As a traveler, nowadays I choose to be a slow traveler. Despite I have two kids and beginning forties, I like to create special moments. I like to explore about nature, culture, food, and interact with locals. I do not really enjoy to come at viral places. If I see a restaurant is really crowded, I better go to another place. Later, I know it is called slow tourism.

However, when I was my twenties and thirties, I like to come at the popular places. I do not mind to have full itineraries on one day because afraid of lose something. I can go to many places, eat quickly, stay up late, and wake up early in order not to miss anything. There is nothing wrong to travel like this. However, now I choose not.

Actually, what is slow travel or tourism? It is an approach to travel that emphasizes to deeper connection of places and meaningful experiences. Traveler will experience destination in a slower pace. It gives emotional effects rather than just check the bucket list.

Therefore, slow traveler wants purposeful experiences and creating meaningful moments rather than be FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). They travel at their own pace and convenience. They use their own standard and do not have to please anyone.

A word used a lot when discussing Slow travel is “experience-based”. Experience-based travel can be accomplished in different ways, such as connecting with people, creating a community, experiencing local culture and making conscious decisions. These conscious decisions impact one’s own cultivation and regeneration as well as helping the environment by reducing your own global footprint.

Actually, it is not difficult to start slow travel if you want to try. There is no special destination to start. Just pick your destination and do it slower. Here are some inspirations to start based on my experience.

• Do not spend the whole time to visit popular destination

If I visit a city for three days for instance, I will not spend the whole three days go to tourism destinations. I will set aside at least a day to relax at hotel or just chill at local café.

• Avoid coming at peak or holiday season

As you realize at holiday season, tourism destinations are usually more crowded than non-holiday season.

• Find hidden gem

I know it is difficult to find one in this social media era, but you can ask local people recommendation. They usually have a good place where only locals know.

• Find new experience

You can try bike to go around an island, no gadget place, volunteering, wine tasting, craft class, or something like that. You can find a community and new experience at the same time.

• Do a hotel or cruise holiday

Book a hotel, resort, or cruise ship with super facilities as you like. You can spend the whole holiday staying only at hotel or ship.

The underline is enjoying your moment, with your standard and no need to please anybody. For me, slow travel is more fun. Are you going to try slow travel?

Sources:

https://mize.tech/blog/slow-tourism-case-studies-examples-to-truly-understand-slow-tourism/#:~:text=Slow%20tourism%20is%20quite%20different,fast%2Dfood%20and%20mainstream%20dishes.

https://hospitalityinsights.ehl.edu/what-slow-tourism#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSlow%20tourism%20is%20characterized%20by,%2C%20Georgia%2C%20Nepal%20and%20others.