Ethical Travel: What is a Traveler’s Responsibility?

World Hum books editor Frank Bures explores the idea of ethical travel in a piece for the July/August 2006 issue of Mother Jones. “Last year more than 800 million tourists traveled internationally, and in 2004 tourism generated $623 billion, making it one of the largest industries in the world,” he writes. “Yet somehow that rising tide has not lifted all the boats (except, perhaps, cruise liners), and a growing number of travelers are ...  looking to such movements as pro-poor tourism, fair trade tourism, and ethical travel for answers.”

Let’s hope the movements gain momentum. There are so many of us—with so many dollars to spend—that travelers have a big influence on the developing world.

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