When we travel, it is often our goal to try to experience a place to the fullest. We do this by embracing the natural beauty (often architecture) of the destination, take part in its cuisine, and become immersed in their culture. However, the most memorable travel encounters, go outside the standard tourist itinerary. They come from authentic encounters with locals, where we can listen to their stories of their community, begin to learn their lifestyle, and discover how the history of their community has influenced and effected their lives! At World by Eye, we are committed to promoting a way of travel that has the hope of allowing travelers to fully comprehend new locations and cultures by viewing them through the eyes of the locals.
Why Authentic Community Engagement Matters
Currently, we live in a time where mass tourism can often crowd destinations, so it’s extremely important to travel with a clear purpose. A genuine curiosity regarding local culture is more important than you could imagine! Authentic interactions with a community allows us travelers to positively impact the places we visit, while at the same time, allow us to gain a deeper understanding of the world. Having these interactions with locals helps highlight, preserve, and understand cultural traditions, while supporting local economies at the same time. It also gives you the opportunity to better connect with these destinations and communities, thus creating a more meaningful and sustainable travel experience for you, your friends, and family!
Here’s why connecting with local communities is so important:
- Preserving Cultural Heritage: As you interact with locals, you are given access to a street that leads right in to the heart of a culture. You receive the opportunity to hear stories passed down through generations, take part in and witness rituals, and learn about a community’s unique practices that current mass tourism may tend to overlook. This not only enriches your experience but helps preserve these cultural treasures for future generations.
- Supporting Local Economies: Choosing to stay in accommodations which are owned by locals, or eating at restaurants run by families, or even by purchasing small crafts from local artisans helps directly contribute to the livelihood of the communities you visit. This approach ensures that more of the money you spend stays within the local economy, benefiting the people who live there.
- Gaining a New Perspective: When you listen to locals and their stories of their community, you begin to see how their life can be so much different to yours! You gain insights that challenge your own views, and begin to learn about struggles, joys, and traditions that expand your understanding of what it means to live in a diverse world. You also get a glimpse of how history, politics, and economics shape everyday life in these communities.
How to Connect with Local Communities
So, what efforts can you take in order to make sure that your travel experiences are filled with meaningful interactions with local communities? Well, we are going to give you some useful tips to help you make deeper connections while traveling:
- Stay Local: Instead of booking a stay at a large international hotel chain, along with paying a premium price, look into booking a stay in a guesthouse, home-stay, or eco-lodge run by locals. These accommodations are a great way to have an opportunity to interact with the people who live in the area. For example, in Peru’s Sacred Valley, there are several community-run lodges where travelers can stay with local families, take part in farming activities, and even learn about traditional weaving techniques. These stays offer a much richer experience than simply checking into a generic hotel.
- Seek Out Local Guides: Hiring a local guide can completely transform your experience in a new place. Local guides have deep lying connections to their communities and can offer a great new perspective and knowledge of the culture, history, and traditions of that area. They can also help you access areas and experiences that you might not find on your own. For example, in Vietnam, instead of booking a city tour with a large company, you might hire a local guide to take you through the backstreets of Hanoi, where you can meet artisans who craft traditional water puppets or you can stop at family-run street food stalls for a more personal introduction to Vietnamese cuisine.
- Participate in Community Projects: Offering to volunteer or even just participate in community projects is a great way to give back to a community while also learning from locals. Many travel companies now offer volunteer travel opportunities, where you can help with projects like building schools, teaching English, or working on environmental projects. In Costa Rica, for example, you can join community-based ecotourism initiatives where you help with reforestation projects or support local wildlife conservation efforts, all while learning from the local people who are deeply connected to the land.
- Learn the Local Language: Even learning a few basic phrases can go a long way in connecting with people. Showing respect by attempting to speak the local language—even if it’s just a simple hello or thank yous—demonstrates that you’re interested in their culture and open to learning from them. In Morocco, knowing a few words in Arabic or Berber can open doors to more genuine interactions. It shows that you’re not just a visitor passing through, but someone who is truly interested in the people and their traditions.
- Support Local Artisans: Skip the basic and over-produced souvenirs and seek out locally-made handicrafts. Purchasing directly from artisans not only gives you a unique memory of your travels but also helps support the preservation and heritage of traditional crafts and provides income to the people who create them. In Oaxaca, Mexico, you’ll find markets filled with vibrant textiles, pottery, and wooden carvings, all made by hand using techniques that have been passed down for centuries. When you buy from local artisans, you’re supporting their livelihood and the continuation of their craft.
- Attend Local Events: Festivals, religious ceremonies, and community gatherings are great opportunities where you can learn about the culture of a place and meet more people. These events are deeply rooted in tradition and give travelers the opportunity to have a glimpse into the social build of a community. Remember to always approach people with respect, as you’re witnessing something that’s often very special to the people who practice it. For instance, in India, attending a festival like Diwali or Holi allows you to experience the vibrant traditions of Hinduism, while in Japan, the annual cherry blossom festivals offer a chance to see the deep reverence for nature that permeates Japanese culture.
Responsible Travel Tips for Engaging with Local Communities
While authentic engagement with local communities leads to more meaningful travel experiences, it’s important to approach these interactions respectfully and responsibly. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Ask for Permission: Whether taking photos or participating in a local ceremony, always make sure to ask for permission first or do research before to make sure taking pictures/videos of things will not be taken as disrespectful. Some cultures view photography as intrusive, so it’s important to keep that in mind.
- Be Open-Minded: Every culture is different, and some practices may seem unusual to you. Keep an open mind and remember that what might seem odd to you is likely a deeply rooted and special tradition for them.
- Tread Lightly: Be aware of your presence and make sure it doesn’t disrupt the local environment or culture. Watch your behavior and avoid activities that may have a negative impact on the community or ecosystem.
At World by Eye, we believe that the true meaning of travel is connected to your interactions and relationships with the people who call that place home. By engaging authentically with local communities, you’re not only improving your own travel experience, but you’re also contributing to the preservation of their culture, heritage, and their way of life. So, the next time you plan a trip, challenge yourself to go beyond the typical tourist itineraries and explore off the map—through the eyes of the locals.
Let’s begin to travel with purpose, curiosity, and respect.