Being a local guide is like holding an awesome tool. As a travel show host, I’ve got some history with this power and its pitfalls. Like a knife it can be handled recklessly, causing harm; or it can be used responsibly, providing utility.
Across the planet I’ve seen how tourism, with no aim other than profit, can be like the eye of Sauron for an unprepared destination, leveling beauty into a wasteland of commercialism. I’ve seen how social media can draw a mindless crowd to trample the flowers (figuratively or literally (e.g.California’s super bloom)). This gives me deep trepidation in bringing attention to a place. On the other hand, we live in an era where nothing will remain covered for long. Therefore the early bird, or the person with the biggest voice, can set the tone for those who follow. I’ve happily embraced my Local Guide status as an opportunity to frame the connection between the seeker and the sought after. When I use the power of Google to review, here are my new standards:
- Encourage people to come in with open minds, engage with locals, support local business, be respectful, and leave a place as good as they found it
- Recommend places that would be hard to exploit (like the Yangon pipe walk) because their very appeal is in the rawness of the experience
- Recommend businesses that treat their customers and employees well… that put love, passion, and humanity into what they do
- Steer people away from locations where they might have a bad experience and alert them to dangers
The times I’ve strayed from these standards, and wrote my less laudable reviews, have entailed my ego:
- Someone did me wrong (temptation to vent)
- Someone hooked me up (temptation for reciprocity)
- Posting makes me feel more special in this world (ego wants a rub)
From the position of a local guide, I want ephemeral emotions to pass before posting, and to always come back to intentions. We are connecting people to locations, experiences, and others. We want everyone to win. It’s a privilege to have that stewardship.