3 Golden Rules To Be A Successful Tourist In Brazil And Anywhere In The World

Happy Tourist Day, Brazil! (Warning: Controversial Content)

Three days ago Tourist Day was celebrated in Brazil. Though World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27, in Brazil we don’t only celebrate tourism, but we have a special day dedicated specifically to the tourist. And this day is June 13.

This special date is dedicated to honoring and celebrating Brazilians who enjoy traveling the world, but mostly within their own country.

They travel so that they can connect with themselves through the beauty of their culture and traditions. And not only that but also so that they get to meet new people in a way that allows them to see the world through different lenses, even when they are in the same national territory.

Tourists are extremely important to the economy of a city, village, and country. They help small and local businesses grow and they play a very important role in the city’s culture. Additionally, tourists also get to bring and introduce their own culture and traditions to the place that they are visiting, and this is something that is very beautiful and powerful. Being a tourist is to be able to exchange, learn, teach, and most importantly, grow.

But how can I be a good tourist? Is the way I choose to be one affecting negatively the places I get to visit?

I strongly believe that depending on how you go about your trip, you can not only impact the people and the place you’re visiting in a positive way but also in an extremely negative way.

So, here are a few pieces of advice from a world traveler who has been to 20 countries and has learned a lot of very valuable lessons throughout this beautiful journey.

3- Learn the basics of the native language of the country you’re visiting before you visit them

I really hate it when native-English speakers visit many countries in the world, and they expect the people from these countries to speak perfect English. If you wish to speak English 100% of the time while traveling, choose to travel to English-speaking countries then. Don’t just assume and demand that people will simply have to reply to you in your language.

This is not only very rude but also a very colonial mindset. You’re the one who is a tourist. Not them. You’re the one in a new land, not them. So, don’t demand them to speak perfect English. Don’t come with this attitude. This is annoying and very disrespectful to somebody’s culture, tradition, and history.

It doesn’t hurt to learn a few sentences like “Hello”, “Where can I find…”, or how to order food in their language. It doesn’t hurt, it’s not rocket science and they will appreciate it so much when you’re trying.

I remember being in France and trying to speak a little bit of the French I learned. Then, the people who saw me trying would be so nice, helpful, and hospitable to me. However, this isn’t what I had heard of the French before. I had always heard that French people are rude and that they hate tourists.

This was so different from the experience I had because everyone I bumped into was super nice and friendly. So, one day I was visiting Château de Versailles, and I tried to speak a little bit of French with a waiter in a restaurant nearby, and he helped me with a word I was struggling to pronounce. Then he simply congratulated me for trying and said I shouldn’t be shy and that I was doing great. After that, I said to him that he was the kindest and that everybody I had met from France was so nice as well, but I was wondering why they have such a negative reputation.

Then, I’ll never forget what he said. He said: “Brits and Americans come to France and force everybody to speak English. Like, do they want me to change my native language in my home country to suit their experience? Hell, no. Most of them can’t even begin to try to learn to say Bonjour when they come into my country”.

This really stuck with me and I one hundred percent agree with this guy. Be respectful and don’t just demand other countries to change their language and culture to suit your experience.

2- Support a small/local business

Who am I to judge, but I find it so not authentic (and sort of not thoughtful of the person) when people travel to a new city abroad and even within their country, and they only buy from chain businesses.

Mc Donald’s is already rich and their burgers aren’t even good. Olive Garden isn’t even authentic Italian food, and the owners are rich already. Starbucks may look fancy on your Insta post, but their coffee isn’t even the best. Chipotle IS NOT real Mexican food.

When traveling to a new place, try a local coffee shop, a small burger place, a true Italian or Mexican restaurant. You know you can find them. They are there, sometimes we just refuse to give them a chance. These local businesses help run the local economy and they are a part of the city’s culture and identity.

When seeing a busker perform on the street, give them a tip, even if it isn’t that much. Taylor Swift is already famous, but that young girl you see singing at the park might be struggling so hard to make it.

So, instead of only going to a chain restaurant or to a huge famous international store, or just to that big concert, try shopping local, eating local, and appreciating a local artist. This will help someone achieve their dream. And trust me, sometimes the quality and authenticity of these places and people go up and beyond what so many famous restaurants, shops, and artists do.

1- If you’re going to visit a Favela (slum), don’t do it with the wrong intentions

Getting to visit a place so that you can learn more about the culture, historical elements and the people is one thing. However, when tourists from other countries visit Brazil and South America in general and they end up visiting some slums or “dangerous cities”, they normally do that with the wrong intentions and in a very disrespectful way.

“Vans that crossed the city towards Rocinha, with tourists on top of the car as if they were on safari, became part of the urban landscape. And favela residents began to live with the daily visit of sunburned blond gringos, curious to know how they lived.” EL PAIS https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil/2017/10/24/politica/1508882019_228345.html

I hate it, and I mean hate it, when tourists visit slums in South America because they say “they are exotic”. There is NOTHING exotic about poverty and the daily struggles of the communities abandoned by the government of a certain country. Plus, we are NOT animals in the zoo where you get to see from a certain distance so that you can talk about us when you leave. We don’t need you to “feel sorry” for us when you do your Slum Tourism in Brazil. A Favela is NOT a zoo, and we need to be respected. Going to a drug-trafficking area isn’t “exotic” or “cool”. Seeing a child being put to work isn’t a tourist attraction.

Why do so many of you have such motivation? This really pisses me off. These are lives. These are human beings. People who deserve dignity and help, not the “admiration” of a gringo who is on the top of a van as if they were in a fucking safari. Respect is ALL the local people need from tourists. Even if your actions don’t automatically and directly affect them, this can hurt the culture in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.

I’m not saying that I disagree with the idea of people visiting slums. But as I mentioned before, do it with the right intentions and with respect.

And most importantly, remember: WE ARE NOT ANIMALS AT THE ZOO so you can watch us from a certain distance on the top of a van with your camera while you take photos and post them on Instagram with the captions that say “Visiting an exotic place” or “I feel so bad for these people”.

I come from one of the largest Favelas in Brazil, and I feel extremely disrespected when foreigners go there to watch us from a van. These are the same people who say shit about Brazil. These are the same people who will say that my country is ugly, or dangerous.

It’s funny because what if I did the same to you in your country? Transformed what is a delicate and vulnerable characteristic of your country into a show, or an attraction? How would you feel?

Being a tourist involves being respectful and mindful of other cultures. With that being said, not everything has to be an attraction. But if you do it, do it with respect above all.

Thank you so much for reading my article today! I really appreciate it!

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