𝐖𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬!
Recently, we have coincidentally been involved in many events revolving around cultural sensitivity. There are great encouraging words when guests deeply appreciated the connecting, other may feel uncomfortable with planned encounters.
While practicing #peoplecentered tourism, we have been navigating the fine lines between preserving authenticity and embracing interculturality. "Fulfilling in Connecting" conveys the message we aim to inspire our conscious travelers with regarding the #slowtravel concept. There will be no fixed time frame, but thematic highlights and trip cohesion to convey the purpose of immersion.
💚 Through the multitude of human and cultural contacts, we must handle with prudence. Which is why spontaneity may not always be possible.
Twenty years ago, our city, Hue, initiated a program hosting tourists to visit traditional garden houses. The host families were busy keeping their residence readily welcoming and widely open. Groups of tourists came in and out, sometimes the guides put aside the family as "a witness". Many closed their doors afterward, but that practice of spontaneity persists today. This had many bad consequences for the hosts, the travelers, which we cannot fully articulate due to limited space in these posts.
💚 Slow Travel Hue approached this must-planned visit purposefully different. No one can expect any hospitality to be nurtured in the long run, without intentionally investing time, talent, and caring for our sensitive HOME.
We are occasionally inquired by partners' travel consultants on how to handle guests who like local immersion but don’t want to visit any local homes or dining with local family.
💚 We believe what is missing in the current travel design is a greater emphasis on the What (Product) and insufficient consulting of the Why (Purpose) and How (Better practices).
💚 So we gently equip our partners with all cultural insights and reasoning, and hopefully, they will help their travelers make well-informed decisions.
Some may prefer a cultural chat with the host family at the dining table, while others may want to help cook and taste from the kitchen, and still, others may prefer some interaction but a certain space when dining. Nevertheless, travelers should be aware that this is part of cultural immersion, to gain a deeper understanding of traditional living and family values than just a place to eat.
They can opt out of home visits or dining experiences to explore other sightseeing because without prior arrangements is also a burden for the community and degrade their hospitality.
💚 Every encounter should be made with careful preparation for hosts and guests to regenerate the essential art of travel.
#renegerativetourism #culturalsensitivity #communitytourism #sustainability #nature #happiness
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4moCelebrate!🏳️🌈