Comments on: Tourist or Traveller – does it matter?

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:06:29 +0000

Rita, I find the same thing when I return to my home town (Nottingham). I knew it so well as a teenager, and having not lived there for over 20 years I now look at it through the eyes of a curious stranger (tourist). It makes for a great time wandering through the streets, admiring things and thinking “I can’t believe I never noticed that before”.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

By: Rita

Rita — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:48 +0000

You know what would be the worst with the “traveller vs. tourist” complex? Feeling like a tourist after long period of travels abroad. that’s how i feel about canada now after some years in Europe. Somehow your values changed and you are re-discovering new things about a city that you might think you know like the back of your hand. Obviously there’s a huge plus side to it too- discovering new things and seeing your city with a new light.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:47:24 +0000

Wow, thanks Lauren for a great comment and yes, it’s worthy of a post in its own right! I enjoyed reading your distinctions, and I think you have described two groups really well. I would only quibble about the terms used for the two types of person you descibe. I would argue both groups are tourists; just different types. A dictionary defines tourist as “a person who makes a tour, esp. for pleasure” and I like that – it doesn’t attempt to create a hierarchy among those who travel.
Whether we travel with a backpack or a suitcase, and whether we stay in a 5 star hotel or a hostel, I don’t think it dictates the mindset with which we go. I like your comments about physical vs mental destination. It’s so true that people don’t need to travel to gain wisdom from the world around them.

Thanks a lot for posting your thoughts. I like your site by the way!
Happy travels
Andy

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:02:13 +0000

Most people are both. Either they’re simultaneously a traveler and tourist – as when taking the time to do a drawing the Eiffel Tower instead of taking a photo and moving onto the next site; or they flip flop between the two, morphing from one to the other even in the same day – as when checking out Hanoi’s water puppet show before tucking into a bowl of sidewalk bun cha, perched on a little plastic stool.

A tourist is also trying to escape. Trying to escape the stress of work, escape from home’s daily grind. They’re where they are to forget. And they’re the same person once their vacation is over.

A traveler is trying to learn. Trying to learn a new language. Trying to learn even something more about themselves. Ideally, a traveler is different once the travel is over. Travelers may not feel very different, but other people probably notice.

Cooking classes, art classes, and many museums are the ultimate mashup of tourist-traveler experiences. They’re touristy, but at the end of the experience you hopefully understand a place or a people a little bit better.

I felt more like a traveler than a tourist during my recent year-long round-the-world when I reached a critical tipping point: the moment I was no longer homesick. Because the road was home. But so much of what I did was touristy. I accept I am both.

To be a tourist, you also have to go somewhere, reach a physical destination, and your experience is externally-determined. To be a traveler, you can just stay where you are and read a book, because the destination is mental, and your experience is internally-determined. Controversial idea, I know.

Shoot. I like what I wrote so much I’m going to need to refine this comment as a future post for my website (http://www.ephemerratic.com). Thanks for the inspiration!

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:42:34 +0000

Well said Rita, it’s about respect, and that is not dependent on how you travel. It must be frustrating to still be perceived as a tourist in a place you’ve lived for years. We had the same when we lived in NYC, but at least we knew not only the scams that go on but recognised the people who were scamming the tourists after a while.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:04:21 +0000

Thanks Sarah. Yes, it’s a old debate but still brings out some wonderful prejudice. Great point too about how the subject is more pertinent in the traditional backpacker destinations. I am looking forward to going to SE Asia this winter and will enjoy overhearing these discussions. I might just be tempted to join in too!

By: Rita

Rita — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:00:36 +0000

Thanks for sharing. I don’t think the differentiation matters much, keeping in mind that even if you think you are a traveller, in a foreign land you are often considered the tourist anyway. It has happened to me a few too many times- after having lived in France for years and speaking the language fluently, just because of my Asian heritage it’s hard to wave off the “tourist” label.

I think what’s most important is as you said, staying free from ignorance and avoid putting stereotypes on the people and places you have met/visited. No matter how well-inversed you are in the culture, traveller or tourist, we are new to the place and respect is what matters the most.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:02:25 +0000

I love the tourist/traveller debate and I like your post and most of all I like the intelligent replies it’s recieved, and I like the way you regularly respond to them. When I “travelled” in India and Thailand it was an issue that often came up, but when I “travelled” in Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand it was something that rarely came up. Curious that the destinations themselves can even lead to you being seen as a tourist or a traveller. I now live abroad in Spain and that opens up a whole host of new debates!!!

By: Shannon O'Donnell

Shannon O'Donnell — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:18:38 +0000

Great post – I agree that the designation doesn't always have an outright black and white answer. I consider myself a traveler as I backpack around…but when I am in a city, seeing the sites and being a tourist…well, I am a tourist.

Though I don't necesarily take offense to the term tourist, I also think that there is a perspective with which you approach the travel that defines your category – as you said, purpose changes things. Tough call…but I think, in the end, I would call myself a traveler

By: Trudy

Trudy — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:35:14 +0000

Great point regarding the travel tourism dollars. I think that does some places much better than someone bringing an ego instead! Can't build a town or place's needs with an ego.