I started my day with a cup of fair trade coffee, sunshine pouring into my home, and a morning walk with my wife. It is November. It is Remembrance Day. We see on the media many stories of remembrance, usually about war, or about saving other countries. What is important is that the stories are told, re-told, and shared and new stories presented. I was restless, looking for a way to start my day with inspiration. As often happens, I look to TED for inspiration (the incredible alternative to television that presents the most amazing stories about technology, entertainment, and design). And, I found something that I knew I needed to share with our tourism partners across the country.
Recently, when reading a short article about global sustainable criteria and accreditation by Justin Francis, whose company ResponsibleTravel.com is known for its small group travel experiences that “make a difference“, he suggested…”..we find tourists are far more interested in the infectious stories in our Making A Difference sections – such as the local guide whose family have lived in the village for four generations offering a village tour and opportunity to learn to cook local dishes with his family …” I agree. I believe that one of the most amazing things about the Internet is that it has empowered us with the possibility to write and share infectious stories. This, to me, is one of the most important responsibilities in writing good blogs about travel and travel experiences.
Chimamanda Adichie suggests in her poignant and powerful talk on TED called The Danger Of A Single Story, “...That when we reject the single story, when we realize there is never a single story about any place, we regain a kind of paradise“. I believe that this is our responsibility as tourism practitioners who wish to bring alive “the authentic travel experiences in our backyards” for travelers – to write infectious stories in which there is never a single story, that we reach in and reveal many stories about many people and many things within our community, and invite our ideal guests to experience our paradise. I invite you to view Chimamanda’s story at TED.
