This might seem obvious, but it’s important to research your destination, its people and its history before you travel somewhere. Is the local community asking tourists not to go to certain areas because the environment is suffering? Has the destination you have in mind been impacted by a natural disaster? These are all things you need to know before you decide to visit a place to visit.
Choose places that are welcoming tourists versus tolerating tourists
Popular places get popular for a reason, but there is a limit to how many people one destination can manage. If a place is still recovering from a deadly wildfire or large hurricane, it’s best to skip the destination (for now). Consider keeping that destination on your bucket list for a date sometime in the future when visiting is more of a benefit to the community than a hindrance.
Wherever you travel, make sure to follow rules and best practices
Make sure to read the signs and notices. If park rangers and locals are asking you to stay on the trails, not feed local wildlife and pick up your litter, then you shouldn’t decide to do those things anyway. It’s definitely tempting at times to feed a cute bird or tread off the trails for a picture, but local wildlife, flora and fauna can be seriously impacted when people interact with them in ways that isn’t natural to their environment. It’s best to listen to what the experts have to say.
