Is it ethical to travel to countries with political crackdowns?
Deciding whether to visit a destination with oppressive politics creates a conflict between wanting to see the world and refusing to financially support an unjust government. People worry that going makes them complicit in human rights abuses, while staying home feels like giving in to fear and missing out on experiences.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1canceling or postponing the trip until political leadership changes
- 2visiting alternative nearby countries with better human rights records
- 3Relies on local partners or family for guidance and secure private transport
- 4Checks official government travel advisories
- 5Uses specialized travel insurance that covers advisory-restricted countries
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I was planning to visit Turkey sometime this year but am really disheartened by the news I’m hearing about the “lgbt crackdown/raids”.”source ↗
“Do you guys think I should still go?”source ↗
“On one hand , I wanted to see more of the world and not going feels like I’m letting them win.”source ↗
“But I also don’t want to support or visit any place with such political motives.”source ↗
“Is it safe to visit Lagos, at least the areas of lekki and victoria Island? I already checked the government suggestion to avoid unnecessary travel, but still...”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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