2013 Accomplishment #2 - So, I never got around to the engineering class last year, but I've been doing a little bit more studying this year and you're looking at (or reading a note from) one of the
Travel Institute's newest Certified Travel Counselors (CTC). :) To finish my certification I had to write a paper about a current travel topic/issue, so I talked about the value of travel. It's debated, especially in tough economic times, but I see great value in exploring and learning about the world around us. Thanks to those of you who shared your thoughts and insights with me and inspired me in your travels. I need to go plan a trip! :)
The Value of Genuine Travel - by Heather Morgan (May 2013)
We live in an interconnected society. We can talk to people
on the other side of the world instantly via email and video conferences. Nearly
anyone can quickly update information for broad audiences to see and read via
blogs and other websites, as well as mobile applications like Twitter and Instagram.
We can simultaneously connect to multiple locations via video teleconferencing
technology. We don’t have to wait for a letter or even for film to develop to learn
about a friend’s trip to Europe. The world and many of its far reaches are more
accessible.
But, with the ease of communication and advances in
technology are we really connecting? Do we understand the world better via
technology or is it a false sense of comfort and global understanding? With
improved technology in the last 100 years, more people also have access to
travel opportunities. Even though video conference equipment seems to improve
every day, there is still something important in physically traveling to a new
place and experiencing life and the culture and people firsthand, whether for
business or leisure.
Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and
narrow-mindedness…Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot
be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime (Twain, 1984)." Travel helps
us get outside ourselves and our routines to really learn and grow. It allows
us to collaborate more effectively with business partners and build meaningful
relationships by meeting face-to-face.
A July 2012 New York
Times Opinionator article entitled "Reclaiming Travel" refers to
"genuine travel" stating that "the humility required for genuine
travel is exactly what is missing from…tourism (Ellison &
Stavans, 2012)."
Genuine travel means taking advantage of opportunities around us to learn and
seeking out new opportunities to explore and challenge stereotypes we may have
created in our minds in order to really understand the world.
There are costs to travel, but there are also great benefits
to individuals, companies and communities. Considering the costs and the
benefits helps illustrate the value genuine travel creates for individuals and society
today. Traveling can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, but when we carefully
prepare and humbly seek to learn, travel is invaluable.
Costs of Travel
The costs of travel may seem obvious. Travel can be expensive.
It takes time and it may be hard to find like-minded travel companions.
Depending on where we're going and how we're getting there traveling can be uncomfortable
and difficult.
Money.
Travel innovations today provide greater opportunities and methods of travel to
more destinations, but it can be expensive. Often oil and gas are one of the
most expensive considerations. Airlines continue to add baggage and other fees
to cover their costs.
In difficult economic times business travel budgets are often
closely scrutinized and are the first to be cut. Travel can be seen as
unnecessary compared to other programs or business needs, particularly as new
video conferencing equipment improves. But, when considering the case for business
travel a 2009 report sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association provides an
interesting insight on costs. The report concludes that “curbing business
travel can reduce a company’s profits for years….The average business in the
U.S. would forfeit 17 percent of its profits in the first year of eliminating
business travel (Noel, 2010).”
David Danto, Director of Emerging Technology, says “Travel is
a necessary evil of business. It doesn’t go away. To be successful
people need to see clients, inspect facilities, spend quality time with
colleagues and bridge cultures. Investing in collaboration technologies
just to reduce travel spend shows more naivety than savvy (Danto, 2012).”
Leisure travel can be prohibitively expensive for many people,
but it’s something that people plan for and prioritize. Many people are motivated
to sacrifice and save money for travel experiences and memories – giving up other
things like new furniture, clothes, or other tangible possessions and comforts.
Time.
Finding time to travel can be a challenge for many people. Depending on how far
you’re going it may include multiple connecting flights, rest stops or time
changes. A simple two-hour meeting in a neighboring state easily becomes a full
day trip. It can be a distraction and hassle if you have to spend too much time
on the road, but travel time may allow for extra quiet time out of the office
to get other work done.
There have also been many studies that show a correlation
between increased creativity when traveling and living abroad. In a March 2010
article in The Guardian, Johan Lehrer
notes, “When we escape from the place we spend most of our time, the mind is
suddenly made aware of all those errant ideas we'd suppressed. We start
thinking about obscure possibilities – corn can fuel cars – that never would
have occurred to us if we'd stayed back on the farm (Lehrer, 2010).”
