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What is an ethical holiday?

posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 05:57 PM

I read the other day that the inhabitants of Paris were not going to the South of France for their traditional summer break this August and were staying at home because they are feeling the squeeze in their wallets. British people on the other hand tend to go abroad for their holidays but this year too, they are staying within the UK. The travel sections in the newspapers are full of places to go within the British Isles whereas in previous years it was hard to find any covering domestic tourism. Whether it is for economic reasons or because people have become more wary of the affect flying has on global warming, a new trend of Briton’s holidaying in their own country seems to have begun.

This new craze has political dimensions too. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is forsaking his usual trip to Cape Cod for the beaches of Suffolk. David Cameron, the Conservative Leader is off to Cornwall. In the United States, it is almost political suicide for an aspiring politician to go outside the country – why would you when there is so much on offer at home, goes the argument. Barack Obama is going back to his routes in Hawaii to recharge himself before the Democratic Convention later this month. That should add a point or two to his poll ratings.

But is all this wise? Sure, flying to far away places is bad for your carbon footprint but what about the upside? Is it not good that people should experience different cultures? Of course, you can learn about these from books, television and the internet but its nothing like actually being there. Walking through the dusty streets of Havana, or long train journeys through Europe, or crossing Indonesia are amongst the best experiences I have ever had. Being in the middle of Laung Prabang in Laos and talking to the local people, eating the food and smelling the cold night air cannot be absorbed in the same way from a book or documentary no matter how well it is produced.

The London Mayor Boris Johnston has bucked this new fad of home bound holidays and has gone off somewhere hot. Good for him I think. Everyone needs a proper break from time-to-time and I’m sure he will feel not only more relaxed and recharged by doing what he really wants to do, but will probably be that little bit culturally wiser too from his foreign trip. I heard it said that 60 of the 100 US senators don’t have a passport. I find that sad and think maybe a little more travelling and a little more awareness of other cultures may improve their ability to make policy.

For the record, I cycled in South France in June (yes I did fly although I wish I had taken the train as I love trains!) and at the end of this month will be hiking in the Lake District in England. But I hope it won’t be long before I am going somewhere far away once more.

Comments

Ugonna Wachuku

Thursday, August 28, 2008 08:34 AM

A handful to really chew on. Quite a meaningful and thought-provoking, one, Tommy!

Barry Crisp

Monday, September 15, 2008 01:29 AM

I agree... nothing beats traveling to a foreign country. I believe offsetting our carbon footprint should be more integrated with flight prices... and maybe the rise in fuel prices is a good thing... because you will now find that instead of someone having two holidays abroad in a year... they will do one domestic and one abroad, and so on.

Peter Ongera

Sunday, September 28, 2008 08:29 AM

You are right...our tourism business is really affected.