Archive for the ‘Traveling Responsibly’ Category

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Responsible Tourism Awards: Nominate a Deserving Resort for Worldwide Recognition

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 by

Nominations close in less than four weeks for ecotourism lodges you may have visited that demonstrate outstanding achievement in responsible tourism. There are awards in thirteen categories and all are judged on their commitment to conserving cultural heritage, preserving local environments and contributing to the sustainable livelihoods of local people.

Since 2004 members of the public have nominated over 10,000 resorts resulting in over 200 winners from 51 countries. Winners are determined after careful evaluation by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, which partners with Virgin Holidays and media properties Metro Newspaper, Geographical Magazine (Royal Geographical Society) and World Travel Market to publicize the program.

If you’ve had the pleasure of a truly memorable ecotour, take a few minutes to submit your nomination and let the rest of the world know who is leading the way to responsible tourism.

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Study Abroad Students Double Alcohol Intake While Overseas

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 by

Study abroad programs offer increasing numbers of college students the opportunity to be immersed in a new culture, learn a foreign language and travel around the world.  According to recent studies, study abroad programs also afford them the opportunity to increase their alcohol consumption. 

In a study following 177 overseas scholars, University of Washington researchers found that students doubled how much they typically drank, with underage students nearly tripling their alcohol intake. When surveyed before they departed, students reported consuming an average of four alcoholic drinks per week. That number jumped to eight drinks per week while abroad.  Local culture influenced the results, with those traveling to Europe, Australia or New Zealand drinking more heavily than those who studied in Africa, Latin America, Asia or the Middle East.

In Europe, meals often include a glass of wine or beer, which could easily lead to drinking more than while at home. At the same time, study abroad students could be in a “spring break” mindset while traveling, contributing to binge drinking. A recent NPR article detailed that the increased number of reports of widespread binge drinking and rowdy behavior by American students studying in Florence is causing concern among locals witnessing these “students gone wild” antics. 

Along with the risks of binge drinking in general, study abroad students face broader dangers.  Students are unfamiliar with their surroundings and may face a language barrier.  In addition, a lack of knowledge about the laws or local customs can lead to legal trouble or dangerous situations. If students lose all their inhibitions, unfortunate drinking experiences can subvert the overall great opportunity to expand their personal horizons.

Photo by I Woke Up Today.

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Ignorance Abroad: New Study Reveals Many Travelers Are Unprepared for Health Risks

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010 by

We don’t need more motivation to keep blogging in 2011, but we got a jolt when we came across a recent survey of international travelers published in The Journal of Travel Medicine (Volume 17, Issue 6, pages 387-391, November/December 2010). Researchers surveyed over 1,200 international airline passengers in Boston’s Logan Airport to gauge their “Pre-travel Health Advice Behavior”. The results speak volumes about our mission here at HTB.
The study limited the survey to those traveling to low or low-middle income countries, a/k/a the developing world, where dangerous infectious diseases abound. Participants cited vacation, visiting friends and family, business and education as their primary reasons for traveling. The major findings underscore why we take our blogging seriously:

  • Overall, 44% reported not seeking any health advice prior to traveling. Researchers cite this statistic as consistent with a similar survey of passengers at Kennedy airport in which 64% did not seek any pre-travel advice
  • 21% reported verifying that their immunizations were up-to-date
  • 36% carried a prescription medication for traveler’s diarrhea
  • Of those traveling to countries where malaria is endemic, a scant 20% reported carrying a prescription anti-malarial drug
  • The unprepared group is skewed toward passengers who are foreign-born, visiting friends or family, traveling for less than 14 days or vacationing

These findings dovetail with anecdotal evidence we amass at HTH Worldwide, where we’ve encountered entire study abroad groups who disembark in Africa before realizing that malaria is an endemic risk.
Those who did seek advice favored the Internet, their primary care physician or a travel medicine specialist. There was far less reliance on the travel guides, travel agents, employers or even the Centers for Disease Control.
From a public health perspective, the survey results suggest that travelers’ high degree of indifference to the risks help fuel the diffusion of infectious agents around the world. From our travel health viewpoint, it’s clear travelers are running unnecessary risks and likely paying the price on a regular basis. Perhaps we should all make a New Year’s resolution to alert friends and family to do their homework before they board a flight to a risky destination.

