Last Updated on December 30, 2025
The tourism industry is built around us, the travelers. Our itineraries, accommodations, and even the way that places market themselves often put our experiences at the center, while the impact of our presence on local communities comes second.
As a tourist, I know I’ve been guilty of embracing this fact. On my first trip to Morocco back in 2016, I caught myself frustrated when a local shopkeeper in Marrakech didn’t speak English. I later realized that I was expecting them to adapt to me rather than the other way around. That moment has always stuck with me as a reminder of how easy it is to slip into a self-centered mindset when traveling.
If we want tourism to be a positive force, we need to shift how we approach it. Responsible travel doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about making small, thoughtful choices that ensure our time in a place does more good than harm.
From questioning our intentions, to learning about local customs, to respecting communities’ privacy, these practices help us move the focus away from ourselves, and toward more meaningful, respectful connections with the places and people we visit.
In this blog, I am digging into the ways that the tourism industry often places travelers at the center, and how that shapes our behavior, sometimes without us even realizing it. More importantly, I’ll share ideas for how we can push back against that framing and make choices that help shift the balance, so our travels have a more positive impact on the communities that host us.
- 9 Ways to Decenter Yourself as a Tourist
- 1. Ask Yourself “Why”
- 2. Follow Local Clothing Norms
- 3. Learn Some Local Phrases
- 4. Learn Cultural and Historical Context
- 5. Respect and Participate in Local Customs and Etiquette
- 6. Put Intent Into Your Economic Impact
- 7. Ask Before Taking Photos
- 8. Listen More Than You Speak
- 9. Acknowledge Your Travel Privilege
- Final Thoughts: Let’s Travel With Humility
9 Ways to Decenter Yourself as a Tourist
Travel is often framed around what we get out of it. Our bucket lists, our experiences, our stories. But if we want tourism to be a positive force, it can’t only be about us. The places we visit aren’t just backdrops for our adventures; they’re home to people and communities with their own lives, histories, and priorities.
Let’s dive into 9 ways we can start to decenter ourselves when we travel, and instead, put more focus on respecting, supporting, and learning from the communities that welcome us.
1. Ask Yourself “Why”
When making travel plans, it’s important to pause and ask yourself the “why.” Why are you drawn to a particular place, experience, or itinerary?
When I first traveled to Nepal, my main motivation was to trek in the Himalayas. I was drawn to the idea of being surrounded by the world’s tallest peaks, and I’ll admit that part of me wanted to say I’d “done it.”
But once I was there, I realized that the trip was about so much more than the trek. Some of my most meaningful days were the ones I spent in a homestay, helping to cook meals and having conversations with my hosts.
I was able to engage in a meaningful cultural exchange by making those few days less about me, and more about supporting my host family. Instead of waking up in the morning thinking “what do I want to do today,” I woke up excited to see how I could contribute to the daily life of my hosts. That experience helped reshape how I think about what makes a trip valuable.
It’s important to avoid treating places like backdrops for our own stories, or items to check off our bucket lists, without thinking critically about what draws us there. The places we travel to aren’t just pretty scenery or achievements to collect; they are living, breathing communities.
It’s also crucial to challenge the mindset of seeking out “hidden gems” or “undiscovered” places, as this can unintentionally frame communities as something to be found, consumed, and shared for personal gain. Being mindful of our intentions helps ensure that we make travel choices that respect the people and cultures who call those places home.
2. Follow Local Clothing Norms
I’ve noticed in my own travels that it’s very easy to accidentally center ourselves when it comes to clothing. When traveling in hotter regions of the world like Morocco or India, we want to wear lighter clothing to help cope with the high temperatures.
The thing is, what’s considered a typical way to dress in one place might be inappropriate or even offensive somewhere else. For example, I quickly learned while traveling in India that although I could wear shorts (no one was stopping me), it was more respectful to dress as the local women dress, which is for the most part, with their legs covered.
Being aware of the local norms around clothing is one very simple way that we can all decenter ourselves as tourists. By dressing according to local cultural norms, we are acknowledging that we’re guests in someone else’s community, and that our comfort shouldn’t override theirs.
It’s a small adjustment for us, but it can make a big difference in showing respect and avoiding the kind of discomfort that can come from centering our own preferences over the values of the people who actually live there.
Ahead of a trip, you can be a responsible tourist by doing some research to find out what the cultural norms around clothing are in the region you’re traveling to. It’s also helpful to simply be observant when you’re there, on the ground. Take note of how locals dress, and do the same.
For example, if you notice that locals are covering their shoulders and knees, do the same. There’s no need to wear cultural clothing – it’s best to always be cautious about cultural appropriation – in most cases, you can wear clothing from home that abides by local norms.
