The importance of research, seeing others like you

• Whether it’s a sense of security or a feeling of belonging, travelers who are part of underrepresented groups may look for familiarity in foreign places.​​​​​​​
• “People are just really curious,” said Sally Elbassir, who has visited over 40 countries and is Muslim.
• For Vanessa Fondeur-Adams, it’s important for Latino travelers to see themselves across the world.

Vanessa Fondeur-Adams is always on the lookout when she travels.

“I always try to have my ears wide open to see if I hear Spanish or if I hear an accent,” said the Dominican American founder of Latino World Travelers, an online community with more than 5,000 members. “Most of the time, I don’t find anyone … nobody Latino at all.”