When traveling for leisure, accommodating school and work
schedules can be difficult. Many people find time to travel on weekends or
during holiday breaks. Time off schedules can also make it hard to find travel
companions, let alone travel companions who are interested in the same travel
adventures as you. There are some seasons of life when traveling is more
convenient and enjoyable than others, but traveling together with family or
friends of all ages creates important memories and shared experiences.
Comfort.
Going someplace new can be uncomfortable. Security checks, delayed flights, and
hours confined to the tiny space of an economy seat on an airport are the
beginning, but not knowing where to go or how to use the public transportation
system can also cause stress. This can be more difficult if you don’t speak the
native language, although facial expressions and hand gestures can sometimes be
quite effective.
Additionally, some areas can be or might seem dangerous and
difficult to get to. It can be frightening to be in an unfamiliar area. Even if
it is a safe location, traveling takes you out of your regular routine and gets
you off schedule and living at a different pace – sometimes faster, sometimes slower.
But that is also one of the reasons travel is so important – new places and a
new routine help us stretch ourselves, giving us the opportunity to learn and
think differently than if we were to stay home. In a quote often attributed to
Mark Twain we are reminded, “Twenty years from now [we] will be more
disappointed by the things [we] didn't do than by the ones [we] did. So throw
off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your
sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Benefits of Travel
After considering the costs, there are even more benefits to
travel. Traveling is rejuvenating. It helps us learn and grow. Traveling helps
us build and strengthen relationships through shared experiences. It also helps
us broaden our view.
Rejuvenating.
An opportunity to travel can be exciting and rejuvenating – it’s something to
look forward to. It opens our eyes to new scenes and experiences – even the
simple and unexpected stops or sights along the way to our destination. Chances
to get out of our normal routine help us relax and think differently. It gives
us time away from the normal busyness of life to focus on those we are with and
appreciate them and the new experiences and world around us. It can also be a
way to celebrate a special occasion.
In her book Happier at
Home, Gretchen Rubin says, “People who travel to new places and try new
things are happier than those who stick only to the familiar. New experiences
stroke imagination. I get fresh ideas and creative energy from traveling, even
if I don’t particularly look forward to doing it (Rubin, 2012, p. 219)."
Learning.
There is so much to learn by visiting a new place, beginning with the initial
planning and preparations. We can read books, watch videos, study websites and
talk to friends to prepare for our trip. Our preparations will help us feel
more comfortable while we’re there, but nothing can compare to actually hiking
along the Great Wall of China, shopping at a local market in Ghana, taking a
tram ride to a village at the top of the Alps in Switzerland, biking by the
windmills of Kinderdijk or watching the sunset over the Lincoln Memorial in
Washington DC.
Seeing and experiencing a new location and culture firsthand helps
us come to know and understand things that we couldn't have reading, listening or
watching TV or videos. It allows us to interact with the people, the culture
and the natural environment. By feeling the breeze, smelling the smells,
tasting the food, seeing the surroundings and interacting with people we have a
great opportunity to learn and understand much more than we would staying home.
Ultimately, new situations help us learn about ourselves and even
change our attitudes and behaviors. We learn gratitude as we enjoy and explore
the grandeur and diversity of nature. We gain a new appreciation for items we
miss when we're away or objects and ideas that we see for the first time. We
learn new historical and geographic facts. We gain confidence in ourselves and
our knowledge of the world around us. We may even become more adventurous and
courageous in the process. We appreciate the connections we share with others
and become more accepting and less judgmental. Afterwards, the pictures and
memories stay with us, reminding us of the meaningful experiences, fun times
and lessons learned.
Building Relationships.
Traveling is not just a destination, but a process and a
chance to connect with other people. There is so much to learn from the other
people we travel with or visit. Traveling for business provides improved
opportunities for collaboration, creativity, problem solving and better working
relationships as we interact with co-workers one-on-one. In an August 2012
article called “Virtual Realities” Jason Chudnofsky, a frontrunner in
technology business events, admits, “Virtual technology is simply a tool for
augmenting time-honored strategies for connecting people (Heilman, 2012, p. 30).”
A recent study conducted by the IMEX Group also confirmed
that participants in face-to-face meetings generated significantly more ideas
of higher quality when compared to those meeting virtually (Alderton,
2013).
