Responsible Tourism with Kids
An Account of Authentic Experiences in Asia
Exploring Asia is much more than a simple adventure for our family of digital nomads. It’s important for us to convey the concept of responsible tourism with kids. It’s a journey imbued with sustainability, authentic human connections, and a unique perspective on the art of traveling with children.
Over the years, we’ve adopted travel practices that go beyond merely exploring destinations, directly contributing to the local communities we temporarily call home.
We’ve developed our own approach to “responsible tourism with kids,” aiming to promote and give visibility to places and people rather than hotels and chains.
Family-Run Accommodations and Homestays
Choosing homestays and family-run accommodations was our first step in the context of responsible tourism with kids. Besides offering an authentic immersion into the local culture, it allowed us to directly support the hosting families, providing them with work rather than charity.
This choice not only made our stays more meaningful but also contributed to sustaining the local economy, embodying the principles of responsible tourism with kids.
Remote Work and Local Babysitters
As digital nomads, we often find ourselves balancing work and parenting. In these situations, we’ve sought the support of local babysitters, creating employment opportunities for community members even when we didn’t necessarily need it.
This choice not only enriched Giulia’s days with local experiences but also forged meaningful connections with those who became part of our temporary life.
Engagement with the Local Community
Active participation in community life has been fundamental, especially in the context of responsible tourism with kids. Giulia has had the opportunity to attend classes and activities organized by local associations, learning new languages and traditions. She has taken surf lessons, cooking classes, and acting workshops directly from local people, learning much more than she ever could in a traditional school setting.
This interaction not only enriched her cultural background but also directly contributed to local projects and initiatives, embodying the ideals of sustainable travel.
For us, connecting with the local community is not just a pleasure but a must. You can read more about one of the most touching experiences in this regard in my article: Meeting a Buddhist Monk in Cambodia.
Local Laundries
For transportation, we relied on tuk-tuks and local drivers instead of international travel agencies, promoting a sustainable approach to responsible tourism with kids. This choice not only ensured a more authentic experience but also supported local entrepreneurs, allowing them to thrive through responsible tourism with kids in Asia.
Lavanderie locali
A fundamental aspect of our sustainable travel approach in Asia was deciding to use local laundries. Despite having the ability to do this task ourselves, the low cost of the local service made the choice obvious, integrating an element of sustainability into the daily details of our itinerary. This not only alleviated our daily workload but also supported small local businesses, providing employment and keeping the tradition of neighborhood laundries alive.
The local community has always been an inexhaustible source for our travels. We’ve often changed our itineraries based on recommendations from people we’ve met along the way, like the time in Sri Lanka when our trusted driver advised us to visit other destinations due to the rains. If you want to organize your trip to Sri Lanka without being influenced by the weather, read our article When Not to Go to Sri Lanka.
Exploring Local Flavors on a Budget
While navigating our journey in Asia on a budget, culinary experiences were a crucial aspect of our adventure. Although we often cooked at home to save money, we always preferred to shop at local stalls. Consuming zero-mile products not only embraced the authentic flavors of the region but also supported local farmers, promoting a sustainable approach to eating. Additionally, on the rare occasions when we opted for takeout or local markets, we tried to favor local vendors, making our meal not only delicious but also a direct contribution to local economies.
Responsible Tourism with Kids
Our sustainable journey in Asia turned out to be much more than a simple geographical exploration; it was a path of learning, authentic connections, and tangible contributions to local communities. Through thoughtful choices of accommodation, active engagement in local life, and the promotion of sustainable daily practices, we sought to make every step of our itinerary an opportunity to make a difference.
In conclusion, our sustainable journey in Asia was a mosaic of experiences, relationships, and positive contributions. Every step was a commitment to leaving a gentle footprint and contributing to the fabric of the communities we passed through, without falling into the trap of charity. In the hope that our choices inspire other travelers to undertake similar paths, we wrote this article with hearts full of gratitude for the connections made and the shared positive impact.
We hope our journey continues to be a living testimony that traveling with kids can be an act of love towards our planet and its wonderful people and that it doesn’t always have to mean family hotels.
In my small way, I still dream of the possibility of responsible tourism with kids and am convinced that they will make it possible.
Happy travels to all those who venture out in search of authentic and sustainable experiences.
Digitally yours
☀️ Sara ☀️
