How Experiential Travel Benefitted Travelers and Communities

As far as travel trends are concerned, experiential travel brings the true meaning of travel to light as it involves taking visitors off the beaten tourist paths and into the communities of locals to fully engage in a different world without the Starbucks and McDonald’s of modern society.

Experiential travel not only benefits the traveler by introducing him to a new world of languages, food and lifestyles big cities can’t provide, but the trend also helps the local communities welcome this subset of travelers through contributions to their economy and ecosystem. Rather than plowing through these communities via cruise ship or large tour groups, or just passing through for a few photo ops, travelers who long to participate in this trend arrive in the communities in smaller groups and for longer periods of time to truly dive into the immersive experience. This also contributes to an air of respect between the foreigner and the local.

Alternatively, if travelers aren’t as confident in preparing their own experiential travel, there are countless organizations that offer pre-packaged options for sustainable tourism and “voluntourism.” For example, Meanderbug in the Balkans helps connect travelers with regional residents who open their homes to visitors interested in sharing the daily chores, learning how to prepare food with local ingredients and spending time in the family home.

Filling up a photo reel is great, but connecting with a different culture on a collaborative level fosters a lifetime of memories.