With the emergence of the new technologies, cheaper transportation and loosening borders, people move about the earth more now than ever before. Unfortunately, the history of the travel industry’s impact on local communities is marred by cultural erosion, social deprivation, economic exploitation, and environmental degradation
It may not be possible for even the most isolated communities to retur
n to their former state, however we can work to end, and perhaps even reverse, this long-damaging relationship. This year will register more than 1 billion international trips, generating over $7 trillion and 250 million jobs globally. Unfortunately, most of this economic benefit never finds its way to local communities. This is especially true in emerging economies, where the majority of the profit (>90% according to many studies) is still reaped by large multinational hospitality corporations, airlines, and corrupt local officials rather than local communities. In some areas, foreigners have initiated programs designed to funnel more of this economic benefit to local communities. Often referred to as cultural tourism, some of these tourist experiences might seem more akin to voyeurism. Critics have used terms such as prostitution and child petting zoos to describe their own guilty experiences. Having visited many such initiatives across a variety of cultural and regional contexts, we have wrestled with these issues deeply and often. Regardless of our interpretations as tourists, the reality is that many communities in impoverished regions of the world now depend upon tourism as a critical economic driver that actually enables and empowers them to preserve their environments and traditional lifestyles, or at the very least, what’s left of them. Interventions under the banner of ecotourism or responsible tourism have been introduced in recent decades, though their focus is often directed primarily toward environmental preservation. Many such initiatives are careful to avoid creating adverse social impacts, however by comparison, far too few are truly committed to proactively empowering local people. Recognizing that an increasing number of travelers desire to contribute positively toward the communities they visit, we aim to guide travelers toward Bright Spots – organizations committed to facilitating authentic travel experiences designed to create mutual benefit for both the traveler and the community. We welcome you to join us on this journey as we seek to illuminate Bright Spots across the world.
