Are you a traveler or a tourist?
And what is the difference?
Dictionary definitions have a traveler as a person who is travelling or who often travels and a tourist as a person who is travelling or visiting a place for pleasure, so if you look at it that way there really isn't much difference, but some people like to define themselves as one or the other.
Me? I'm both and not afraid to admit to it!!!
So if we want to define it and find out what the differences are here goes-
Tourists are easier to spot-it's that couple wearing the matching track suits or the single in a comfy clothes (or running shoes/trainers because they're comfortable to walk in), with their camera, guidebook and map open at all times. Tourists prefer to stay in their comfort zones, often chosing to have similar things that they do at home and don't often veer off the beaten track and if they do it is usually on a tour, in the comfort of a air-conditioned coach with an English speaking guide(or whatever language is their home language). They may learn a few phrases of the local language (that's me) but will muddle through in their own-hoping that someone will speak it too. A tourist goes on 'vacation' or holiday.
How to enhance your touristy experience? Don't rely on your guidebook-it is just that-a guide!!!Do a tour to familiarize yourself with your new destination-(a new place can be daunting/terrifying) but take some time to just explore. Put away your map for a little while and just wander (you can always get it back out to find your way home.) Take that side street off the main tourist drag and you never know what you might find, it might be the best photograph you take, the tastiest food you eat, the best shopping you find, the most interesting person you meet. Use public transport-it's fun, it can be stinky/smelly/noisy/scary-but embrace the new experience. Don't be afraid to ask questions or advice, (again you don't have to take it) but it might lead you to your next great adventure.
Travelers are people who try to immerse themselves in the local culture, they might still have their cameras, maps and guidebooks but they won't mind getting lost and asking a local for help, and their photos might be more involving the people on the street than the street itself. A traveler is more likely to go to places off the beaten track, explore and find something different. Interacting with locals, eating in the restaurants that the locals do (rather than the more touristy options) staying in guest homes rather than hotels to live the like the locals do appeals to a traveler. Travelers like to go to places that 'tourists' don't. For a traveler the destination is not the important bit-it is the journey.
How to be a better traveler? Don't be a 'tourist' snob!!!! A lot of travelers want to avoid what they think of as touristy spots, because that's what TOURISTS do, but by doing that you might be missing out. So what if hundreds (or thousands) of people are at the Tower of London, the Statue of Liberty, The Great Wall of China or the Eiffel Tower they are amazing places to see (go early if you have to and beat the tourists but don't miss out).
Don't have a hang-up as to what category you fit into -heck I'm both and sometimes on the same day LOL, the most important thing is to enjoy and embrace every experience that you have.
If sipping cocktails on a beach or treking through snow in the mountains is your thing then do it, just enjoy the experience.
I recently found this blog entry from travel blogger Amanda-A Dangerous Business and thought it was an awesome entry because it sums travel up and how it should be each to their own, so enjoy travel whether you are a traveller or tourist.