Should We Travel the Way We Used To?
Today I watched a documentary on Arte about travel and tourism. The title struck a chord — it asks a question I’ve been sitting with for some time: Can we keep travelling the way we used to? Can we board a plane without feeling guilty? How do we reconcile our wanderlust with respect for the environment? And how do we balance work-related travel with environmental responsibility, especially when, like me, you work in the sustainable development sector?
We all know that tourism transforms entire regions, has a profound impact on local communities, and often benefits only a handful of people. And yet — our desire to travel persists.
How to Travel More Sustainably
The documentary explores various contemporary modes of travel and offers ideas for making them more sustainable. The island of Palau is cited as an inspiring example — every visitor entering the country must sign a conservation pledge committing to respect the island and its ecosystem. A beautiful idea.
Other avenues explored include slow travel (choosing trains over planes wherever possible), carbon offsetting, travelling less frequently but for longer periods, and choosing locally owned accommodation and businesses over international chains.
I don’t think we should stop travelling. Travel opens minds, builds bridges between cultures, creates empathy. But I do think we need to travel differently — more consciously, more slowly, more respectfully. Less Instagram, more genuine connection.
As for this site — it was born from a love of travel and a desire to share the world’s flavours. The recipes here are small acts of cultural exchange. And I hope that, recipe by recipe, journey by journey, we can keep that spirit alive in a more thoughtful way.