This is not about changing who we are. This is about decentering our experiences, and recognizing that whenever we travel outside of our home community, our comfort shouldn’t come at the expense of making the local population uncomfortable.
3. Learn Some Local Phrases
Language is such a big part of culture, yet as tourists it’s easy to overlook this and expect others to adapt to us. I’ve definitely caught myself slipping into that mindset before, and it always makes me pause.
Even if many people in a destination do speak English, choosing to learn and use a few words of the local language is a small way of showing respect and stepping outside of a tourist-centered bubble.
There’s no need to be fluent in the local language when you travel to a country that doesn’t speak your native language. But, making an effort to speak a few words of the local language goes a long way.
A simple “hello,” “thank you,” or “excuse me” can make interactions more meaningful and show that you respect the culture enough to try. It also helps break the expectation that everyone should speak English just to accommodate tourists.
In my experience, locals appreciate the effort, even when my pronunciation isn’t perfect! And these days, it’s very easy to learn some local phrases, because we have resources right at our fingertips.
Ahead of a trip, download a free translation app, like Google Translate. You can use this app to quickly look up words, phrases and sentences in the local language.
On our travels, my partner and I have often translated whole sentences on the spot, and spoken them just by reading directly from the app.
For example, in Nepal, we would often translate into Nepalese a compliment about a meal we’d just had, and read it to the restaurant staff. Was our pronunciation horrible? Yes! But we found that people would always smile, and sometimes laugh, at our efforts.
4. Learn Cultural and Historical Context
One of the simplest ways to decenter yourself when traveling is to do a bit of homework before you go. Taking the time to learn about a place’s history, cultural practices, and even current social or political issues can shift your perspective from “this place exists for my experience” to “this place has its own story, and I’m just passing through it.”
That context not only helps you avoid awkward or offensive missteps, but it also deepens the meaning of the trip itself.
Without this awareness, it’s easy to only scratch the surface. Seeing landmarks, eating foods, or joining festivals without understanding why they matter to the people who live there. But when you know the background, the layers of history and culture add depth. You’ll understand why a particular dish is important, why a ritual has endured, or how colonialism, trade, or migration has shaped the place you’re standing in.
For example, while visiting Stone Town, Zanzibar, I noticed that Indian food was on many menus, and there were lots of Indian restaurants. At first, I thought it was just a random detail of the food scene.
But after a bit of reading, I learned that the Indian influence on Zanzibar goes back centuries, tied to Zanzibar’s role as a crossroads of trade and cultural exchange between East Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. That one piece of context turned what might have been just “a good curry on vacation” into an appreciation of how trade, migration, and history are still shaping daily life on the island.
In short, when you put in the effort to learn a bit of cultural and historical context, you travel not just as a tourist consuming experiences, but as a guest who respects the depth and complexity of the place you’re visiting.
Stone Town, Zanzibar
5. Respect and Participate in Local Customs and Etiquette
Learning about cultural customs before you go abroad is step one. Step two is putting them into practice once you arrive. These small acts of respect might feel minor, but they go a long way in showing that we’re not just passing through without awareness. You’re trying to be respectful guests who cares about impact instead of only your own experience.
Simple gestures, like taking off shoes before entering a home, greeting people properly, or handling money with two hands instead of one, can have real significance. Customs that may seem small or unusual to us often carry deep meaning for locals. By practicing them, you are showing that you value their way of life.
It can also be about embracing things that might feel unfamiliar. If locals bow when greeting each other, bow back. If they eat with their hands, give it a try, even if it feels unusual at first. These gestures are less about “doing it right” and more about signaling our respect and openness to another culture.
Respect also extends to how we move through sacred or communal spaces. When I visited a temple in Kathmandu, Nepal I noticed how easy it would have been to slip into “tourist mode,” taking photos, chatting with my partner, or hovering too long in one spot.
But those spaces aren’t meant for me, they’re primarily for locals who come to pray and worship. So, I made a conscious effort to step aside if I was in the way, to keep my voice low, and to take photos only when it felt appropriate. Those small choices were a reminder that my role wasn’t to center myself, but to respect the people for whom the temple holds deep spiritual meaning.
By learning and practicing customs, you not only avoid standing out as inconsiderate tourists. You build moments of connection, however small, that make our travels more respectful and meaningful.
6. Put Intent Into Your Economic Impact
Tourism plays an important role in the economy of countries all around the world. In 2024, it accounted for 10% of global GDP. Given this, being intentional about who benefits from your tourism dollars is one of the clearest ways to decenter yourself as a traveler and have a positive impact.
