It was obvious that they were trying to copy one of our stops. What made their visit so lacking to their guests was their lack of commitment to the neighborhood. To them, it was just a way to make money for themselves.
While our tours include everything, whenever we go into a stop, we are committed that what we do is a benefit to the neighborhood and the community. That means we treat our stops with a commitment to their viability. We pay enough money to the artisans that our guests not only get to try a wide variety of food, but the artisan has benefited economically from our visit.
In areas of our cities across the country and around the world, we have seen local artisans forced out of business by companies who take over their shops and do not contribute to the artisans viability.
This may be why we are welcomed by everyplace we visit. It may be why our guests feel like they are really visiting a neighborhood and experiencing the neighborhood from a local's point of view.
When we travel, it is important that we all share this commitment. Whether it is by supporting local artisans, ensuring the products we purchase support our communities and our planet, our everyday choices will determine the future of our communities and our planet. The tourism industry should be leaders in this. We are committed to this. It is a shame that far too few others in the tourism industry are.
