The Problem With Travel Videos 

I think this is why Anthony Bourdain is so revered. He didn’t want the focus to be himself, he wanted it to be about the story and the location.

For years I've wanted to start a travel video series, talking to everyday local people you run into and hearing their story. Damn social anxiety and life holding me back though 😅

I think a big factor in the popularity of "tourism oriented" travel videos is that people enjoy living vicariously through them. It's easier to imagine yourself as a traveler visiting a location than as a local who has been there their whole life. I think the best way to introduce viewers to the local perspective is to have a conversation with locals through the lens of a traveler.

This is my first EVER comment on a youtube video. Man, you hit the nail on the head. My primary focus when traveling is to find out how the locals live. For that reason I usually prefer the small local towns and villages or smaller cities from the big, flashy touristic places.

Love your thoughts on this. It's so true that travel videos have become influencer-type of videos and do not speak to the matters that are important to the locals there. I was just in Nepal and opted to not do a transition travel video instead I visited Nepal's first company to ban elephant riding and promote ethical and eco tourism. I opted to shoot a short doc on this topic. It probably won't get the views online but I feel much more connected and passionate about telling a story that matters.

Aidin!! Thank you so much for making this video. You absolutely nailed it. And as travel creators ourselves (who are trying to address this in our own way ).... we completely agree. For the longest time we have been hunting for Travel creators who tell the story of a place but RU-vid is mostly filled with creators whose content is mostly focused on themselves. There are always a few exceptions. Our favourites have been the likes of Ronnie and Barty (India), Malini Angelica, YOU 🙂 and a few others. It feels great to see that someone finally addressed this. Love and Respect from INDIA ♥♥♥

I had the opportunity to visit Sicily as an artist-in-resident for a month in 2014. I was painting a wall mural so locals came to give me food and espresso, often inviting me for a home cooked meal. I had taken a few classes in Italian so it was such an experience to attempt to communicate in the language too. It was so much fun to visit the tourist spots with another artist who grew-up and lived in the town. She had not visited the guide-book locations since grade school! So we were both tourists, we laughed so much it was awesome! Most often the tourist spots are not where the locals go! So it was so much fun to be a tourist and have home cooked meals invited into various homes. Even stay up late at the bar playing cards. I went back again 3 years later with 12 artists in hopes to repeat the experience. But with 12 English speaking people, we didn't get to practice Italian as much and it is impossible to have the same one-on-one moments and invitations as a large group. Your video is reminding me now that I am an artist full time now I really, really have to look for these life changing opportunities more often. The barrier to get to know locals during an art residency was much lower than if I was a tourist wandering for a moment... how to create those opportunities to connect with people with short windows of time and when everyone is busy. 🤔

This was really good, covered so many points that really plague the whole space of travel videos. I think this is the reason I like many 'going-out' RU-vidrs (like Beau Miles). It's better to live the experience, rather then have that 'Instagram-worthy' worry. A video can show a lot about a location, but it's the extra-step of experiencing the whole picture that makes this content so thrilling to watch every time!

This video is incredible. It perfectly highlights the exact issues I’ve been having with travel content, issues I’ve never been able to put into words. I’m blown away

before I never saw your videos pop up on my yt feed, but seeing them the last couple of days makes sense to me. Your content is already at such a level you could be compared to ytb'ers with millions of subscribers. Honestly your videos have been such a fun/interesting and learning addition to my day, I hope you're here to stay for a long time!!!

The photography and quality of pretty much all of your videos is simply wonderfull and amazing. I trully see how passionate you are through your videos.

I am totally binging on your videos, and what I enjoy the most is that they are well-researched and professionally shot and made. I think there's a group of people who travel some, but also like to watch videos of places that are too expensive to travel to, or too difficult to get to for a milliard of reasons. Thank you for your videos!

Great video Aidin! You're a big inspiration for me to begin traveling and documenting this beautiful planet we live on. Keep it up! 👍

I am absolutely loving the way you make your videos!

