Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Is it time to change how we buy travel souvenirs?
What are souvenirs? Some of the most popular souvenirs are magnets or mug cups with a logo or image of the place. Also, shawls made of local fabric and artworks handcrafted by Indigenous peoples are in high demand. But where are they actually produced and by who? It was found that as much as 75% of souvenirs marketed as "Indigenous" in Australia were counterfeit and over 70% of Thailand’s elephant pants were made overseas. Also, most fabrics sold as pashmina, cashmere wool of a special kind, in a Kashmir market in India are not genuine. As many people travel to distant places, most souvenirs are now just locally sold affordable and portable commodities that were mass-produced somewhere else. While traveling, extraordinary experiences, including food, scenery, atmosphere, people, activities, and even difficulties are often more memorable than materials, most travelers still buy souvenirs to remember the trip or share the event with someone. In the end, the money that travelers spend helps the local economy in some way or other.
Read the article and learn about what popular souvenirs are like these days.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250217-is-it-time-to-change-how-we-buy-travel-souvenirs
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