
Why do we travel?
‘To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.’ — Bill Bryson
- Why We Travel – Pico Iyer provides insight into our curiosities, desires and fascination with the unknown world.
- The Modern Age of Adventure Travel – A sustainable tourism expert Christ Costas talks about the challenges and opportunities of modern-day adventure travel.
Where do I start?
Here are some generic guidelines on responsible and culturally-appropriate travel.
- 13 Tips for the Accidental Ambassador – Ethical Traveler offers advice on how to represent yourself and your home country when traveling abroad.
- Cambodia Cultural Dos and Don’ts – A handy list of cultural faux pas that focus on Cambodia but also apply to other countries of South-East Asia.
‘Mister… have one dollar for school?’
Of course you do, but it’s not about the amount. Learn how to help children around the world responsibly, and be aware if situations that actually cause more harm to children than good.
- Westerners do little to alleviate the lot of poverty-stricken children – Before contributing to an orphanage in the developing world, consider the impact of such practice.
- Begging: The Question – On a similar topic, Lori Robertson tackles the dilemma of whether to give money to street children.
Considering volunteering?
Please take some time to go through the resources that will help you make an informed choice about the way you can help and if you decide to offer your time, it will be mutual beneficial to you and the hosting organization.
- Learning Service – A guideline developed at PEPY Tours to help future volunteers choose a responsible placement, as well as maximize their positive impact with the organization;
- To Hell With Good Intentions – Back in the 1960s Ivan Illich raised strong objections to the motive and effects of so-called aid work.
- What’s Wrong With Volunteer Travel? – PEPY founder Daniela Papi presents at TEDx Oxbridge on some potential pitfalls of volunteer travel and the need to focus on learning first.
Want to contribute to causes financially?
Learn how to properly evaluate a project, maximize your impact, and follow up to be sure you vote well with your money.
- It’s More Complicated Than It Looks – This reading packet includes a few short reflections about Traveler’s Philanthropy gone bad – a sort of how not to do global giving handbook
- How to Decide If A Project Is A Good Idea? – A step-by-step system on how to determine if the project is a good idea
- The Would-Be-Donor and Budding-Do-Gooder’s Code of Conduct – A 10-point code of conduct developed by our founder Daniela Papi on doing good
Want to know more?
If you want to learn more about responsible travel – both in Cambodia and in general – you might like to check out this resources. This is a continually-updated collection of articles related to the subjects of travel, tourism, development, international aid, and responsible giving.