Hit the nail on the head with this one, as a whole RU-vid is only as good as its creators/filmmakers! So while a Bali inspired travel video is great every once in awhile, this is the travel content we need in order to understand the perspective of the locals and how they percieve tourism in their country. Great Job Aidin

Absolutely love your videos and your approach to story telling. Much prefer this type than the hype montage travel videos, I actually learn something in this channel. As a bonus we get blessed with your amazing cinematics n color grading

watching your videos always gives me a new perspective on filmmaking! another great one, Aidin!

Got a point

I love your style of videos. It’s very cinematic, and touching. Although you mention tough topics, you highlight the beauty of every place. It’s beautiful. Yes theory does so well with their channel because they focus on natives and how they live but also they show how yes theory takes advantage of their trips. It’s very important. Keep it up!

These last several videos of yours, have left me wanting not just to travel more, but to also experience it in a way I otherwise would not. Experience it more like a steward. It’s there for me to enjoy and appreciate. It’s there for me to care for with thoughtful intent, as it cares for me by providing. It’s there for us all in that way. That last bit you mentioned with similar sentiments, is every bit of what I’ve gotten from these last several vids. Aidin, your take on travel vids is a worthy one, and, one I wish more people would emulate. Well done, my dude! 👏🏼⚡️🤙🏼

I love the pace of your videos . Thank you for creating this amazing content ! ❤

A lot of depth with pretty imagery as well, thats what makes me keep coming back for your content Aidin. You are absolutely right, its the interactions with people which make me feel good about my travel videos as well.

Great video Aidin! I love making videos about the people we meet and the friends we make while traveling. However, I personally find this style of filmmaking more like a documentary than a travel film. Or at the very least a blend of the two. I wish I had more time to do this and that someone would actually pay me to do it! I look forward to seeing how you incorporate your ideas in your future work!

Thank you for making this video Aiden. I do watch a lot of travel videos and they can certainly be inspirational and entertaining. But when it comes to making them myself, something doesn’t feel right- it just doesn’t feel like me and what I should be doing. But, watching this video made me realize that what I should be capturing, and that is authenticity. I’ve been capturing a lot more authentic moments recently and it’s been very fulfilling, but I haven’t consciously realized it until watching this video. Thank you making me realize that 🙏🏽

Just wanted to share, your color on this video looked amazing! Also, the tone of the video was even keeled, and not aggressive, but focusing on creating a discourse really came through! Thanks for sharing and begging the question through your dialogue with your viewers. As an ex-pat who lives in a tourist location, the locals here get dismissed and overlooked regularly, while they're some of the kindest and humble people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Thanks for motivating creators to give more of their perspective and find the stories that matter to motivate.

Thanks for making this. I'll def keep this perspective in mind when traveling. Great work all around!

Love your recent style of videos! Keep on killing it. I had one thought to add. I felt like your point on the two demographics was spot on but adding to that, creating effective and engaging stories is a skill. I feel like a travel film is (in my opinion) the easier route when filming in a new location. Lots of time, I see locations take the stage instead of people and I feel like it's because the place is new to them. I definitely loved this concept and as someone who has been trying to building a channel for myself I'll be mindful of this video when planning out my videos. People and stories are the driving force for strong filmmaking

This is great insight. I work shooting videos and photos for my local tourism board in Alberta, Canada, and they have also pivoted away from promoting the Rocky Mountains, waterfalls, lakes and hoodoos (those things sell themselves), and are putting a larger emphasis on the people that make up the province, their stories, and experiences. When I first heard this, I thought it was strange, but the more I think and hear about it, I think it's amazing. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this dude!

