We tend to think about kindness close to home, but it matters just as much when we’re away. This is especially true when we’re curious, exploring, and seeing how other people live.

When we explore new places we are not just tourists, we are guests in someone else’s home. Whether it’s a busy city, a quiet village, a beachside resort or an indigenous community, how we treat the people and places we visit is important.

Las United Nations reminds us that “Every traveller can be an ambassador, engaging respectfully with local populations.”  So, on this World Kindness Day, let’s talk about how more thoughtful choices can make a positive difference to the communities we visit.

Travel slow and in low season

A recent study published in the Tourism and Planning Development Journal states that, “Slow tourism advocates for a more deliberate and mindful approach to travel, directly challenging our society’s obsession with speed and efficiency.” On an equally important matter, National Geographic reports that overtourism is changing communities and pushing residents away from the places they call home.

Overcrowding, rising costs, peak tourist seasons and inconsiderate visitors can cause tension for locals living in the places we visit. Therefore, being kind means being aware of your visit’s impact on the destination. Kindness can be as simple as slowing down instead of ticking off every “must-see hotspot” every day of your trip. It can also be visiting at off-peak times, exploring quieter areas, and being mindful of how your choices and behaviour affect the community.

Support local businesses

To ensure your money stays in the community, your experiences become more positive and memorable while benefiting local residents. Try to dine and shop at locally owned and operated businesses in the area. If you are buying gifts or mementoes, see if you can find something that is handcrafted by a local artist or produced by a small business in the destination.

Appreciate the culture

Learning a few phrases in the local language is an act of kindness that can go a long way.

Equally, having some knowledge of how to respect local customs and culture, such as how to tip or dress, is useful to know before you arrive. If you are going on culturally sensitive excursions or visiting religious sites, plan your holiday outfits with that in mind too.

Pack with consideration

Unwanted items you leave behind add to pollution in destinations that lack good waste and recycling solutions, and in all destinations they add stress to local waste management systems.

Consider your environmental impact too – certain ingredients found in some sun protection products are very damaging to marine life and reefs, even in tiny amounts and even from showering them off in your hotel room. Look for a marine-safe alternative.

Pack reusable bottles, avoid single-use plastics, and pick up litter even if it’s not yours.

Give back whilst you visit

Tourism can truly benefit communities when travellers support businesses and projects that share profits fairly and protect local culture.

Avoid volunteering that may unintentionally do more harm than good, for example, in orphanages. Instead, choose experiences that empower residents, such as positive community-based tours or conservation programs where locals take the lead.

The property you stay at may run a beach clean or support local charities which you can often take part in or donate to as well. Next time you are staying somewhere and want to give back, see what options they have available.