Sure, you can travel to exotic locations, stay in expensive hotels and rent flashy cars, but who’s that
helping? I mean, is the average Jose on the street, the average small businessman benefiting from your tourist
dollars?
Well, here’s a way to make sure they do. “Touring for a Cause” is a relatively new concept being practiced by tour
groups around the country that seek to get you, the tourist, invovled in helping the locals. That is, making sure the
local small business people reap the fruits you offer as a tourist. Whether eating, shopping or paying for services,
groups like Global Exchange, a San
Francisco-based human-rights organization, help you help people in Third World Countries by leading “reality” tours
that foster “people to people” ties. In other words, using tours to help you understand where your dollars are spent,
and making sure they are going to people who might benefit the most.
It’s really not a bad idea, although I’d hate someone to make me feel guilty
during my whole trip.