Responsible tourism in the USA

For various reasons, we non-Americans feel that we have a right to mock the USA. We’ve all done it. The bad TV, super consumerism, the conservative naiveté, the lack of international awareness… the list goes on. However, for all its ‘issues’, when you travel there you will be overwhelmed by the amount of active groups out there lobbying for change. They have a world renowned and exemplary history of activism, conservation and civil rights. So don’t judge a book by the cover. For all the things that you might consider wrong with the USA, you may be sure there is an organization out there campaigning tirelessly to resolve it. With a lot of committed volunteers working round the clock to support it, and donors digging deep to finance it. That is as much a part of the US makeup as some of the other aspects we are sometimes quick to judge.

It is hard not to be shocked as you drive through remote American desert towns and see gun shops, supermarkets with gun counters, and indeed gun fairs. Guns have long been part of the culture in the USA, emanating from the Constitution’s Second Amendment, which says that every American citizen has a right to keep and bear arms. Guns for hunting purposes are a different issue, but gun violence is a vast issue now too as we know too well from the regular news coverage of tragic events, caused by free and easy access to guns by anyone and everyone. Just to put it into perspective, four year old school children are now being given safety training to hide under desks and ‘act dead’ in some parts of the USA, so that they are prepared in the event of a gun attack.

Gun violence and access to arms is a complex issue in the USA but with gun violence deaths exceeding any other country of its size and wealth, it is striking that there has been almost no research into why this is. Amnesty International USA , as part of its interesting change of direction to ‘Bring Human Rights Home’ is urging the US government to drive forward some serious and urgent research into gun violence, so that statistics and data can be analysed, enabling, hopefully, in the future, a significant sea change in this area. An area that is shocking to most non US tourists.

What you can do
Apart from supporting the work of organisations like Amnesty International USA, which is insightful in highlighting the importance of fixing human rights abuses domestically as well as internationally, don’t be afraid to engage with Americans on your travels about such issues.

We associate tribal culture more with Africa or Asia, but indigenous tribes of the USA play an important role in tourism too. The most politically correct term for indigenous Indian people is Native American, American Indian or use the full tribal name, such as Ute Indian. In addition, there are Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians many of whom are keen to engage in tourism and have their stories told. You can go into large shopping malls and find Native American jewelry, but the sales of these are not going to go directly to the communities. Or, rather incongruously, many casinos are now run by Native Americans, so this is a big earner. If you want to spend your money with local tribes, but in a more ethical way, seek out their reservations, take a guided hike with someone from the local tribe if that is on offer, or take part in an educational workshop on site.

What you can do
Look into the people behind the place, the legacy behind the landscapes. Read up before you go, and find out if there is some way in which you can contribute to the indigenous cultures of the regions you are visiting, particularly around the national parks. In the past, many tribes were moved on from these lands, and allocated reservations nearby. The national parks will be on the tourist trail, but the reservations are often just as spectacular if you can manage to gain a guided tour by local guides. Some of our favourites are Ganondagan in New York State, Havasupai near the Grand Canyon and the Ute Mountain Tribal Park near Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado. Two superb books to take on your travels are: I Am the Grand Canyon: The Story of the Havasupai People by Steven Hirst, and American Indians and the National Parks by Robert H Keller and Michael F Turek.

• Food waste is a huge issue in the USA and even though the health issues with overeating are well known, don’t be surprised to find portions that are twice the size of those you might get elsewhere in the world. All restaurants will ask you if you want it ‘boxed’ or to ‘take home’ which is how many Americans justify such large quantities. So it is good to be aware of that in advance of ordering a meal. Also, there is a slow, gentle movement against the podgy portions in the USA, with some restaurants more switched on to nutritional needs and swaying towards European style menus of smaller portions.
• One thing that tourists aren’t always prepared for is the cultural disparity and poverty in America, particularly in the Deep South where local communities are predominantly black and living in dire poverty. And yet, as we become more aware of community-led tourism in many African and Asian countries, for example, there seems to be little breakthrough in these towns which might enable tourism to help break the poverty cycle. Tourism still isn’t even on the radar in some of these communities, even compared with Native American communities many of which are starting to tap into tourism. Which is frustrating from a responsible tourist’s point of view. But let’s watch this space, and make it part of the conversation when you visit so that you can raise awareness in some small way.
• Driving laws are very strict in the USA, so if you are renting a car, beware of any speed restrictions. Speed cameras aren’t really a thing, but traffic cops are. And they don’t look kindly on you putting the foot down. Especially as you drive through small towns. So drive responsibly.
• You must be 21 to drink alcohol in most of the USA and drinking in public is generally illegal. So no picnic pinots, or barbecue beers, unless it is in a privately owned space. It depends on the state, so always ask, but in Colorado, for example, if you are in a car, containers of alcohol which have been opened must be stored in the car’s boot, so your passengers can’t sip on a cider either.
• Marijuana is now legal in the states of Colorado and Washington since 2012, and more recently in Alaska, Oregon and Washington DC. There are pot shops in Colorado and Washington State, but the others are not quite there yet. If you want to partake, however, be warned. There are lots of conditions. You have to be 21 to buy, possess or consume it but it is legal to possess up to one ounce of cannabis while traveling. Consumption in public is illegal - and generally well enforced - so keep it in private or places that allow it. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, so you cannot consume it on any federal land. So if you are found with cannabis in a national park or national forest you are in serious trouble.
• Whale watching is big business in Alaska, so make sure you seek out a responsible whale watching company if you are hoping to take part in this most exhilarating activity, which benefits local communities hugely. One that adheres to all the conservation must do’s, such as not going too close to whales. You can read more in our 2 Minute Whale Watching travel guide. Whaling, i.e. the killing of whales for meat, is still legal in Alaska, carried out by nine different indigenous Alaskan communities, in keeping with cultural traditions. The whaling program is managed by the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and allows the hunt of around fifty bowhead whales a year from a population of about 10,500 in Alaskan waters. They used to also hunt grey whales, but this was disallowed in 1996.
• Vacationing in the USA will, most likely take you into one of the superb national parks. But ensure to come prepared and don’t underestimate them. This is not just a walk in the park. These are wild areas, and some parts of the national parks are designated official wilderness areas. There is no food and no water in many parts, and so you need to bring everything you need. Never feed the wild animals, including birds. It is shocking how many people still do though. And always read the signs. They are not just there to protect the wildlife and ecosystems, but also to protect you. If you are entering bear country, keep all your food well contained at all times. If you are asked not to leave the trail, then don’t. It might be because of some fragile plant that has taken hundreds of years to grow just a few centimetres, but it might be because there is unstable ground which could result in serious injury.
• What is it with the American need for constant ‘cool’? Air conditioning and ice machines are everywhere. Not only are they carbon criminals, but they also make hotel rooms very noisy. Of course it is nice to have air con when temperatures are hitting the heights, but controlling it, or providing eco-friendly aircon, is still resisted. So ask them to turn it off when possible, and say no to ice in already cold drinks.
  
  

Photo credits: [Gun shop: Michael Saechang] [Havasupai Tribal Representatives: U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.]