Photo by tropical.pete

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2011 Travel Green Guide: Make Your Travels Eco-Friendly

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 by

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) has published its 2010-2011 Travel Green Guide, a lengthy listing of eco-tour companies and lodge owners in all corners of the world. There are more than 200 entries to explore if your New Year’s resolutions include visiting venues that connect you with healthy environments. It’s free, and it also includes directories for eco-tourism professionals, associations, not-for-profit organizations, colleges and universities as well as other institutions actively engaged in promoting sustainable tourism. The TIES web site — www.yourtravelchoice.org – has lots of other interesting resources, if you’re so inclined. I joined TIES a few months ago (that’s free, too), and they keep their email contacts to a bare but useful minimum.

Photo by konosur.

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Preparing for Mancation (or just Vacation)

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 by

As we start thinking about summer vacation plans (ok, I am a little behind schedule here), I thought it might be helpful to post some links to a couple of interesting articles I read recently.

The first introduced me to the word “mancation,” a term that is new to me, but supposedly coined back in 2002.  My first reaction to the Wall Street Journal article, Guys Just Want to Have Fun, by Sue Shellenbarger, was wondering how many people could actually take an eight-week long cross-country cycling trip and then, what do these people do for a living.

In addition to the normal golfing and fishing trips, the column focused on the more extreme activities that men sometimes pursue – things like simulated dog-fighting in vintage airplanes or shark-diving expeditions.  Here at the Healthy Travel Blog we often write about the risks that travelers may encounter during standard vacations. But mancations offer a whole new realm of danger and risk. What are travelers doing to take precautions against possibly bad outcomes?  More preparation, better knowledge of nearby medical facilities and a more cautious, conservative approach to post-injury care may mean the difference between life and death.  As a person who used to take much greater physical risks, I think that in some cases it was only luck that saved me from more disastrous results.  My takeaway was this: have fun, know your limits and be prepared.

And now for something completely different, as they used to say on Monty Python’s Flying Circus (although originally used by Christopher Trace on the BBC children’s program, Blue Peter):  the second article that caught my eye was not news to me but was a reminder and a good summary of the steps that one can take to economically stay in touch when traveling internationally.  In Tips for Using Your Cellphone Abroad, Jennifer Saranow Schultz of the New York Times helps travelers navigate the confusing world of wireless carriers.

Let us know about your mancations, or even your gender-agnostic extreme vacations and also about your experiences with using your cell phone internationally.  For an extra bonus, tell me how these two articles are connected.  Hint: the answer is in the prior sentence.

Photo by g-na.

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Enjoy New Acquaintances Abroad, But Be Careful!

Monday, June 14th, 2010 by

Joran van der Sloot was arrested last week for the alleged murder of a 21 year old Peruvian woman who accompanied him back to his hotel room in the early morning hours.  Van der Sloot, best known for his connection with the disappearance of high school student Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005, confessed to the murder, claiming that he became enraged after discovering that the woman had researched his background on the internet.

Young men and women who travel abroad are particularly inclined to seek adventure and “let down their guard” with new acquaintances in foreign countries, taking chances they would never take back home.  Even those who normally exercise good judgment have a tendency to slip and do things out of character — even to the point of trusting total strangers.  Alcohol and drugs can play a big role, but even those who are not impaired can be seduced by locals who facilitate admission to exclusive night clubs and private parties.

Even worse, there are a number of medications such as rohypnol, GABA and ketamine, that when added to drinks cause victims to have total loss of memory and judgment.  These are the so called “date rape” drugs that are used by unscrupulous predators to render new acquaintances defenseless and amnesic for several hours.

There remains much speculation about what happened on the night that Natalee Holloway disappeared, but there is little question that foul play was involved.  It is unfortunate that van der Sloot’s alleged latest victim was not aware of his past until moments before her murder.  Young men and women should remember that there are always predators in all parts of the world waiting to take advantage of young, naïve tourists looking for excitement and novelty away from home. 