Jill Smart, chief of human resources at Accenture agrees, “You don’t learn
about other cultures in telepresence. You get things from being there, over
breakfast and dinner, building relationships face to face (Lohr, 2008).”
Similarly, leisure travel gives us the chance to get to know people
better and strengthen relationships as we spend consistent time with them and
watch how they respond to new experiences. We are bound to people that we spend
24 hours with on a sleeper train across China or 12 hours with in a car on our
way to Disneyland. There might not be a better way to build a relationship with
someone than spending a full day hiking 25 miles through the beautiful Grand
Teton National Park. Shared experiences with family, friends and even strangers
can build relationships and memories.
The destination is an important part of the trip, but the
journey and chances to build relationships and learn along the way are just as
valuable. We can learn a lot observing fellow travelers and strangers, stopping
at a new gas station, or getting on a different bus. It gives us the chance to
see things through others’ eyes – those we are visiting, those we are traveling
with and those we meet along the way. Watching a child experience the smells
and sounds of a new place help us see life more simply from a whole new
perspective.
Broadening Views. All
of these opportunities to learn help broaden our view of the world. If more
people had the opportunity to travel and had a desire to learn about others, society
as a whole would be more sympathetic and understanding of others, breaking down
stereotypes and ignorance of beliefs and cultures around the world. Traveling
helps us get outside ourselves and connect with others, fundamentally changing us.
Seeing different societies and circumstances can help us
understand that we are all more similar than we might think at first glance.
There is great diversity in landscapes and culture, but everyone everywhere
wants to love and be loved. They want to be treated with respect and dignity
and feel connected to others. They want to be friendly and hospitable and
provide well for themselves and their families. They want to feel important and
needed. People are generally good and want to help others.
We gain confidence in ourselves and others and a greater
ability and motivation to love other people and give and serve. The places we visit
become a part of us and give us a broader perspective of history, geography,
culture and relationships. These experiences inspire us and give us direction.
As we learn and grow individually and gain a broader
perspective of different places and paradigms, we can make the world a better
place because of our new understanding, increased gratitude and desire to
connect with and help others. Aric Queen shares an insightful list of “10 Easy
Steps on How to Be a Good Traveler” that includes ideas for giving back and
building relationships and good feelings as we travel. In order to be a good
traveler we should stop acting like we know and ask taxi drivers to point
things out. We should get off the interstate, talk to people sitting next to us
and send post cards instead of emails (Queen, 2012).
Recently J.W. Marriott Jr., executive chair of the board of
Marriott International, shared results of a survey of "opinion leaders and
global travelers in China, India, Europe and the United States" reporting
that “people believe international travel is more important than the internet,
TV, movies or political diplomacy for breaking down cultural barriers. Eight
out of ten said the more people experience other countries and cultures, the
more peace will spread (Marriott Jr., 2012)."
Value
of Travel
Life is a journey. We are here to
learn. Traveling helps us find ourselves, build meaningful relationships and
understand the world around us. We spend much of our time traveling, whether we
like it or not, but as we open ourselves up to chances to learn we never know
what we will find or who we will meet. There is a lot to gain
by traveling and genuinely seeking to understand new people and places. There
are even lessons to learn from the hassles. “Travel is a search for meaning,
not only in our own lives, but also in the lives of others (Ellison &
Stavans, 2012).”
Building relationships and learning about the world and its
people and places are even more important in the interconnected global
environment that we live in now. It can change who we are and positively
influence society as well. We may live in an increasingly virtual world, but
genuine travel is a valuable opportunity to get outside ourselves and our
routine and be real – interacting with those around us and smelling the roses
along the way.
Pico Iyer says, “We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and
we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and
learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to
bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the
globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel…to slow time down
and get taken in, and fall in love once more (Iyer, 2000).”
Bibliography
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Meetings Generate Most Ideas, Scientific Study Finds. Successful Meetings.
Danto, D. (2012, April 29). Real Travel vs. Virtual
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http://www.imcca.org/news/real-travel-vs-virtual-travel-videoconferencing-telepresence-and-the-airline-industry
Ellison, J., & Stavans, I. (2012, July 7). Reclaiming
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http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/reclaiming-travel/
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Iyer, P. (2000, March 18). Pico Iyer Journeys.
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http://picoiyerjourneys.com/index.php/2000/03/why-we-travel/
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/technology/22meet.html?_r=0
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Queen, A. S. (2012, June 8). The Good Traveler -
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