Peace, Love and Travel
Tourism Benefits Destinations, Rebuilds Communities and Gives Back
The Signal - Business Section, June, 2005
Travel for the greater good. By promoting peace through tourism, we are opening our minds to new experiences, cultures and customs. We are learning about other people, the way they live and how they do business. And this is exactly how peace begins – through understanding made possible by travel.
Now, more than ever, it is important to embrace our differences and find effective ways to get along. What better and more exciting way to do this than through travel. With so many interesting opportunities and places to see, where to begin is the greatest challenge of all. From right here at home to halfway around the world, meaningful travel experiences are accessible to even the most budget-conscious vacationer.
Here’s the deal. Everything we do matters in some way, even when we’re on vacation. We make a difference through travel by investing tourism dollars in communities we visit, by eating, sleeping, shopping and sightseeing. Our currency serves to restore and rebuild economies. Just look at South East Asia as an example. Tourists are going back to the areas hit by the tsunami to show support, spend some money and often, to physically lend a hand in the efforts to rebuild. And it’s working.
By visiting other places, we are given the chance to see up-close and personal the diversity of each destination, and get to know the people with whom we come in contact. Whether divided by miles, jungles, oceans, deserts or icebergs, what we quickly realize through travel is how similar we all are. It is this understanding that helps us make wiser decisions and encourages dialogue, promoting peace rather than war.
This compassion brought to life through a travel experience also motivates us to help wherever and whenever possible. It used to be the Peace Corps, where young people and missionaries signed up for a “tour” of an impoverished country to educate the people and help revitalize villages. The ultimate goal was sustainability, leaving the experience knowing the people you lived and worked with would thrive and prosper as a result of your efforts. This was no vacation, but a travel and life experience unsurpassed by others.
Today, still sacrificing the traditional concept of a relaxing holiday, travelers of all ages, walks of life and income brackets, are selecting volunteer-based vacations. Habitat for Humanity is one organization that has benefited from this growing trend to do-good through travel. Nationally and globally, Habitat has successfully identified places and people who need our help. The response has been impressive to say the least. Vacationers now want to spend their vacation dollars, time and efforts by serving others. The feedback from these barn-building, crop-planting, house-painting travel adventures is so positive that many people plan to do it again.
But it goes deeper than physically constructing bridges. These travelers have found something special. Through tourism, and a lot of hard work, they have bridged the cultural divide and gained a greater sense of understanding. The rewards are endless, and the memories forever.
It is only through peace that we may create a lasting future for the next generations to follow. It is through travel that we begin this process.
Commentary provided by Eric Maryanov, president and founder of All-Travel.com, the Los Angeles-based travel management company with an office in Valencia. He can be reached at 661.775.7511..
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