 A few words of advice:

  • stay in groups
  • avoid leaving drinks unattended
  • do not leave a bar or party with a new acquaintance
  • seek medical attention if you do not feel normal
  • avoid secluded locations.

Have fun, but stay safe.

Photo by acordova.

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Traveling Responsibly: Plan for the Unexpected

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 by

Crime can happen anywhereAs we pointed out in an earlier post crime can happen anywhere.  Criminals don’t spare you because you’re on vacation or traveling for business; in fact, they often target out-of-towners.   Even the beautiful islands known for their “no worries” attitude are now worried about getting their crime rates under control.  While our previous post focused on being aware of and taking steps to avoid being the victim of a crime, you need to have a plan in case you can’t avoid it.

In a recent article in the New York Times, the Practical Traveler details some tragic crimes against Americans abroad including the death of a young man struck by a speeding car.  These sobering events are a good reason to assess how much focus you put on the “what if” when preparing for a trip.

What if you are injured in an accident? What if you are the victim of a crime? If you are expecting to be able to quickly call 911 and get the help you need, you will be unpleasantly surprised. Do you know how to contact the local law enforcement? Can they be trusted? Who can you contact if you don’t feel like you are getting the support you need? Is there an American embassy close by?  You may need to contact someone back home to reach out to a local or state legislator who can advocate on your behalf.

On a more mundane level, what if your wallet or purse is stolen? Do you have photocopies of your driver’s license, credit cards and passport secured safely back in the safe of your hotel room? Do you have a separate credit card in the safe in case you lose the one in your wallet?

Regardless of where you are going, minimally you should arm yourself with the support documents and information that you will need in the event that something unexpected happens during your carefully planned trip or vacation.  Keep copies of important documents in a safe place, know how to call for help if you need it, and have access to the contact information for the closest American embassy or consulate.

Ideally, you won’t have to worry about any of these things on your trip, but take a few minutes to plan for the “just in case.”

 

Photo by kafka4prez: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kafka4prez/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Show Your Respect and Savoir Faire: Learn the Local Customs

Monday, November 30th, 2009 by

symbol for money in JapanFor many people, travel provides unique opportunities to get to know another culture. You can learn history through museums and monuments, but if you want to embrace the culture, you need to taste local foods, enjoy local entertainment and follow the local customs.  Our post last week offered a brief overview of some unusual local foods you might be expected to ingest. Today, we point you toward some resources that can alert you to some unusual local customs. It’s our way of helping you avoid potentially embarrassing or even dangerous situations arising from offending your hosts or hostile locals when you are away from home.

For instance, did you know that in Poland flicking a finger against your neck is an invitation for someone to join you for a drink? That the symbol used in the U.S. to mean “ok” means “money” in Japan? Or that in Indonesia neither men nor women should wear shorts, even in the heat? This video from CNN helps you avoid some other miscommunications abroad.  

These cultural traditions are important to know, especially for business travelers dining with locals or students lodging with host families.  Some of the best advice you can get will come from people you know that have lived in your destination country. If you don’t have personal contacts, you’ll want to do some research.

Two places to start learning are the web sites Kwintessential  and  Cyborlink. Both are geared towards business travelers but provide valuable information for anyone on the issues of attire, behavior, gift giving, and communication. If you’re going to be visiting a country for a long period of time or if you plan on staying with a local family, you may even want to consider buying a book about the culture of your country. Both Culture Smart and Culture Shock books get generally good reviews.

Take the time to learn some customs of your destination so you can make a good impression—you’ll see nods of approval when you eat your banana in Bolivia with a knife and fork!

Photo by circulating: http://www.flickr.com/photos/circulating/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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Tryptophacts – Time to Talk Turkey

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 by

Stellar sea lion - the highest source of tryptophanWhen did tryptophan become the cause of our post-meal slumber?  I did a little Google Timeline search and found a citation back in the seventies, but it seems to really have picked up its mythical legs in the late 80s and 90s.  Now, one can find tryptophan gift items.  The tryptophan molecule t-shirt I first saw (do I have to admit this?) at ThinkGeek.com seems to have been discontinued, but Zazzle.com has come to the rescue in a big way.  Their site features over 200 tryptophan-related items, some much better than others.

