The Value Of Souvenirs in the Modern Travel Economy

For many of us, souvenirs play an integral part of the travel experience, allowing us to bring back physical mementos from our journeys. However it's common for these keepsakes to end up forgotten on shelves or stored away in boxes.

As awareness of the impact travel can have on the environment grows, travelers are increasingly looking for ways to adopt more sustainable practices, and there is an emerging interest in finding alternative ways to commemorate trips without relying on physical mementos.

In episode three of the Skift Ideas Podcast, Rafat and Colin are joined by Geetika Agrawal, Founder and CEO of Vacation With An Artist (VAWAA), for a conversation on the evolving role of souvenirs in the modern travel economy. They delve into the increasing trend of people choosing meaningful experiences over physical possessions, the benefits of backing local artisans, and the significance of storytelling as a form of souvenir.

Rafat Ali: Welcome to the Skift Ideas Podcast, A biweekly discussion with the thinkers, craftspeople and operators that are moving the travel industry forward. This is me Rafat Ali along with my co-host, Colin Nagy. I'm so glad that we're doing this again. Welcome back, Colin.

Colin Nagy: Thank you. Nice to be here.

Ali: And thank you for carrying the load solo, in the last episode. I was just not able to do it, so thank you for doing that. I appreciate it.

Nagy: Appreciate it.

Ali: So in this episode, we're looking at the value of souvenirs in the modern travel economy and the reason why we're trying to scratch this itch, this topic, if you will, is about four months ago I randomly posted on LinkedIn this post, which I'm going to just quickly read. Nine out of ten tourism souvenirs lie unused, ignored, underappreciated in people's houses. And yet we always forget the lesson and buy them whenever we travel. How do you reinvent this industry to prevent this waste, which likely runs into billions of dollars? 

So innocent enough, but provocative enough. I got so many dozens and dozens, 51 if I see this right here, comments on it. Hundreds of likes on it, and various different opinions on what people are asking, well, how did I get the nine out of ten souvenirs? That was just a random number I pulled out of just my own personal life, I guess. 

In a world where everybody is rethinking their carbon footprin