PETERS: The world is telling you not to travel. Don’t listen.

Taking our tourism money to support a country whose president daydreams out loud about annexing Canada doesn’t seem right.

Not only that, the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents don’t exactly make our southern neighbours seem too hospitable to outsiders.

The threat of violence overseas is another factor to consider when making travel plans.

The part of the Middle East currently embroiled in conflict isn’t typically a tourism hotbed, but the nature of that conflict means it definitely has the potential to spread elsewhere in the world.

This week, hantavirus raised its ugly head as another reason one might not want to come in contact with people we don’t know.

The most prevalent factor, though, is what that Middle East conflict has done to the price of fuel – a necessity for almost every kind of travel.

This week, the price of gasoline in Kamloops quietly surpassed $2.00 per litre at most stations.

For those who have RVs, prices like that make a simple trip down the Coquihalla Highway to the Lower Mainland a major expenditure.

If you want to drag that RV onto a ferry, those use fuel, too, so your ticket price is going to be exorbitant.

Say you don’t want to hit the road but would rather fly off to somewhere exotic.

Have you seen the price of an airline ticket?

All this might be enough to make anyone reluctant to leave home this summer.

If you can at all swing it, though, don’t neglect a little travel – even for a short time or a short distance.

The positives gained from a good travel experience are worth the expense.

In fact, I’d argue, they’re an investment that pays off in memories for the rest of your life.

Get out there and experience all the wonder and beauty this world still has to offer.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by James Peters

PETERS: The world is telling you not to travel. Don’t listen.

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