However, this post is not a celebration of tryptophan and our collective ability to nap in the middle of the week once every November.  Rather it is time to talk turkey, to cull the fact from the myth.  Sorry all you tryptofanboys out there, but the truth is a little easier to swallow than some dry, white meat or stuffing.

It seems that tryptophan is found in many foods.  Yes, it is in turkey, but at levels that are similar to levels found in most meats.  Wikipedia’s table shows that egg whites actually have the highest tryptophan content of any food: about four times the levels found in turkey.  Even soybeans have more than twice what is found in turkey — bring on the tofurkey.  Further research, found at NutritionData, actually turned up the Stellar sea lion as the real leader in tryptophan, although it is an endangered species and is not found on most dinner plates.  I am troubled by the fact that Wikipedia’s Stellar sea lion entry failed to uncover their high level of tryptophan.  It may be back to the Encyclopedia Britannica for me.

In any event, most sources come to the obvious, but hard-to-admit, conclusion when trying to place blame on Thanksgiving Day drowsiness.  No, I am not talking about the lack of excitement found in the perennial Detroit Lions gridiron clashes.  It is a combination of carbohydrates (read – mash potatoes and rolls) and alcohol.  On the carbohydrate side, the science behind it does incorporate tryptophan, but it is not the cause; it is a complex sequence of interactions that starts with glucose and ends with serotonin and melatonin.  On the alcohol side, from How Stuff Works, Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. details the effects as one’s blood alcohol content (BAC) increases.  Sleepiness begins with a BAC as low as 0.09 (or about three to four drinks).

As I recently discovered, and a great term to discuss over tomorrow’s meal, this is known as postprandial somnolence, or PPS “for those in the know.”  Have a safe and healthy holiday weekend, and whatever you do, don’t drink (or text) and drive.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30576522@N03/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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Traveling Responsibly: Remember, You’re Not in Kansas Anymore

Thursday, November 12th, 2009 by

travel responsiblyI recently heard an acquaintance tell the story of being mugged outside a bar in London.  He was in London for work, went out to dinner by himself and then on to a bar for a drink.  He failed to notice two men watching him from across the bar who saw how much he drank, could easily see that he was alone and could tell by his accent that he was a tourist.  They followed him out of the bar and mugged him, broke his hand and stole his Rolex.  After the attack he walked back to the bar to ask for help; no one had heard a thing.  Apparently, this is not uncommon in certain parts of London.

If you are going out alone, no matter what country you are in, you should follow the same safety precautions you would at home.  Don’t go out alone in areas you are unfamiliar with.  Be aware of the people around you.  Don’t make it obvious that you are a visitor or tourist.  Limit your alcohol intake to one that doesn’t inhibit your ability to think clearly.  And try to leave your expensive jewelry at home.  

This kind of common sense need not apply to night outings only.  While you are sightseeing, be sure you are only visiting sites that you are allowed to visit.  It’s easy to get distracted and find yourself in an area where you shouldn’t be.  Some countries have strict laws about where you can and cannot go.  Consider what happened to the three American hikers in Iraq who were arrested when they unknowingly stepped across the Iranian border.  Though this is an extreme situation, Peter Greenberg reported that “Though the risk varies with each country, in general tourists who travel independently of a group may face resistance from authorities or may unwittingly put themselves in harm’s way.”

Because it’s getting easier to reach remote or “off-limits” areas, people end up in obscure and possibly less-safe places.   My own sister is planning to go to Cuba, for instance  As described in an interview on The World, Robert Reid an editor from Lonely Planet said this, “… you really have to make sure that the travelers understand the scenario, what’s going on right at the moment because things do change and they need to be a little proactive when they go any place,  whether it is a Caribbean cruise or whether it’s going into Colombia, to understand what the circumstances are there and so you can be best informed to avoid trouble…” 

An informed traveler is a healthy traveler. Research your destination and be aware of your surroundings once you get there!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/evergreenkamal/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
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