7 Simple Ways to Support Local Communities When You Travel

When we travel to new places, supporting the local community should always be a consideration when  planning our trip.

Getting local is how we foster a community of welcoming hosts, and it’s also a way for destinations to ensure they remain unique and special.

Respectful visitors want to boost the local economy, celebrate local traditions, and aid in local efforts.

We love participating in the communities we find ourselves in, even if only for a short time,. In our experience, it’s one of travel’s greatest pleasures.

Our tourist dollars often play a huge role in helping to preserve natural wonders, maintain historic architecture, develop new attractions, and pay residents’ salaries.

Our thoughtful spending choices are how exciting destinations remain intact for future travelers.

That local ambiance is what makes each travel experience rich and real for us as travelers, so our efforts to get local as tourists both enhance the local community and our own experience.

The best way to do these things is to make simple but thoughtful travel choices. Read on for 7 simple ways to support local communities when you travel!

READ MORE: 15 Reasons Responsible Tourism Is Better for Everyone

1. Buy From Locally Owned Shops

For those who like to take memorabilia and other gifts home, those souvenirs should ideally come from locally owned shops.

It’s also a good idea to stick to locally produced (authentic) items crafted by local artisans. That way, whatever comes home with you is a true piece of the place you’ve visited.

This same idea also holds true for tour companies and hotels.

Rather than booking with international agencies that bring in outside staff, look for companies owned by locals, which utilize local workers. Find B&Bs run by enterprising residents.

But typical tourist stuff is definitely not all we buy when we travel. Making use of local farmers markets and grocery stores makes a huge impact on the local economy, too!

READ MORE: What Is Ecotourism? (History & Principles of Responsible Travel)

2. Dine at locally owned restaurants

Nothing provides a look into culture quite like food. And from Philadelphia to the Philippines, locally owned restaurants are vying to share the best version of what’s cooking.

Forget about eating like you do back home. Instead, try to discover the new flavors that make up a place’s traditional cuisine.

Of course,…