I’d like to highlight this problem from 1st world privilege, because the notion of white privilege has harmed my white friends who weren’t from 1st world nations. They went to travel to Asia on a budget but local people asked too much money from them.

Indeed, there are countless times my friends holding passports of developing countries who were fully financed by their employers but unable to go on business trips to 1st world nations just because of the nasty bureaucracy in obtaining visitor visas. Let alone for leisure trips? Those who work in Australia can’t travel easily to New Zealand, those who work in UK can’t travel easily to mainland Europe, those who work in USA can’t travel easily to central America, those who work in China can’t travel easily to Japan, etc.

Developing countries need to start asking people from 1st world nations for an entry visa and not assume that they are all wealthy enough to fund their travel (bank statement required, like we all have always submitted for visa application). They could be coming from wealthy families but apparently from what you wrote they’re not responsible enough to finance their travels.

I support people traveling on a budget and fund their travel on the go, but until there is fair treatment on passports and visas, the privileged 1st world citizens need to consider traveling nearby first if they don’t have money. Don’t misuse the passport privilege. Consider finding study scholarships or teaching language abroad if they really wanna go far.

Anyhow, experiences can be discovered in our own country, if we care enough to interact intensely or live together with the different social class or the minority racial group… Thanks for writing!