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Opinion

“Authentic travel” is about accepting things as they are

'Benvenuti' signI have just read an interesting article, which I don’t agree with: 7 Reasons Why the ‘Authentic’ Travel Experience Is a Myth by Gary Arndt (@EverywhereTrip on Twitter). Gary Arndt writes:

One reason people travel is to have an “authentic experience.” They envision traveling to a foreign country and living, eating, and doing the things locals do. […] Most likely, they are in for a disappointment.

The reason why I believe this does not necessarily mean that authentic travel is a myth is in the journalist’s words themselves. In a quite contradictory way, he continues:

The problem stems from the expectations people have before they go.

That is, in my opinion, the whole point. As I have stated in other posts, I am a huge supporter of forms of tourism which can be variously defined as “authentic, local, responsible, slow,… travel”. Authenticity is not a myth… it is acceptance of things the way they actually are. The way things are at a destination might not be what one expected, but if travelers are open-minded, able to see the limitations imposed by their own expectations and willing to embrace the reality of the local lifestyle, they can certainly experience the authentic spirit of the place. They might not like it, and they might find out that a certain place is not for them, nothing wrong with that. But the only disappointment should come from one’s own inability to get over one’s expectations.

Expectations are a dangerous thing and come with consequences. Yet they can’t be avoided. They might misguide us and when they are shared by many, they have the power to change a destination. Tuscany is an example of this.

Continue reading this article on the At Home in Tuscany blog

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4 Responses to ““Authentic travel” is about accepting things as they are”

  1. You say you do not agree but yet, your article explicitly agrees with the article you say you disagree with, how is that? Perhaps I am just thick-headed but where is the disagreement?

    Both you and Mr. Arndt seem to agree about the stupid and foolish expectations of the visitor. The visitor, Mr. Arndt explains, in “The very act of being somewhere means that you are changing the environment and removes the possibility of having a true authentic experience.” I see no disagreement…

    Posted by Johnny Hogue | April 28, 2011, 3:05 pm
  2. I don’t agree with the conclusion of the author that authentic travel is a myth. I am not sure how he can reach that conclusion starting from the premise that travelers’ expectations are to blame, with which I agree.

    He keeps explaining why given the wrong expectations the authentic travel experience is a myth, but it is not at all if one is prepared to experience a place the way it is.

    And I totally disagree with the last passage you quote. I am not changed one little bit in my everyday life by the fact that American or German toursts are walking next to me. If they want to experience this destination for what it is without demanding that it adjusts to their cultural habits – and when it doesn’t, being pissed off – they can very well experience the authentic life style. So for me, authentic travel is not a myth at all, provided people start to be aware of what living in a destination x or y really means, and not what they thing it means. Which is not at all always the case.

    It has nothing to do with the concept of authentic travel, but with individual travelers. I hope this clarifies my opinion.

    Posted by Gloria | April 28, 2011, 4:41 pm
  3. Tuscany is an example of this? Come on! Anyhow, in my opinion there is no such thing as an “authentic” experience trip and this does not come out of expectations, it comes out of what you say: accepting things the way they are means that whatever effort you make you will be the visitor therefore out of what the true reality is. This happens in Tuscany or in Mongolia. And any kind of organised tour either responsible or not makes the gap between you and the place you visit bigger than the one the solo indipendent traveller will esperience.

    Posted by Barbara | April 28, 2011, 8:06 pm
  4. Tuscany is an example (in certain areas) of how the travelers’ expectations have changed the destination. Do you disagree?

    Of course you will be a visitor. But in my very personal opinion authentic travel doesn’t mean to become a local. It means to be able to experience a destination from what it is and not from what you expect it to be.

    It means that if you come to Tuscany expecting to meet charming men coming out of a vineyard on a white horse and many cheerful villagers cheering and enjoying la Bella vita, you will be disappointed. If you come expecting that everybody lives in the beautiful stone villas under the Tuscan sun taking naps under oak trees, you will be disappointed. If you come hoping to wander through endless fields of lavender or to see old women in old nonna clothes in the center of Siena, you are going to be disappointed. Not because the place has changed: it has NEVER been like that. Living in rural areas is rewarding but can be challenging, you have to drive anywhere from anything, stores might be open part time, farmers might be scruffy and grumpy and most importantly they might not speak a word of English. It’s a beautiful place anyway, and you can enjoy the local lifestyle as a visitor, if you adjust your rhythms to the local ones. Just to be clear: I am not saying everybody should travel like this AT ALL. There are plenty of places that cater to those who are looking for the Tuscan dream. I am just saying that doesn’t automatically exclude to possibility for others to mix and mingle adjusting to the local community’s regular life. To each his own.

    Posted by Gloria | April 28, 2011, 11:19 pm

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