Tourists and Travelers

There are two main categories of people who travel—travelers and tourists. While neither is inherently bad or good, they possess very different traits that ultimately give them completely different experiences while venturing into the world.

Tourist stick out. Travelers blend in.

• Selfie sticks, clogging up the sidewalk while staring at a map, socks with sandals—we've all seen the type of tourist that sticks out like a sore thumb. Tourists tend to draw negative attention to themselves with certain socially abnormal behaviors.
• Travelers do their best to blend in with locals. They look like they know where they are going (even if they don't), dress the part, and attempt to adhere to the social norms of where they are.

Tourist eat comfort food. A traveler samples the local cuisine.

• Tourist will only stick to familiar foods, which sometimes includes popular food chains. 
• A traveler knows that food is the link to any culture. They are willing to step out of their comfort zone to try local dishes to taste the country's culture.

Tourists choose sightseeing. A traveler converses with locals.

• Tourists stay within their comfort zone and stick to seeing the principal, famous sights. They don't speak with other people except those they are traveling with.
• A traveler enjoys meeting people from other cultures. They talk with locals to discover the location's best things or discover unique opportunities that don't appear in travel guides. Travelers know that locals are the best resource to explore somewhere new.

Tourists dress for comfort. Travelers dress for style and comfort.

• Tourists usually only pack clothes that they will be comfortable in when traveling. This can sometimes be unfashionable, but tourists risk disrespecting a country's fashion norms and offending their hosts.
• Travelers are more thoughtful when packing and know that style and comfort can go hand in hand. They make sure to bring functional and fashionable clothes and include items that adhere to cultural norms.

Tourists stick with their native tongue. Travelers try to converse in the local language.

• Tourists will only speak their native tongue, making little effort to learn the local language.
• Travelers try to speak and understand at least a few keywords or phrases to use when traveling abroad. They know that learning to say simple things like please, thank you, and hello makes a difference when traveling in a country with a different language.

Tourists buy souvenirs. Travelers look for genuine local products.

• Tourists are quickly drawn to the lure of local souvenir shops, which tend to rip off the uninformed. They think those items are authentic to the country and are willing to settle for them.
• Travelers take more time and effort to search for local treasures and gems. They know it takes a bit of digging to find the most authentic items to take home.

Tourists rely on maps. Travelers trust their instincts.

• Tourists rely heavily on their maps or smartphones to tell them how to get from one famous sight to another. They sometimes miss out on the adventure that is exploring and getting lost.
• Travelers trust their instinctive nature to tell them where to go and what to explore. This isn't to say that they don't use Google Maps, but they aren't afraid of wandering, getting lost, and having an adventure. To them, getting lost means seeing beautiful things they might have never seen.