View Static Version
Loading

Slow Travel Do we move too fast?

Slow travel is a grassroots approach that emphasizes sustainability, intentionality, and quality over speed and mass tourism. Slow travelers prioritize taking their time to get to know a place in its entirety – not just the main points of interest but also the culture, people, and everyday life. Unlike traditional mass tourism, slow travel emphasizes spending more time in each destination, experiencing local culture face-to-face. Rather than an effort to "tick off" as many places as possible, the slow traveler instead focuses on getting to know one place deeply—its surroundings, people, and stories. Slow travel advocates for a deep appreciation of a destination, taking time to soak in all its culture rather than rushing through it. It puts sustainability and quality over speed and quantity, allowing travelers the opportunity to give back to the communities they visit and minimize their environmental footprint.

Let’s dispel a couple of myths. Slow travel is not just about traveling with a backpack, hiking nature or traveling cheaply. Rather, slow travel refers to one’s relationship to the destination, a way of interacting in a thoughtful, respectful manner. The concept of slow travel goes hand-in-hand with sustainable tourism. Slow travel encourages travelers to stay longer in locations so that they can get a better understanding of the area and spend money in more meaningful ways. By spending more time in one place rather than zipping from one destination to another, travelers can appreciate what each location offers on a personal level. Spending money at locally owned businesses rather than mass-market chains or t-shirt tourist traps further bolsters local economies while providing an authentic experience for visitors too. Sitting in a local park and people-watching, visiting local restaurants, coffee shops and shops all contribute to a sense of knowing the destination in an intimate manner.

The idea is to bring tourism spending directly to the communities the traveler visits, giving them more control over how visitors experience their destination. This approach has been particularly popular in developing countries where tourism can make a great economic difference to local economies. The slow travel movement encourages those who want to experience a country or culture first-hand without disturbing or damaging it.

In addition to supporting local economies, slow travel also has environmental benefits. Traveling by plane is inherently damaging due to its large carbon footprint – but by opting for slower modes of transport, such as trains or buses, travelers can significantly reduce their environmental impact. Choosing accommodations with green credentials when possible is also an important factor for the slow traveler.

This type of mindful travel creates longer-term benefits for both travelers and locals alike: the traveler gets a richer experience of their destination, local businesses benefit from a greater share of tourism spend, and reducing carbon emissions from transportation protects the environment.

Planning a trip with slow travel in mind tends to be research intensive to ensure the traveler spends money with businesses committed to responsible and ethical practices, booking green accommodations and looking for dining options that source ingredients locally, using public transportation systems instead of renting cars or taxis to support the local infrastructure.

Slow travel is about so much more than simply experiencing what each destination has to offer. It's about immersing yourself in local cultures, traveling at a slower pace, and absorbing the local experience at a personal level.

NextPrevious