Tourism is an interesting phenomenon. We’re curious about other places, other people and culture, and we go visit them to see firsthand what they’re all about. To experience something different than what comprises our normal life. Those who live in Manhattan and pass through Times Square on their daily commute don’t pause to take photos. If anything I’m sure they’re annoyed by the sightseeing. A member of the Aguas Calientes community doesn’t visit Machu Picchu, because it’s an engrained part of her culture and history. Residents of Umbria don’t take pictures of the region's hilltop towns, because it’s already part of their daily lives.

But we are curious about places and people and things outside our comfort zone. It’s different, it’s new, it’s interesting. It stems from our natural curiosity, an innate part of being human. I believe it betters us as a species, as we continue to learn about different parts of our amazing planet.

Of course it’s important for us to think and act consciously and with consideration when visiting other places. Being carbon neutral is a good place to start. Respecting other views and traditions is another prerequisite. But overall, I believe it makes us better. The more we learn about each other, about different ways of living and different foods and different art and different religions and different architectural styles and other history, the more connected and closer we become.

What’s beautiful is this isn’t even the primary motive for most tourists. It doesn’t matter; the results are the same. When we go out and see cool shit, we learn and become more open. We see the world more for what it is: a bunch of crazy monkeys living within an incredibly diverse ecosystem on a truly amazing planet.

Be a tourist somewhere.