Mar 29, 2011

Should Souvenirs Be Authentic And Locally Sourced?By Sean O'NeillCurrent.Newsweek.com

Many travelers prize an authentic, locally sourced souvenir.

I define “souvenir” as something you buy during a trip as a memento. It doesn’t have to be sold at a tourist gift shop.

Is it important to you that your souvenir be made locally? If so, why? Is it because you want to support local businesses? Or to accurately capture what the local vibe is like?

Souvenirs have become political in our nation’s capital—surprise, surprise. Congressmen have pressured the National Museum of American History to stock only “made in the U.S.A.” products. Soon, the shelves of one of the museum’s gift shops will only sell American goods, reports the Washington Post.

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