For most of my life, I didn’t have the nicest opinion of tourists — which is probably why the idea of travel with purpose matters so much to me now.
I grew up in Florida — both near Orlando and on the coast — which means I’ve seen the effects of tourism up close. And to be honest? They weren’t pretty.
In Orlando, tourists would fly in for the weekend, hit the theme parks, and fly back out without seeing a single thing beyond the parking lot. On the beaches, they’d come to party, leave trash behind, and treat locals like “the help.” I waited tables on the beach for a few years and heard the same lines over and over: “Without us, you wouldn’t have a job” or “Your economy would be nothing.”
That wasn’t tourism — it was entitlement. It hurt our wildlife, our beaches, and the place I called home.
Why “Travel With Purpose” Is Personal for Me
And in recent years, it’s not just weekend visitors — it’s the people moving here for good. Many are drawn by the version of Florida they see in the media or through the lens of current politics. “We just love your politics,” they tell me, while I feel more and more alienated by my state’s political climate.
It’s the classic mistake: thinking you know a place because you vacationed there. The image they’ve been sold is often a misrepresentation of Florida and the people who’ve lived here for generations. They arrive expecting the place to match that narrative — and when it doesn’t, they’re either disappointed and complain, or they bring their own beliefs and priorities that align with the version they imagined. Sometimes both happen — the disappointment fuels the desire to reshape the place into something that matches their expectations.
Over time, that influx has changed Florida — and not in ways I see as positive. Housing costs have skyrocketed. The culture has shifted. The place I grew up knowing is starting to feel unrecognizable. And through it all, there’s been very little respect for the land, the history, or the culture of Floridians — especially in the past few years.
So yeah, I’ve had my fair share of complicated feelings about tourism. Which is why travel with purpose means more to me than just a trendy phrase — it’s personal.
The Irony I Couldn’t Ignore
Here’s the thing: I eventually realized I’d been participating in a similar kind of tourism myself.
I wasn’t trashing beaches or talking down to locals — but my travels were often shaped by the same shallow, consumer-driven culture I’d grown up resenting. The “perfect” bucket list on Instagram. The must-have photo. The checklist-style itinerary where you blow through a place without really seeing it.
Living in a consumer society had conditioned me to treat travel like a product to be consumed, not an experience to be lived. And that realization hit me hard — because I knew better. I’d seen what thoughtless tourism does to a place and its people.
That was the moment I decided my approach to travel with purpose needed to change.
How My Approach to Travel Changed
I’ve been traveling my whole life — from family road trips to solo adventures — and for most of that time, I was laser-focused on the bucket list. See the famous landmarks? Check. Snap the perfect photo? Check. Eat the food everyone says you have to try? Double check.
But in the past few years, I realized something: those “checklist” memories faded quickly. The moments that stayed with me were the small, unplanned connections — chatting with a café owner about their grandmother’s recipes, wandering into a local market, or sitting on a park bench watching kids play a game I’d never seen before.
That’s when it clicked: travel with purpose isn’t about where you go. It’s about how you go.
4 Ways to Travel With Purpose
1. Be Curious, Not Just a Consumer
Instead of rushing through sights, ask questions about them. Who built this? Why? How does it fit into the culture today?
→ See more on this in my post: Global Awareness Is the Superpower No One Teaches You
2. Engage With The Locals
A single conversation can teach you more than a guidebook.
→ See more on this in my post: Culture Shock and Connection
3. Notice the “Ordinary”
Pop into grocery stores, ride public transportation, visit a neighborhood park — these moments are the heartbeat of a place.
4. Reflect As You Go
Keep a travel journal, jot down quotes from people you meet, or take a daily photo of something that surprised you. Often, it’s these small moments you end up talking about years later.
How to Start Traveling With Purpose IRL
You don’t have to overhaul your entire travel style — small, intentional shifts can transform your experience. Try this:
- Research the history and culture of a place before you go
- Learn a few words of the local language
- Ask locals for recommendations (and actually take them)
- Take part in cultural events and festivals
- Skip chain restaurants and shop local
- Be mindful of your waste and clean up after yourself
If you’re looking for inspiration, I created a free game called Culture Quest Bingo — 25 fun challenges that help you connect more deeply with a place, whether you’re halfway across the world or just across town.
→ Grab your free Culture Quest Bingo card here
The Takeaway
Travel with purpose means swapping the “consume and leave” mindset for one of curiosity, connection, and respect. It’s not about skipping the landmarks — it’s about looking beyond them. Because the real magic of travel isn’t in the photos you take, it’s in the stories you carry home.
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