Does travel support destination politics? In my experience, no.

Wilson Santiago Burgos
| Mochileando.com

Traveling to a country does not imply support for its government.
When visiting a place where views differ from those of its rulers, we must remember that governments never fully represent the diversity and views of a given country.
We live in a world of many shades of grey and few absolutes. There is no ideal country, traveler or destination.

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Going to Cuba doesn’t make me a communist. Going to Spain doesn’t make me a supporter of monarchy. Going to the United States doesn’t make me a defender of imperialism, and going to Argentina doesn’t make me a follower of Mileia.

When will political fans understand that traveling is a form of supporting the people, not their governments?

In times of polarization, travel has become a political statement for some. From the extremes of the political spectrum, any visit to a place ruled by an opposing ideology can be misinterpreted as support for their government, when in reality it is a human interaction between two cultures.

Such cultural exchange enriches all parties and can contribute to the decline of extremism that keeps many people living in regimes of oppression and others under governments that threaten the healthy coexistence and social progress we have achieved as a collective.

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Supporting communities dependent on tourism

I have visited dozens of countries whose regimes I do not support. In reality, I live in a subjugated colony (what a contradiction when I talk about freedom!).

When visiting a place where the rulers are different, we must remember that governments never represent 100% of the diversity and voices of the country. Some rule democratically, while others maintain their power through tricks and juggling without real support from their people. But behind them is a diverse nation that, in most cases, cries out and fights for a more just society.

The claim that “your visit to a communist government or right-wing dictatorship is an economic and political support is demagogy and manipulation.”

When you travel, you inevitably support the government of the day through taxes, purchases, visas or expenses, whether it is far-right or far-left. However, you also support communities that depend on tourism, which in many cases is their only form of livelihood and the driving force to continue their education and push for change. This cultural exchange is often a hope that reminds them that a better world is possible and makes them willing to fight injustice. We all learn from this exchange. That is what is really important.

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I do not support genocide by one country against another, nor do I support terrorist activities by extremist groups. I do not support governments that undermine democracy and freedom of speech in the name of “economic prosperity.” I do not support the suppression of diversity and equality. I do not support the imposition of any religion by the state, which should serve everyone regardless of our beliefs. I do not support the lack of social policies that guarantee access to resources, even for the most disadvantaged. But I also do not support punishment for success. None of these positions are contradictory and can be summed up in one statement: I do not support extremism. I travel to fight it.

We live in a world of many grays and few absolutes. There is no perfect country, traveler or destination. But everywhere there are people fighting for a better world and it is these people that I want to reach when I travel and be a part of. This is the message that I try to convey in every interaction I have: a better world is possible. If traveling does not help us achieve this, what is the point of traveling?

Wilson “Wil” Santiago Burgos is the founder of Mochileando.com, one of the largest travel platforms in Puerto Rico and the Latin American market in the U.S.