As long as people have been traveling, they’ve sought mementos and souvenirs. Ancient Egyptians and Romans brought spices, animal skins, and gold back from foreign trade missions or conquests. Modern travelers hunt for handicrafts or traditional art, tangible reminders of other places to use in their own lives at home: a Moroccan rug splayed across the living room floor, a gleaming Venetian glass vase to fill with wildflowers.
But what if those local crafts aren’t local at all? A 2022 report estimated that up to 75 percent of Australian souvenirs marketed as “Indigenous” were fakes. Offenses including painted boomerangs and didgeridoos traced to workshops in Indonesia and art galleries convicted of forging distinctive Aboriginal dot paintings.
(Learn which souvenirs not to buy, from ivory carvings to sea turtle shells.)
At tourist attractions around the world, purchasing locally made arts and crafts can be as challenging as navigating a Turkish bazaar. In Cairo’s centuries-old Khan Al-Khalili bazaar, handwoven Egyptian cotton scarves hang near a pile of cheap plastic scarab beetles of unknown origin; around the main square in Santa Fe, New Mexico, shops sell genuine turquoise jewelry made by Pueblo peoples as well as convincing forgeries.
Here’s why the knockoff business is so prevalent, why shopping for the real thing is so important, and how to tell fakes from genuine crafts.
Inexpensive, counterfeit art, ceramics, and textiles funnel income away from communities that rely on tourism, from the Gullah people who create sweetgrass baskets in South Carolina to tweed and tartan fabric weavers in Scotland.
“When you buy a mass-produced product, you might be supporting a business that doesn’t pay its workers a fair wage,” says Jeremy Fritzhand, founder of Studio Bagru, a fair-trade block-printing workshop outside of Jaipur, India. “The materials they use, like polyester or other plastic-based fibers, are not as sustainable, whereas artisans tend to use sustainable, locally sourced materials like cotton.”
(How to dive into Jaipur’s crafts scene, from printing classes to marble workshops.)
Purchasing local goods helps support longtime traditions and fragile communities. “Creating souvenirs, from mugs to fine art, is us practicing our culture,” says Stephanie Parkin, a Quandamooka lawyer who chairs Australia’s Indigenous Art Code, a fair-trade crafts advocacy group. “You can’t get that with an imitation.”
It used to be simpler to suss out local souvenirs. In a place like Oaxaca, Mexico, travelers could head for the town center and find markets or artisan workshops, assuming the black clay pottery and embroidered blouses for sale were produced nearby. Items that were created by human hands, not machines,
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The key to seeing any celestial phenomenon is pretty obvious: You must be in the right place at the right time. While the exact location and time changes with every astronomical event, the right place is undeniably somewhere far away from any light pollution. These days, unless you make your way to a dark sky park, finding a spot on land that’s far away enough from civilization isn’t easy, so why not take to the seas? In the middle of the ocean, chances of street lights ruining your stargazing experience are very thin, that’s why cruise lines are ramping up their astronomy at sea offerings, including northern lights cruises, solar eclipse cruises, and more.
The impact of Morocco’s deadly earthquake is still being assessed as emergency services continue rescue operations. The 6.8-magnitude earthquake has claimed more than 2,000 lives, and thousands more are injured, after the natural disaster struck about 50 miles outside of Marrakesh in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco on Friday.
Brazil will mandate visitors from the U.S., Australia and Canada obtain an e-visa prior to entering the country starting January 10, 2024, according to Embratur, Brazil tourism’s board.
In a significant move to enhance its global connectivity, Air Canada made a notable announcement today regarding its upcoming summer 2024 flight schedule. The airline revealed plans to introduce a brand-new, year-round route linking Montreal and Madrid, set to start in May. This strategic addition underscores Air Canada's plans to extend its network and cater to the evolving travel needs of passengers.
Amsterdam has dominated cannabis tourism for 40 years, but now it’s stepping back from this multibillion-dollar industry, creating opportunities for emerging marijuana destinations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. New rules in the Dutch city’s central tourist area limit alcohol sales, require bars to close earlier, and impose a €100 ($107) fine for public marijuana smoking.
With its year-round tropical climate, top-notch infrastructure, abundant green spaces and awesome child-friendly attractions, the tiny island nation of Singapore is a fabulous destination to discover with your pint-sized posse in tow.
An eastern peninsula swimming with history, culture, and a vibrant art scene, Halifax is much more than its caricatured seaside fishing town. While, yes, you’d be doing yourself a disservice to opt out of the fresh seafood and seascapes while you’re in town, there are also handfuls of world-class and drinking dining to be done in the city.
Grand Cayman has long been a popular destination for travelers in search of white-sand beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving spots, and well-heeled accommodations. Just 22 miles long and eight miles wide, the island is the largest of the Cayman Islands and has a reputation for providing travelers with a quiet, low-key getaway. And with most of the action happening near the famous Seven Mile Beach, only 15 minutes from the Owen Roberts International Airport, travelers can start their vacations minutes after landing.