Embarking on a volunteering trip to Tanzania, I stayed in a remote and underdeveloped community on the island of Zanzibar. The island's population is almost entirely Muslim, and this information can be easily found in a quick Google search for anyone planning to visit the island.
I stayed with locals in the village Kairo and immersed myself into their culture, wearing only conservative loose fitting clothes. I did not show any skin other than my head, arms and feet. I asked questions about Islam and listened with respect, even when I did not agree, for instance when I spoke to men planning on marrying multiple wives.
On arrival, I was surprised to find Westernised five-star hotels dotted in between the local villages. It made sense why Zanzibar was such a popular holiday destination. White, unspoiled beaches on a remote island with huge palm trees, crystal clear seas and traditional mahogany sail boats. It is a little slice of paradise and the perfect spot for an enviable Instagram snap. Tourism is understandably a large source of income for the island, yet I was disheartened to find tourists not respecting the local culture.
I was shocked to see tourists from the nearby five-star hotels wandering down the beach to have a nose into the village, wearing nothing but bikinis and swim shorts - in an Islamic community! Others would walk into the village and ask if there was somewhere to buy alcohol (which is not considered halal).
One afternoon, a family of tourists who had wandered past the village asked me if I was 'scared' to be staying in the village with the locals, and if I felt 'safe' among them. I told them how the locals had been some of the most welcoming, friendly and warm-hearted people I had ever met. I was offended to even be asked this.
Before my trip to Zanzibar, I had surely gone on holiday without researching the area, and I feel embarrassed to have shared the same ignorance that these tourists displayed. The experience taught me the importance of properly researching your holiday destinations beforehand in order to be culturally sensitive and respectful towards different customs and ways of life.