I think you nailed this one! My favourite is watching videos that portray a country/city for its unique differences about what make it special. However, the key misconception is those don’t have to be spectacular positive or negative characteristics rather they can be just normal things that share the experiences of it! Great stuff man

thanks for sharing this, it’s change my mind from making travel video to travel film ! gotta get more interviews of local people & how the daily life there 🙏🏼

I make travel videos, learned some editing tips from you and love your videos, thank you! 😃 I create a mix of vlog (minus the cliff jumping and edm hahaha), tourist information, and sometimes try to incorporate documentary style when I can. Documentary, especially nature/culture, would be my dream pursuit. Anyways, I think you maybe missed a group of people/perspective that seems to drive a lot of creators in the travel niche: locals who want to see people visit and *enjoy* their country/locale. Any issue or opinion we bring up as creators, no matter how minor or how good your intentions are, can be taken the wrong way by locals…. I think this is why so many travel videos seem so similar. I don’t necessarily think all these videos are made for tourism boards/travel companies, but instead made for the locals who want to see you exude positivity about their home. As a travel video maker, I’ve basically been pushed into a corner where I feel like I can’t say anything that could be considered even remotely negative or controversial. I feel like I can’t even say I don’t enjoy a particular food item without immense pushback… so I’m not surprised everything seems like it’s being pushed by a tourism board when we travel creators want so badly to present somewhere well and to make a good impression as guests, or are afraid of the consequences of bringing up even minor inconveniences of a place - let alone bigger issues. As far as sharing experiences of a local… I would absolutely love to be able to share stories and life from the eyes of a local, but doing so isn’t always easy as a visitor/tourist. There are often language barriers & visa limits that keep you from getting to intimately know a place and properly meet people. Not to mention the anxiety that comes with filming other people and being able to properly portray them/their story, and the fear of people on YT who would inevitably say you’re being exploitative of them… even if you go in with the best intentions. A lot of people who have the opportunity to do this have more resources than the average RU-vidr would (translators, connections, etc.). But that said, growing on RU-vid has made this much easier and we’ve begun to have some opportunities like this through the power of social media! If you’re interested in chatting more on this topic I’d be happy to. Otherwise, that’s my perspective on it. Keep up the great work!

Great points. My main goal with travel videos is to touch people in an emotional way, not only motivate them to go there. It's not easy when you travel with your family and need to create something this complex. I had a hard time creating my last travel film to Guadeloupe, it's not easy at all to find a balance between your different audiences and what you like to create.

Just found your chanel and I'm actually binge watching your content.... Love your way of telling those stories : )

What a video. You really hit the nail on the head with the problem of travel videos right now. We're gonna be implementing this a lot more going forward

We’re starting an attempt at a travel series this year and you nail on the head exactly what I want to capture. It’s not just about us or taking a cool photo for IG. It’s about the stories and the people of these incredible places. I’m a little biased and I don’t think backflips cut it but I feel that as filmmakers it’s our job to be the bridge to connect the viewer to the places, the people, and the history.

I love, love, love the way you are adept at storytelling, audio, cinematography, and making a point. Your points about tourism and how it relates to locals, tourists (customers), and interested viewers (non-customers), has been something that has bothered me about the way most travel videos are created. It reminds me of how many travel vloggers discuss the activities, restaurants, and wildlife, which are all valid for potential customers, but they RARELY talk about the customers and people who live there. What is the local life like for them? How is tourism positively and negatively impacting their lives and way of living?I just hadn't heard it explain in such a concise and intentional manner. Thanks for this well created video.

always delivering great videos man !

Fantastic video, Aidin! As travel vloggers, we always are trying to tell a better story. Seeing things from a local perspective is a great idea, something that we will work towards incorporating into our videos. Love your content, and as a fellow Washingtonian from Bellingham, get out and travel!! Cheers!!

What an amazing inspirational video! I really can connect with your idea. Being a major in nature conservation with focusing on community based nature-conservation, this video motivated me to change my filming style as well. To make it more integrated with the local/indigenous people. Thanks for making and sharing this video. It really does open my eyes and doors for creative video content!

One of the best youtubers out there. Amazing work! 😊

What an incredible video. I've been thinking about this topic myself, and you put it all into words so effectively. Massive fan of your channel!

Great writing , editing and photography.....love your color/contrast aesthetics.

I agree totally, I definitely think it depends on the audience. I love documentaries, books, movies with a narrative that I can learn something from and be intrigued by. I do think a lot of people really just enjoy a quick feel good and inspirational tourist video which is perfectly fine, but works of art that give a different informative perspective can help us to grow as individuals. Great film perspective Aidin!

