"As professional guides, instructors, and organizations, we haven’t discussed proper ethics while traveling internationally. "
Mental Health
It is not uncommon for students and even university employees to get depressed and scared in new areas, even when the language and cultural traits in the new area are the same as ours. Will you screen participants (and your staff) for mental health and emotional maturity? How do you determine who is mentally healthy, and who makes the call?
Effect on the Location
Are you picking a country because you want to visit it, or because you want to use your visit—and subsequent visits—to help locals improve their standard of living and help meet their needs? Or are you picking the location simply because it has sex appeal and is easy to run?
While your group might visit for just a few days or weeks, the combined effects of multiple groups over time are notable. Working through a local guide service, or an organization whose mission is to work with locals, can help improve the standard of living over the long term.
Crime or Terrorism
What consideration are you giving to the random acts of terrorism or media-worthy crime that were not found in “safe” European countries previously? Does the media coverage affect your location decision, even though the country overall might be plenty safe? Has the university placed travel restrictions on certain regions or during certain times of the year?
Interactions With Locals
Travelers should observe and respect the local people’s social and cultural traditions. It’s important to do a little homework on what is appropriate and inappropriate in the location you plan to travel to. Some things as simple as common hand gestures and how you leave your dinner plate can be offensive to the native population. All activities should be done with respect for the customs, laws, and practices of the region and country.
Some people enjoy giving gifts to people they have met and spent time with, but it is important to make sure you understand what is appropriate. Giving candy to children may seem harmless for some, but in a secluded area where people have no access to dental care, this may be doing more harm than good. Some gift-giving customs may either be insulting or require some type of reciprocation. But, in some areas, it may be customary or common for the locals to ask for gifts.
What impact are you creating with your visit to the local region? Is the tourism hurting or improving the area? Some locations are inundated with tourists, and you should understand how this affects the local population’s welfare and economy.
Choice of Guide Service
When planning your trip, research whether a guide is required at your destination. Also, is the guide you are considering authorized to operate as a guide service in that location?
What is the guide service’s stance on environmental stewardship? Do they practice LNT, do they support green initiatives, and how do they incorporate these into their trips?
What role does social respon-sibility play in the service’s mission? Some services may support or create nonprofit initiatives to support their local community. Support can come in different forms, such as donating to charities, going out of their way to serve unique populations, offering educational clinics, and improving the local area and infrastructure.
How do they treat their guides? Ask for testimonials on guides’ treatment. Does the service provide competitive or fair wages for their guides, and what in-centives or benefits do they give their guides? What is the quality of the equipment provided to each guide and guide service support staff? What and how much training does the service give their guide and staff?
Because we are professionals contracting with another pro-fessional organization, whose tolerance for risk will be used? Is the service used to working with your population, or will they allow you time to facilitate the experience in the manner you need? How long has the service been around and working in the location? A more established service is often a better sign of quality.
Even as you work through the above considerations, it isn’t entirely possible to appropriately vet a location and a guide service from your office or from professional recommendations. When possible, scout the location a year or more in advance and meet with the guide service (if one is required) in person.
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