While traveling to a new destination can be exciting, its
important to remember that cultural etiquette varies widely around the globe.
Understanding and respecting
local customs is vital. ?
When packing for a trip abroad, taking a little time to
understand the type of clothing youll need to have to enjoy your vacation, not
just for comfort but also for appreciation for the places youll be visiting.
More and more cities are curbing tourism, some with all-out
protests to ward off crowds and yes, the unwanted, disrespectful
tourist. While weve all seen shocking images of travelers stripping down
naked at sacred sites, destroying ancient statues or the poor judgement of taking
a selfie at Auschwitz, there are many other ways that tourists behave badly,
some that may seem minor to the unsuspecting traveler.
One of my pet peeves is seeing inappropriate dress. Its
disrespectful and depending on where you travel, dressing inappropriately can bring
with it a fine and even land you behind bars. Its happened in places like
Oman, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives. And even if not illegal in other places, its
flippant and irreverent.
Covering to Visit Sacred Places
While Italy is considered one of the most fashionable world destinations,
visitors should consider that places like the Vatican require men to have long
pants and women to cover their knees and shoulders. Crop tops and revealing
midriffs wont cut it and despite having a reservation, visitors may be denied
entrance without the appropriate attire. Ive seen it happen time and again.
On a family trip to Thailand, we had the pleasure of
visiting some amazing Buddhist temples with jaw-dropping architecture. These
temples however are sacred places and as a rule, visitors should adhere to the
dress code and rules which include modest clothing covering the shoulders and
knees and removing hats. Shoes should be removed before entering any temple.
While these seem reasonable to the savvy traveler, there are
visitors who unfortunately dont respect these dress codes. While they may not
be called out on the infractions by the locals, they may be, as we said, attracting
bad juju with their disrespect of the Buddhist faith and customs.
Inappropriate Dress in Public Places
While it may be acceptable to run around shirtless or
bikini-clad in Miami Beach, youre not in Miami Beach and you may incur an
unexpected added expense to your vacation C a nice big fine.
Ina Rodin, Croatian National Tourist Office representative
explained that Both Split and Dubrovnik had to crack town on tourists for
disobeying the public dress code. While we welcome tourists to our beautiful
country, we ask that you dress appropriately and avoid wearing distasteful shirts
and other offensive garb.
Covering Up in Conservative Countries
This can totally vary from location to location. While places
like Saudi Arabia require women to wear a niqab and abaya, covering all skin,
and men to cover their knees, in Dubai its best to wear clothes that cover the
shoulders to the knees. In India, women should cover their cleavage, shoulders
and knees.
France however has banned the wearing of burqas and niqabs
since 2011.
It ultimately comes down to know before you go and the
willingness to accept local rules and customs and abide by them. The
cost-benefit analysis comes into play when visiting foreign countries.
Visitors have choices on where to visit and vacation. Dressing
modestly in accordance with local customs demonstrates cultural sensitivity and
avoids drawing unwanted attention. Remember that packing the right clothes and
adhering to cultural norms at a destination can significantly impact how youre
perceived and treated.
Do your research, ask a travel professional if youre still
unsure of local customs and regulations. Enjoy your travel experiences, but use
common sense, and dont break the rules.
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