Instead of defaulting to big international brands or trendy expat-owned spots, look for family-run restaurants, independent guesthouses, and locally owned tour companies. These businesses often pour their earnings right back into their communities, creating a more sustainable and equitable flow of tourism dollars.
I experienced this firsthand in the Yukon, where Lucas and I chose to eat at small, family-run restaurants instead of chain spots. Not only did our money stay local, but we also ended up chatting with the owners and staff about life in the North, which were conversations that gave us a new perspective.
The goal is to ensure that the money you spend goes into the hands of the community and directly benefits the people who live there. And the best part? Intentionally supporting local businesses makes your impact more positive, and usually makes your travels more memorable too, filled with genuine interactions.
7. Ask Before Taking Photos
It might be tempting to snap a picture of a street vendor, a beautifully dressed person, or a group of kids playing—but think about how you’d feel if a stranger walked up and took photos of you while you were just going about your day.
Always ask for permission before taking someone’s picture, especially in more private or personal settings. And if someone says no, respect that. A photo isn’t worth someone’s discomfort.
If you intend to share travel content to your social media, or any public platform, it’s important to have explicit consent. This matters even more when photographing people from minority groups, cultures different from your own, or children, who cannot give consent themselves.
I learned this lesson firsthand while visiting a homestay in Bhalil, Morocco. My host family generously welcomed me into their home, and I was tempted to photograph their daily routines inside the home.
But I realized that documenting their private spaces for my own storytelling would have centered me, not them. Instead, I asked what they were comfortable with, and only took photos of the views outside their home. It was a reminder that respecting people’s privacy is far more important than capturing an image.
Sharing images that depict poverty or low-income communities for self-gratification is an unfortunate symptom of the White Saviour Industrial Complex. As travelers, we need to ask ourselves: Who benefits from this photo being taken and shared? If the answer is only “me,” consider putting the camera down.
8. Listen More Than You Speak
When traveling abroad, you can’t expect the same day-to-day experience that you have at home. Cultural norms could (and likely will) be different, and that’s part of the point of leaving home in the first place.
For example, in Cuba, I noticed that meals take longer in restaurants. In South Korea, I learned that it’s frowned upon to eat food or drink a beverage on public transit. And in the Algarve, Portugal, I noticed that shops are often closed from about 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
I’ve also had moments where I realized how ingrained my own expectations were. In Morocco, I once felt impatient when a bus didn’t leave on time, only to realize later that the flexible schedule wasn’t a sign of inefficiency, it was a reflection of a different way of organizing time and priorities. That small shift in perspective helped me relax into the rhythm of the place instead of holding it up against my own cultural norms.
It’s easy to fall into the habit of comparing everything to home. You might notice that food is different, the roads are different, or people act differently. But noticing these differences is what makes travel so meaningful. They’re invitations to learn, rather than judgments to make.
To decenter ourselves while traveling, it’s important to listen and observe. Rather than dismissing cultural differences as “weird” or “unusual” (that kind of reaction is often rooted in ethnocentrism), take the time to understand them. Ask locals about their lives and experiences, let them take the lead in conversations, and remain open. The more you listen, the more you’ll learn.
9. Acknowledge Your Travel Privilege
Acknowledging your own travel privilege is an important part of decentering yourself when you visit new places.
Not everyone has the ability to cross borders freely, take time off work, or afford leisure travel. Recognizing that reality helps ground your experience in humility rather than entitlement.
When we acknowledge the advantages that allow us to travel, whether it’s economic stability, a strong passport, or flexible work conditions, we’re less likely to view travel as something we are owed, and more likely to approach new places with gratitude and respect.
I’ve thought about this a lot during my own travels. For example, when I was in Cuba, I realized how significant my Canadian passport was. As a tourist, I was able to move around freely and explore the country, while many Cubans I spoke with shared that it was nearly impossible for them to travel abroad due to restrictions and costs. That contrast really drove home the idea that my ability to be there was not about luck. It was due to my privilege.
Being aware of our privilege also helps us better understand the dynamics at play between tourists and host communities. It encourages us to move through the world more thoughtfully: to listen rather than impose, to respect rather than assume, and to support local economies rather than exploit them.
Final Thoughts: Let’s Travel With Humility
The places we travel to don’t exist for our entertainment. When we show up as travelers, we’re stepping into living, breathing communities. These places are someone’s home, layered with history, culture, and daily life that continues long after we leave.
Decentering ourselves in travel is all about recognizing this reality, and shifting our travel mindset from one that is all about us, to one that balances our experience with the impact that our presence has on the communities we visit.
By choosing to travel this way, we not only have a more positive impact, but we also open ourselves up to deeper, more meaningful experiences — ones built on genuine connection rather than consumption.
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