Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lishments may be the main consumers. Do you still feel that hot water is essential in your
hotel?Anothersourceofenergyishydroelectricpower,sodrought-asiscommoninthese
times of climate change - causes electricity cuts. So think again before leaving the air-con-
ditioning and lights on when absent from your room.
One of the keys to responsible tourism is ensuring that as much as possible of the
money you spend on your holiday remains in Madagascar. Independent travellers should
try, whenever possible, to stay at small hotels run by Malagasy. Madagascar now has a
homestay programme - see
Click Here
. Tourists on an organised tour will probably find
themselvesinaforeign-ownedhotel,butcandotheirbitbybuyinghandicraftsandperhaps
donating to local charities.
Madagascar's shortcomings can be infuriating. Sometimes a little reflection reveals the
reasons behind the failure to produce the expected service, but sometimes you just have to
tell yourself 'Well, that's the way it is'. After all, you are not going to be able to change
Madagascar, but Madagascar may change you.
TOURISTPOWER
I recently learned that a hotel which used to keep caged lemurs as an
attraction has now released them after some customers complained (although release is not
that straightforward; see
Click Here
). We can sometimes be too cautious about making our
feelings felt because so often the hotel management is only trying to please us. So, if your
chambermaid leaves thelightsorair-conditioning oninyourroom,it'sworthexplaining to
the manager that you would rather save Madagascar's precious resources. If a smart new
hotel has proudly stated that they use the valuable - and highly endangered - hardwoods
such as rosewood or palisander for their furniture or - worse - their floors, you could get
into a conversation about sustainability.
There is, of course, a big difference between complaining about bad service and inform-
ing the management about a shift in tourist values. Even your disapproval of caged lemurs
should be expressed tactfully, and your views about sustainable tourism need even more
care. Your green views won't be shared by all tourists and it's not a conversation you can
have in a hurry when paying your bill. Take some time to discuss it over a drink.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Lackofconsiderationwhentakingphotosisperhapsthemostcommon
example of irresponsible tourist behaviour - one that each of us has probably been guilty
of at some time. It is so easy to take a sneaky photo without first establishing contact with
the person, so easy to say we'll send a print of the picture and then not get round to it, so
easy to stroll into a market or village thinking what a wonderful photo it will make and
forgetting that you are there to experience it.
'PLEASE SEND ME A PHOTO'
Hilary Bradt
