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SALT LAKE CITY — Before embarking on your summer travels, consider the clothes you’re planning to jam into your suitcase.
A new "Reflect Your Respect" campaign in Qatar encourages visitors to respect the cultural expectations surrounding attire in their country. The campaign discourages tank tops, see-through clothing and swimsuits being worn away from pools.
According to Mashable, posters remind visitors that leggings are not pants and should not be substituted for them.
“The amount of immodest clothing is growing in public places, especially shopping malls. Such foreigner behavior conflicts with our traditions,” Nassar Al Maliki, the public relations chief for Qatar’s Islamic Culture Center, told Gulf News.
If you are prone to visiting places that have a different cultural landscape from the one you are familiar with, it is wise to check in with travel agencies and do a quick online search to determine the expectations of your destination.
Nikki Pitts, of International Travel Chick, has an extensive list of tips for dressing to impress and blend in for many countries. She recommends lightweight fabrics that cover arms and legs for conservative Muslim countries, and she suggests to avoid looking too much like a tourist everywhere.
Even in places that seem similar to America may have special rules for visiting specific, important sites. Cathedrals, temples, shrines and the like may expect visitors to keep covered. Some also require head coverings and removal of footwear. Be prepared to adhere to these standards.