Great video. Hopefully, more travel videos/influencers will adopt this sensitive approach to the locals of the land. Ben Fogle is a master at this. Thanks for the part you are playing with your excellent content! 👍

Thank you for this video, I’ve been experimenting with making videos for a few months now and this has really helped and inspired me. I think I finally know what I want to try do with my vlogs, keep it up!

I love your storytelling style and content. Well done videos and great stories. I discovered your channel because of some youtube algorithm related to gear but stuck because of your content. I would love to see something about your BTS work flow and how you develop your ideas (but don't stop the main content)

Wow, can honestly say this video moved me and I couldn’t agree more. You Sir, have opened a new perspective for me to consider. Thank You!

I always loved watching travel videos that portrayed the place better. Most travel videos on RU-vid show the experience of visiting a site rather than the actual feel or facts of that place. I have recently started making videos myself, and just 3 days back, I uploaded my first video. I am so glad you made THIS video at THIS time. After watching this, I am motivated to do better! Thank you for the content!

Dude wow you nailed this so hard. Incredible insight and so beautifully pieced together.

damn, i love your story telling, background music, and cinematography. such a vibes man. keep inspiring!

this is a great video. Thank you for your ideas man!

So glad I found your channel. Your content is awesome 🔥

This is the cure to the influencer travel video stagnation, and reality avoidance, that has plagued social media for at least 6 years. Albiet with over used, but still cool transitions. This is literally the missing piece of it all, for years. You're one of the most unique voices in storytelling, as well as creative eyes in cinematography, on RU-vid. Thanks. Keep it up!

Watching you from a long time and always gets inspired and learn from your videox looking forward for your next breakdown or tutorial video in editing or color grading.

It's been a while I last time watched your video. Interesting and original video with stunning visuals and immersive storytelling. Felt you have again developed your content in every aspect. Also the subject is really close what I do and provokes thinking. Thanks for the video Aidin!

so sick dude! storytelling on point.

Incredibly interesting video. I personally struggle a lot with filming "strangers" and locals. One thing is to experience the destination and another one is asking if you can film locals. I would love to know more about your opinion on if there's even another subject that gets even less talked about. The actual "destination" which is very in line of what your INCREDIBLE videos have been highlighting lately. They tell the story of these incredibly unique destinations that no one else talks about.

You are a creative smart man, stand out from others.

Thank you sooooo much for making this video.

Very thought-provoking. Thank you.

Ok u are now my favorite RU-vidr, love what you do bro, keep it up! - ThatOneGuyLiam:)

Completely agree that there is potential for cooler content based around people from various places. The issue comes from language barriers and making those connections. It’s time consuming to make any kind of video to begin with and I think those are dramatic hurdles that are hard to overcome. I would personally love to make content about creative people and street photographers in the places I visit, but I don’t know where I would even begin when it comes to setting up everything else required to make them prior to those travels.

Great advice Aidin, as a new travel youtuber are we are all just trying get views and subscribers! It's important to remember the true passion and purpose. It's equally important to stay true to your own unique voice and style and remember that telling stories and showing the reality of your travels is what sets you apart and makes your content authentic and compelling.

Such an eye opening video man, really nice work. I watch tourism videos because I may never get to places, I’m fearful of heights so may never get on a plane, so getting to places like the states or Australia may be out of the question, but I hope to someday. But I get really interested in different places and seeing peoples experiences there, whether they live there or not. Great work buddy.

You are a great storyteller and a very thoughtful person Aidin. I love your thoughts on the subject. I was planning to do a similar video on that subject since I'm creating travel content as well. And while doing it, I'm always thinking about the other side of the coin. Many points you were talking about in this video are in my mind, too. Excellent video, it inspires me and gives me some ideas. Thank you! Hope you are doing well

never thought of this, but spot on!

I agree with you! Keep telling those stories.

I been working on a travel video I shot last summer for ages on and off because I been trying to figure out how to share my thoughts on the fact that the point of travel shouldn’t be to see places and things but to have experiences with culture and people (places and things are cool too). I was thinking of going back to working on the edit for this video and then you posted this and your first point was exactly what the point of my video is 🙏

Just wanted to say, you make beautiful videos, from the story, to the shots, to the editing... keep them up! would love to see more on van island, i can give you some beautiful spots to visit.

