The social impact of travel and what you can do to make a difference

The discussion around sustainable travel encourages us to understand how our trips and holidays can affect the places we visit. However, while there is much focus on climatic and environmental impact, the social impact of travel is often overlooked. Here, we consider the most prominent ways in which travel and tourism can affect the communities we visit and explore how we can travel more consciously.

We can help local people secure longer-term work by travelling off-season (Shutterstock)

The issue: While travel and tourism certainly create more jobs, these are often seasonal. High season job opportunities are often in abundance for local people, however the inconsistency of work during low and shoulder seasons can lead to employment and financial insecurity.

How to help: It is in our power as travellers to ensure that our money also reaches communities out of high season – we can do this by choosing to travel at other times during the year. Research will tell you when most people visit a region. You can balance out this seasonal rush by planning your visit when the crowds have dissipated.

Shop local, eat local and stay local when possible, to support host communities (Shutterstock)

The issue: There are many areas around the world that depend on tourism to bolster economies – and this brings a great deal of income for regions. However, we still see a lot of income going to big-name hotels and chain providers, because they bring a trusted name to the region. Sadly, this means communities see less of that tourist dollar.

Howtohelp: Where possible, choose to stay in community run, locally-owned accommodation – which will ensure your money is going straight to the people who need it. If booking a trusted hotel brand is more convenient, make a point to avoid the in-house breakfast and cocktails and explore the town, allowing your expenditure to reach local people in another way. Shopping is another great way to give back to the community. Many big-name hotels will have souvenir shops on site, but spending at markets, artisan stores and locally run galleries ensures the people doing the hard work are benefitting from your presence.

Travelling out of season can significantly ease pressure on over-subscribed infrastructure (Shutterstock)

The issue: Popular destinations might appear indefinitely prosperous, but the demand for infrastructure – whether it be dependable public transport, comfortable and safe roads or abundant accommodation – can put huge strain on local communities. While income can be put towards more efficient foundations, it can take years for such plans to be approved and work to be carried out – and when it does finally happen, building new infrastructure is often at the disruption of local lives. In the meantime, communities have to deal with overcrowding and the resulting breakdown of their services.

Howtohelp:Again, travelling out of season can significantly ease the pressure on regions that welcome a lot of visitors. As does avoiding year-round busy hubs, cities and towns in general. This, together with ensuring money goes back to local businesses, will help people build resilience to struggling infrastructure, by providing alternative options when necessary.

Booking accommodation away from hubs and through community-run businesses, will funnel income to the right people (Shutterstock)

The issue: Long and short term lets in central locations are in demand during high season, causing accommodation rates to skyrocket. In turn, this attracts foreign investment – with rental accommodation becoming big business to those that can afford additional properties. As a result, local residents can be priced out of their homes to make way for rentals and Airbnb-style stays.

Howtohelp:Book guesthouses, farm stays or B&Bs outside of those central locations to drive much-needed income to the areas and people who need it. Not only will room rates be less expensive, but often a simple bus or train will take you into the city centre. This way, you can receive a genuine insight into local culture and great tips on where to visit – after all it’s the people who live in the area who know their surroundings the best.

Typically, Indigenous communities benefit least from tourism, you can change this by choosing to support businesses directly (Shutterstock)

The issue: Even today, Indigenous peoples can suffer at the hands of modern development, with the devaluation of culture and lack of communication rife in some parts of the world.In some regions, stories of lost land and homes to make way for more tourist infrastructure are common. Danau Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia is one such place where this has occurred, with the Indigenous Pomparan Ompu Ondol Butarbutar community threatened with eviction by authorities – some even had their farmland burnt – to make space for a planned five-star resort together with mall, amusement park and golf course to rival the popularity of Bali.

Howtohelp: It’s important we take more care than ever to respect and understand the experiences of Indigenous communities, even if this background makes us a little uncomfortable. Ultimately, the solution to such situations requires policy overhaul, however we do have the power to show those in power that we don’t support such action against Indigenous communities. To do this, we can avoid establishments that have developed out of the suffering of any local community, including First Nations peoples. We can also spend our money in those communities when in situ, booking Indigenous-led tours, visiting First Nations-owned museums and galleries and buying from Indigenous artisans.