Greetings and Happy Midweek,
Finishing off our tourism focus for this month, I thought we would pause a few minutes and reflect on one “Golden Age” of tourism, and a few of the cross-cultural dynamics it offered.
Previous to the 20th century, elective travel and tourism was often available only for the wealthy. Culturally, these travels involved a spectator dynamic - to experience (or locally, to be experienced as) exotic sights and peoples. This was done by the travelers from a safe distance, maintaining ones comfort zone as much as possible. Happily, post World War 1, a ‘new’ type of world traveler began to emerge - one on a tight budget, but who was interested in experiencing cultures with a level of authenticity and engagement. Thus began what is now called by some a ‘Golden Age’ of global backpacking...some of you might remember “Europe on $5 a day” (which was published in the late 1950s - see LINK below)?
One personal connect I have with the roots of this Golden Age was my own grandparents who, in the early 1920s, went on an extended Europe trip - designed for educators and others of modest means who wanted to experience the world on its own terms rather than simply view it from a ‘gilded cage’. Decades later, I had the privilege of traveling extensively in Europe in the early 1970s, living for months with several local families, integrating into their cultures. These adventures definitely formed solid roots for my future cross-cultural work...and yes, gave me a “Golden Age” of travel and tourism experience!
How about you ~ what is one way you have experienced this, or a similar, Golden Age?
Share about that with a friend or note it here.
And check out Global SKILLs LINKs below for more insights into this and other Golden Ages of travel & tourism!
Until next week,
Betsy
Global SKILLs LINKs
A unique ‘local perspectives’ resource, out of Asia, for tourism during any age - be it golden or not: http://localperspectives.net/
One of the early, definitive guides for Americans traveling in the Golden Age of backpacking: https://www.amazon.com/Europe-Dollars-Reproduction-Original-Printing/dp/0470165642
A technical, but interesting treatise on 20th century tourism which highlights business considerations, providing insights into different cultral perspectives: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/35520
Was the 1990s another Golden Age for travelers? https://www.newsweek.com/1990s-golden-age-travel-1454315
2021 ~ Celebrating 40 years of working in
intercultural communications and global community building
Connecting, Collaborating, Cultivating Community