As the holiday season approaches, people are planning out their special trips to well-known tourist spots. Tourism exposes people to different cultures and attractions. While tourism can be a beautiful way to explore parts of the world, it’s also important to show respect for the places you’re visiting.

As you’re traveling to your desired destination, enjoying the beauty of known monuments, unfortunately it’s common to find random litter, damage to areas or people just being obnoxiously loud in quiet places. Some tourists make the mistake of assuming that things work the same way as in the US.

When riding a train in Switzerland, it’s expected to be silent. Loud noises could earn you some glares from other passengers. Road rules are just as different, you can’t always expect cars will stop for you when crossing a road in other places.

Kayla Mehu, a CSHS student, gave her thought’s when asked about tourist’s lack of respect in areas “I feel like it’s very unfair because I feel like most people that especially come from America, just come to a different country, a lower-class country like Jamaica or Haiti and usually think that their superior to them and they won’t be as nice to the workers in those countries. So yeah, I definitely think that’s something that should be worked on”.

Kiara Diaz, CSHS student who recently got back from a trip to Puerto Rico expressed her experiences “So recently coming back from Puerto Rico, there’s a lot of national parks and monuments. So, there’s a rainforest, the only rainforest in America and they specifically say no littering because it’s the only rainforest and they want to keep it clean, and I just saw so much trash and it was so devastating. It’s so bad, because so many tourists go and visit there and it’s such a pretty place, so to see them throw trash when they blatantly told them through a bunch of signs not to. It’s annoying to see, because it takes nothing to just pick up your trash, that’s it. It would be so much better if people just went, respected other people’s cultures, enjoyed it themselves, without destroying anything or throwing trash in places”

In Rome, a woman was caught climbing across the Trevi Fountain to fill up her water bottle. A security guard escorted the woman away as onlookers watched, stunned. Like most known monuments, there were signs that stated not to trespass.

Tourists will feel the need to grab artifacts or climb monuments even when strictly prohibited. Yes, these sculptures are fantastic, but there’s no use in destroying them just because you want to put your hands on them or take a photo. These sculptures are just as admirable by looking at them, have courtesy. To be a better tourist is to understand why people feel strong connections to their home. Pick up after yourself and follow rules, especially when it’s not your home. Learn about festivities and the history of cultures.

There’s of course nothing wrong with wanting to explore other parts of the world, but make sure to show respect for the cultures around you. Educate yourself on customs, know your surroundings and stay at designated areas, safe travels.