The Tourist/Traveler Distinction
Posted Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 · Permalink
Yesterday I posted my review of Rolf Potts’ vagabonding book. I mentioned his humorous discussion on the distinction between tourist and traveler. This part is probably so funny to me because it’s such a useless discussion to start with (something Potts is aware of) and is hence illustrated through idiocy. But to some extent, this discussion has become increasingly common in backpacker circuits. There seems to be a need for distinction among those who believe they are experiencing more than tourists. Those who believe they are being immersed in culture rather than simply observing culture. That’s what this post is about; the distinction.
It’s really gone quite far. So far, in fact, that there is a term for those who do everything in their power to be not identified as a tourist: The Anti-Tourist. Daniel at thelostglobe.com talks about this interesting phenomenon. I agree with him that these guys are pretty annoying (putting it lightly). But let me take a moment to opine regarding this mess of crappy definitions are stereotypes.
As some of my readers have noticed, I like to call my kind of traveling “experience traveling.” It’s just another way of calling that thing we like to do (i.e. getting away from ‘the normal’ and experiencing life differently). For me, experience traveling has a broad definition. It can be everything from a day-hike to a true around-the-world adventure. Potts uses the term ‘vagabonding’ (his traveling is a little solely long-term oriented). The question for me is, could I call my kind of traveling “experience tourism?”
I initially wanted to say no, but the more I think about it the more I realize that there is little to justify why my kind of travel isn’t experience tourism. For me it’s all about the richest experience possible. The most rewarding. The most down-to-earth. The most honest traveling that can exist. I cannot claim that I have achieved this kind of travel, but I can say that I’m trying, and hope that others decide that this is their goal as well. I, like the Anti-Tourists and all other travelers, think that my kind of travel is the best kind of travel.
But I also believe that experience travelling is a personal thing. No-one can tell you how-to travel. This discussion seems to rest on a money-defined distinction (the tourist pays 100$/day, the traveler 10$/day). Or it might be more of an age thing? But to be quite honest, I find all this debate difficult and hilariously trivial.
And still I decide to contribute.
Responses feed6 Responses ↓
1Stacy // March 27th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
This is a great post. You are right, traveling is a personal thing.
One travel experience does not have more meaning or value than another because of how it happened (backpack vs tour, etc). It has to do with what happens inside a person when they have the experience.
Any attempt to say otherwise is an attempt to put down others who don’t travel the way you do. It’s a ridiculous, elitist view.
2Dan // March 27th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Glad you liked it, I completely agree with you both and it’s been great to see that so many others agree. I read a book called Honeymoon with my Brother a while ago and it gave a great insight into a different style of travel that really made me realise the things I talked about. I recommend it.
3Pam // March 28th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I hope you’ll forgive a vanity link - I did a short round up of bloggers on tourism vs. travel some time back for BlogHer, it’s here:
http://blogher.org/node/7218
I’m inclined to agree with you - I think we travelers make too much of trying to stand apart from each other. There’s an odd competitiveness in the the travel subculture around who’s had the “truest” experience. And there’s a certain sense that you can only have that “genuine” experience if you’re traveling in relative poverty or in the third world.
Meh. Who’s to say you can’t have a real experience while staying in a swank hotel? Travel isn’t about what happens in your hotel room, is it? I don’t buy the economic distinction.
Anti-tourists aren’t anti-tourism at all. True anti- tourists wouldn’t travel! They’re anti a certain TYPE of travel, thinking they know what that type of travel “means.” But how can they know? It’s not their trip.
Blahblahblah. Apologies for the rambling.
4Timen // March 28th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Hey all,
Thanks for all your comments. I really like hearing other people’s opinions on such things. It’s really something that other travelers have all thought about at some point.
Pia, I like your rambling. Good stuff. Thanks!
Take care,
Timen
5:: travellingcari.com :: : Tourist/Traveler and Experiential Travelling
[…] As is becoming more and more common lately, Timen at in my All Stars and I seem to be sharing a brain cell. This time, it seems to be about the distinction between a tourist and a traveler. […]
6BNT’s Best Of The Week 03/31/07
[…] Timen and Daniel ruminate on the difference between a tourist and a traveler, if in fact, the distinction […]
Leave a Response