This is one of the reasons I stay in hostels :). Meeting others from different countries and hearing their stories. It makes my travel videos feel more natural and different.

since im early i wanted to say that i love your vids keep it up ;)

Interesting point. There’s always different styles of stories telling. You can always combine both of them in one. It’s all up to individual preferences in the end. Thanks for sharing it. Nice work. ✌️

Thanks for that different perspective. Certainly food for thought.

I really liked the message in this video. To be honest, I was recently in Bali and I'm editing a video only about the locals and what they do everyday, rather than showing backflips, waterfalls and cool drone shots of motorbikes riding in the beach

I just subscribed man, you are going to be a big hit in the future, God Bless Brother 🍀.

Just found out about this AMAZING channel. Absolutely amazing!!!! Would like to see more of your videos. 😄

Yes, that definitely changes the perspective of a travel view. Great point

This is so true. I completely agree.

Great stuff, totally agree

What a great video once again ❤️‍🔥

great video man. simple and honest:)

Amazing content, Bro!

Thank you for sharing what contents matters in any travel videos! Which I usually forgets😂😂

Good points Aidin. Luke Korns may be cheating a bit on travel costs by staying with locals but he's really good at representing the local culture thru the eyes of his hosts. If you all haven't checked out his work lately now's a good time to support his channel.

Yup. You nailed it. It's a very "me me me" niche - oversaturated and tiresome. I think you're spot on when you talk about these destinations being turned into products...somewhere like Bali springs to mind. I cottoned on to this a few years ago and have always worked hard to try switch the focus a bit - to make it more documentary-style and focused on the people who live there. A series I take huge inspiration from is Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown". Every episode is an absolute masterpiece. It was never about him, always about the people he met. They are the place.

Learning a great deal from you ❤

You hit the nail on the head!

Thank you for sharing this. I have been grappling with this issue in my own content. I want to make deep dive interviews with the locals, but worry constantly it will not be as click-worthy as „Top 10 places to see in…” and that it will be hard to attract sponsors for these types of videos. Your example gives me motivation to keep going.

Aidin's editing insane!

This is why I love Aidin's channel.

This is one of the reasons I just enrolled in a cultural anthropology master's, although I am in my mid 30s and I am working a full time job 😅. I'm doing this because I think video can still have a huge impact on humanity on many topics, but as you're saying "the system" just makes it easier to do it in a different way. Anyways, I suggest the reading of "Culture on Tour" by Edward Bruner just for start on the subject. I'm really interested in the topic and it would be nice to discuss about this! 😊 P.S.: very nice work as always!🎉

GOOD POINT! NICE VIDEO AIDIN! AS ALWAYS

agree with you! have always same feeling about it.

Thanks for this video really love it and as maybe lot of people confirm that overcrowded location as so stress full and not peaceful how the nature at the location is or the locals how happy there are and the stories there can tell to us living there for years. I am travelling since 7 years to explore the world and live a while in the places to discover the culture. For me it a blog to do this travel videos more often because more people would go and not respect rules or leaving trash but on the other side love showing the beauty of our world. Thanks again for the video and the story. I totally agree with you 👌

Yep, the background of these locations is important for sure! Unfortunately most people travel but without the goal of discovering the culture and understanding the people. Like fast fashion, they are only looking for the popular spots and food to eat

Love this video man! I think theres a healthy relationship where both types of videos exist. Tourist, influencer videos for people looking for places to go and more in depth, story driven videos for people who appreciate a good story. Would love to start telling stories about people and the places myself!

Dude, you’re killing it. Come to Colorado. I’ll give you a local tour.

Aidin still keeping it real with Adobe Premiere 🔥 awesome video dude!

THANK YOU . I live on the island of Reunion and I share the same opinion, I was employed in a tourist office and I was also faced with this problem.

We live in a shallow and perverted world where everything is upside down, that's why they bombard us with such content. There are few people like you who see the world through different eyes. Thanks for sharing.