QUESTIONS
How does one prepare to be surprised?
What is the value of travel preparation?
How well do airports, bus stations and info centers orientate
arriving visitors?
TRAVELERS
Here's the paradox: one of the reasons to take a trip is to
escape cause-and-effect logic. Many travelers aim toward spontaneity
and adventure. That said, if they don't make proper
checklists, do required reading ahead of their journey,
they invariably miss out on engaging experiences.
Without denying the joy of the unexpected, preparation allows
travelers to fashion journeys in a harmonious and purposeful
manner.
LOCALS
Locals need to consider how to prepare themselves for the changing
tourism market. This includes creating lists of volunteer opportunities
as well as regional tourism strategies (example: New
Zealand).
For institutions and individuals alike, it's a matter of sussing
out which values to prioritize and who to work with. There are
opportunities for creating shared objectives and working out
action plans. True, these priorities and players may change
over time, but when common goals can be articulated at the outset,
the process has been established that values communication.
All of this is set in place during the preparation phase.
INTERACTION
Ideally we should see creative ways for travelers and locals
to interact, long before and long after meeting in person.
One example of travel preparation in this age of Web
1, 2, 3 reviews public markets. What might be a rushed 30-minute
visit becomes a search for familiar faces and seasonal products.
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The value of continuity
