Opinion
How good is the tourism marketing where you live?
Against all expectations in our constantly squabbling tourism industry, a sort of consensus seems to be emerging about how ably the majority of tourism marketing organisations are representing their clients: not really all that well, especially when it comes to today’s swiftly changing travel climate and to representing the interests of local communities and travellers […]
Video Spotlight: Local Voices from Costa Rica
When you travel, one of the easiest and most meaningful things you can do is meet the locals. To the best of your ability – no matter what the language barriers – strike up a conversation. Find out their story, their culture, their way of life. During our last trip to Costa Rica to film our […]
Swiss valley votes against millions in gold to protect mountains
This month we were inspired to learn that the residents of a remote Swiss valley community have voted against receiving tens of millions of pounds each in favour of preserving their cultural heritage and environment. The incredible vote was cast by the valley’s 450 inhabitants in April (2012) after it was discovered that their area […]
Responsible (and local) tourism for travellers
What is Responsible Tourism? How do I do it? Why is it different to ecotourism, sustainable tourism or any other -ism tourism? How will it benefit me? And how will it benefit the people I visit? [Editor’s note: This impressive slideshow touches on a lot that is at the heart of Local Travel, especially the […]
Why all travel is local… and why conscious hosts will be indigenous
While I also subscribe to the importance of the journey and, where possible, would prefer to travel slowly and savour the transition from the familiar to the unknown, most times I have to fly. Then I stop being a traveler and, instead, become a producer of air passenger miles and carbon; a unit of yield […]
A response to Get Lost, Go Local: Elham, Chilham and Eden Valley in the United Kingdom
A lot of hype is placed on Local Travel abroad, but there can be just as many rewards to Local Travel… locally. After all, Get lost! Go local! is also a perfect mantra for a “staycation” and how many people can say they have experienced everything their own nation has to offer? Local travel is […]
Authentic alligator in Los Esteros del Iberá, Argentina
My canoe bumped into a floating island, which was a bad thing. Getting too close to an isla flotante meant that the 8-foot caiman alligators on it could step right into my vessel and eviscerate me. I started rowing furiously in the opposite direction, made difficult by the fact that my friend Allison was sitting […]
Bridging the tourist divide in Berlin
In Berlin, two buildings face each other on the Spree River: one is a shiny highrise, its mosaic of metallic colours gleaming on the roadside. It is the new Mercedes Benz building that will be constructed by Caimmo. Across the road from it sits a beach club, called YAAM, with a colourful graffiti-style sign and […]
Going local with AWOL – a guide to getting lost
Here at the Local Travel Movement, we have always believed in the power of getting lost to go local. The beaten path really has been too well trod, so why not throw caution to the wind – and with it the bucket lists of must-sees and must-dos – and detour through that alluring alleyway filled […]