One of the things that the tour service we have used for travel does (Gate1 Travel, if you are curious) is that they partner with local business/organizations to help support local populations - in 2023 per Statisica, it made up 9.95 of Global GDP, or $9.9 trillion. Oftentimes the beneficiaries of these are the more traveled to locations; lesser known destinations that do not have major tourist draws do not necessarily see the benefit of that money
To that end, we traveled to the town of Güzelyurt (population 2.750) to visit a school to drop off supplies, listen to the children sing and practice English, and have an authentic Turkish meal.
Besides a good meal, such events help support local populations who otherwise are not able to tap into those tourist monies mentioned above. It is nice that organizations do it; I wish it was more widely done.
I have sometimes felt tourist money is a double edged sword. One one side, it supports local families and gives them a better life. But on the other edge, it can turn the area into a money sucking engine of sorts looking to extract every dollar from the tourists and making things much more expensive for those to follow. Many of the places I have been too in the Philippines for example have progressed to the second side of the sword and makes me loathe to contribute to the problem. But when I get off the beaten path, I do tend to be more generous knowing that my money will likely be used for life betterment.
ReplyDeleteEd, it really is. The area just off the Acropolis in Athens, for example (I cannot remember if you went there or not) is almost nothing but tourist style shops.
DeleteI will say that this tour group has done a pretty good job of mixing "tourist" areas with more regional and varied things. Sure, at some level I suspect there is some "consideration" - especially with where some of our road stops are - but I never had reason to complain and after all, everyone should make money.
I will say that I have become far more likely to by local crafts from local places (like my icon or our carpet) than the tourist things.
Encouraging to find out there are folks out there trying to help "locals" avoid becoming the over commercialized destinations for tourists. Waiting for breakfast now that desert looks....ah....the stomach IS rumbling now but those fava beans.....nope.....thanks to Mr. Lector...:)
ReplyDeleteNylon12, they really seem to be a top notch organization. The Ravishing Mrs. TB has been on something like 10 tours with them, and they are very consistent about things like this.
DeleteYes, the pictures of the food make me hungry all over again. And the fava beans were surprisingly good. No chianti, though...
Win win! That meal looks amazing. Cuisine is such an important part of any culture.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, the meal was amazing. And completely 100% homemade.
DeleteIt really is. I have to say my travels in Greece and Turkey have really tuned me into the idea of local cuisines - mostly because each country seems to celebrate theirs.