I’ve visited some pretty screwed-up places during my travels and have always felt that my presence there has, in some way or another, helped the locals. This is not always true. Staying in government owned hotels, for example, actually helps the government more than the locals. In fact, there are those who argue that spending any money while visiting a country run by a corrupt regime helps keep that regime in power.
Ethical travel is a relatively new phenomenon which aims to limit the amount of tourist dollars that actually ends up in the hands of despotic governments while maximizing the amount that goes into the pockets of suffering locals.
A great article in Mother Jones discusses the challenges of ethical travel and reviews three organizations which help promote it through a variety of creative ways. I recommend checking out the article when you get a chance, but in the meantime here is a short synopsis of what each organization has to offer.
Backpack Nation – Distributes donated funds directly to those in need through a network of independent travelers.
EthicalTraveler.com – Promotes ethical destinations and offers tips on how to make the most positive impact while visiting them.
Tourism Concern – Publishes The Ethical Travel Guide to help travelers “travel globally and spend locally.”