While listening to Scene on Radio's podcast Capitalism, I stopped in my tracks at the simple realization of one quote:

The commentators were discussing the fact that our society recognizes the tremendous value of the transportation of goods and labor, hence, money is in movement.

They stated that you cannot sell contentment, and therefore, peace is in stillness.

The discussion was about Capitalism, the dominant economic model today, broadly characterized by hands-off market-driven economies which fuel both wealth creation and disparity. Capitalism drives innovations and advancements, but often sparks debate on environmental sustainability, social justice and fair labor practices, and the need for regulatory reform to address its systemic inequalities.

Consumerism is the cultural attribute that follows the growth of capitalism step-by-step, trolling behind until it drives the markets itself. Consumerism is the mindset where a person needs more goods and services beyond the necessities, survival, or traditional displays of status.

Consumerism can be subjective; for example, it’s widely agreed upon that for society to flourish and allow space for creativity, art, or innovation, people need to own more than the bare minimum to survive. However, there is a limit, and it truly feels like mega stores like Amazon, Walmart, and the Dollar Tree are trying to help us find it.

I realize the cause of the chaos goes beyond those big name sellers, past the product manufacturers, and straight to, yes, the consumers. The purveyors of demand.

Mostly, I realize that many travel attitudes are quite concerningly similar to the consumeristic mindset.

Travel and Consumerism: The Hidden Parallels

When we think of travel, we tend to picture freedom, adventure, and discovery. It’s often a cherished escape from everyday life, and, in an ideal sense, a break from consumerist habits and routines. But in today’s experience-driven culture, travel itself can fall into patterns that mirror consumerism, where the drive to “experience more” mirrors the drive to “own more.” While we might intend to escape materialism through travel, we may end up consuming experiences in much the same way we consume goods.

The “More” Mentality: Collecting Experiences vs. Collecting Possessions

Consumer culture often encourages us to seek more possessions—faster cars, better gadgets, trendier clothes. Similarly, in the age of Instagram, TikTok, and bucket lists, travel can become a pursuit of “more” destinations, experiences, and snapshots. There’s an unspoken pressure to visit the most exotic places, stay in unique accommodations, and taste foods from different cultures. Travel, in this sense, becomes an act of accumulation, and the “more” mentality drives it: more stamps in the passport, more breathtaking views, more “once-in-a-lifetime” moments.

But as with consumerism, this desire for quantity often leads us to rush through experiences, viewing places as items to check off rather than opportunities to immerse ourselves in something meaningful.

Destination Shopping: The Rise of “Experience Commodification”

Just as we shop for material goods, we now “shop” for travel experiences. Whether it’s hunting down the “perfect” beach or ticking off a list of popular landmarks, travel experiences can become like products in a catalog. Tour operators, travel influencers, and social media platforms have commodified travel to the point where experiences are marketed and consumed as lifestyle choices. Just as consumer goods are packaged to sell, travel destinations are increasingly branded for our consumption.

This commodification affects how we perceive places. Instead of valuing the authentic experience of a destination, we may prioritize curated highlights that meet our expectations, often at the expense of spontaneity. When we travel as consumers, we risk engaging with places in a superficial way, as though each destination is simply the backdrop for a new photo or a temporary adventure rather than a place with its own culture and history.

The “Influencer Effect”: Performance and Comparison Culture

Much like consumerism, where we measure ourselves by what we own, travel can become a form of status-seeking. Social media reinforces this, encouraging us to share our adventures and create highlight reels that often lead others to measure their experiences against ours. Platforms like Instagram reward picturesque, “postable” moments that can inadvertently influence where we go and what we do.

Comparison culture creates a cycle where we not only crave travel but also feel pressure to craft experiences that are unique and enviable. Just as consumerism can create the desire to “keep up with the Joneses,” travel can spark a desire to “keep up with the influencers,” constantly looking for the next trip that will “outdo” the last.

Burnout and the Search for Fulfillment

In consumer culture, people often buy material goods in search of satisfaction, only to find that the happiness it brings is fleeting. Similarly, the allure of travel can be seductive but temporary. If we’re not careful, travel becomes a cycle of constant movement rather than meaningful experiences, leading to burnout and a sense of emptiness.

There’s a danger in treating travel as the ultimate escape or cure for dissatisfaction. Like material possessions, travel may bring only a brief respite if it’s approached with the same consumerist mindset. True fulfillment comes not from quantity but from depth—from taking time to immerse ourselves in a culture, connect with people, and appreciate what’s unfamiliar.

Impact on the World

In the same way that overconsumption strains the planet’s resources, over-tourism has left a damaging footprint. Popular destinations struggle to keep up with the influx of visitors, leading to environmental degradation and cultural dilution. Locals in places like Barcelona, Venice, and Bali have felt the strain on resources, rising living costs, and changes in their communities. The urge to consume impacts not only our environment but also the lives of people involved in producing and sustaining this culture of “more.”

The Art of Slow Travel

Slow travel prompts us to go beyond the surface-level experience. It’s about connecting with the places we visit, respecting local cultures, and understanding our impact.

Rather than collecting destinations as we collect products, we can slow down, stay longer, and immerse ourselves in each place. Instead of visiting for the photos or the status, we might choose to experience the subtleties of a place—the language, the food, the local way of life—much like enjoying a well-made item that will be cherished for years, rather than quickly discarded.

Slow travel can mean many things - maybe you choose one city for three months and avoid planning anything specific until you talk to locals. Maybe you want to explore all of South America and do this by vowing to never fly on a plane after the initial flight - busses only. Maybe you learn a language by staying in a home stay, ensuring that your accommodation is in line with the local norms.

In Search of Lasting Fulfillment

At its core, both consumerism and travel speak to a universal human desire for fulfillment. We’re seeking something that fills us up or brings us closer to a sense of completeness.

And while I do not recommend we all stop traveling, because I also strongly believe in the power of learning from others outside of your own home, I do recommend long-term slow travel.

And we need to remember that peace is in stillness 🐦

When we choose quality over quantity, experience over checklist, and depth over speed, we may discover that what we were seeking all along wasn’t a destination or product but a sense of inner satisfaction that neither consumerism nor travel alone could give us.