4 ms·

To meet people, talk and learn is an obscure and rare form of tourism. How common do you think it is?

by dsjoerg 7y ago

jeffdavis 7y ago
For me, it's normal. Why do you think it's rare?
- GrayTextIsTruth 7y ago
  tourism dollars wouldn't be concentrated right around tourist destinations if it were normal. Its not that its uncommon, its just a tiny fraction of total tourism.
- coldtea 7y ago
  That's what a lot of people believe ("I'm a traveller, not a tourist" etc), but they practice it only in super superficial forms. The visit some museums, take some pics, talk to some locals, have a couple of adventures, and then they feel deeply emerged in the culture they still know nothing about (and don't really care to learn). Actual caring for another culture is not shown in some travel. It takes long (even life-long) devotion. And if it's more than one-two cultures, it's more of a sampling at a buffet, than any deep connection...
  - la_barba 7y ago
    Most people have two weeks of vacation a year. What other practical ways do you propose then?
    - coldtea 7y ago
      Well, one can always start by learning the language, reading books, watching movies and listening to songs of said culture, studying the history, crafts, and traditions, and going there for multiple years on their 2-week vacations, not just as an one-off of off to the next destination. And if they're really serious, then proving it by putting skin in the game, not just a 2 week retreat: moving there, for example. Even the latter, hardcore thing, is not some elite suggestion. Millions have done it, including richer, middle class, and poor people, that were fascinated with another country / culture / lifestyle.
      - la_barba 7y ago
        Those are some nice ideas. Another one I thought of was to be a host in a student exchange program.
  - jeffdavis 7y ago
    You seem to be setting the bar very high just to exclude people. Anyone who takes time out of their lives to visit a new place and meet a few people and get a new perspective should be encouraged. What you see as "superficial", I see as a starting place. Maybe you don't really get to know the locals, but maybe you do get to meet other tourists from other countries, and then maybe you feel more comfortable traveling to their countries.

To meet people, talk and learn is an obscure and rare form of tourism. How common do you think it is?

jeffdavis 7y ago

For me, it's normal. Why do you think it's rare?

GrayTextIsTruth 7y ago
tourism dollars wouldn't be concentrated right around tourist destinations if it were normal. Its not that its uncommon, its just a tiny fraction of total tourism.
coldtea 7y ago
That's what a lot of people believe ("I'm a traveller, not a tourist" etc), but they practice it only in super superficial forms. The visit some museums, take some pics, talk to some locals, have a couple of adventures, and then they feel deeply emerged in the culture they still know nothing about (and don't really care to learn). Actual caring for another culture is not shown in some travel. It takes long (even life-long) devotion. And if it's more than one-two cultures, it's more of a sampling at a buffet, than any deep connection...
- la_barba 7y ago
  Most people have two weeks of vacation a year. What other practical ways do you propose then?
  - coldtea 7y ago
    Well, one can always start by learning the language, reading books, watching movies and listening to songs of said culture, studying the history, crafts, and traditions, and going there for multiple years on their 2-week vacations, not just as an one-off of off to the next destination. And if they're really serious, then proving it by putting skin in the game, not just a 2 week retreat: moving there, for example. Even the latter, hardcore thing, is not some elite suggestion. Millions have done it, including richer, middle class, and poor people, that were fascinated with another country / culture / lifestyle.
    - la_barba 7y ago
      Those are some nice ideas. Another one I thought of was to be a host in a student exchange program.
- jeffdavis 7y ago
  You seem to be setting the bar very high just to exclude people. Anyone who takes time out of their lives to visit a new place and meet a few people and get a new perspective should be encouraged. What you see as "superficial", I see as a starting place. Maybe you don't really get to know the locals, but maybe you do get to meet other tourists from other countries, and then maybe you feel more comfortable traveling to their countries.