Traveling, as wonderful and eye-opening as it is, can sometimes come at a cost to local communities. That doesn’t mean we should stop exploring the world, but it’s a sad truth that some tourists are careless, ignoring rules, customs, and even the environment.

Take Iceland, for example, where concentrated tourism in certain areas is causing damage to its natural landscape. Or consider overcrowded cities like Venice and Dubrovnik. In April of last year, residents of the Canary Islands took to the streets with banners reading, “Tourist: respect my land!” as 13.9 million people visited the seven main islands in 2023 alone. This sentiment has been echoed in protests across other popular European destinations like Barcelona, Athens, and Málaga.

To learn more about how we can be more responsible travelers, Bored Panda spoke with Pati, author of the blog One Way Ticket To Anywhere.

“I still remember how puzzled I was many years ago when I first saw travelers visiting Spain, a country rich in culture and cuisine, choosing to eat at pubs and lie by the pool at all-inclusive hotels,” Pati recalls. “Since then, I’ve visited many countries, and I’m still surprised by how tourists sometimes behave.”

“Recently, I traveled to Southeast Asia, and although it should be obvious to mindful travelers who have done a little research that the society in many regions of that continent is quite modest, many people, more often than not, unconsciously disrespect the culture by the way they dress or behave,” Pati says.

“But this often comes down to not being informed,” she explains. “We see some great photos of Thai or Indonesian islands or Malaysian colonial cities, see photos of the beaches, and we pack the shorts and off we go. We don’t know that we shouldn’t disrespect the king, that we should take off our shoes before entering a room, or cover our heads before entering a temple.”

Sometimes, advice on how to navigate local customs isn’t easy to find. It’s something that travel influencers or agencies rarely talk about. “This needs to change!” Pati insists. “But the issue is, as always, a bit more complex.”

“In today’s fast-paced world, travel is often seen as an escape—an escape from reality, from long working hours, far away from those who might judge our choices,” she continues. “This mindset can lead tourists to behave less respectfully. They feel they’ve earned this time off and want to do as they please.”

Pati believes we need to remember that, as travelers, we are guests. “There are no foreign countries. We are the foreigners taking advantage of the locals’ hospitality. It’s our responsibility to research our destination and respect local customs.”

For many locals, the issue isn’t just about disrespectful behavior, but about the sheer volume of tourists and the lack of benefits to the community.

Sebastian Zenker, an expert in overtourism and academic director at Copenhagen Business School, explains, “If you look at the Canary Islands, I've read that a third of the population live on the edge of poverty. Tourism offers a big income to these islands—but for whom? It's not enough to say that we want to welcome well-behaved tourists who are quiet and spend more money, it's about where the money goes. At the moment, a large proportion of the population does not benefit.”

He suggests that if locals see a direct benefit, such as improved infrastructure or better living conditions, there could be a healthy coexistence between tourists and residents.

Managing large crowds isn’t just the responsibility of visitors; it also requires effective tourism management from relevant authorities. However, travelers can play a key role by educating themselves about the places they visit. This not only enhances their own experience but also helps them avoid being a burden.

For Pati, being mindful has made her travels more meaningful. “Traveling is a journey of discovery. It’s enriching, educational, and exhilarating. It’s changed my life, made me a better, braver, and more aware person. I want that for everyone, which is why I’m passionate about sharing this mission.”

“I often say there’s a difference between traveling and ‘touristing’,” Pati adds. “Staying at the resort, lying by the pool, and eating at the hotel buffet—that’s ‘touristing.’ Getting out, learning about the local culture, meeting people, using local transport, and respecting customs—that’s travel. And I hope everyone gets to experience it.”