We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erin Hynes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erin below.
Erin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started my blog and my podcast, Pina Travels, because I wanted to dig into issues I was noticing in the travel industry. I had a lot of questions about whether tourism was responsible, and the impact is has on our planet. And I wanted to learn about ways to travel that are more ethical. Back in 2019, when I started out, responsible tourism wasn’t widely discussed. I felt that there was a space for conversations about how to travel in a way that is better for people and the planet, and that I could help build that space online.
I decided to do a podcast because I knew it was the perfect format for me to connect with experts and thought leaders who could help answer the questions I had about tourism. I wanted to learn, and I figured that by sharing the podcast, I could help other people learn, too! On the blog, I write more traditional travel blogs covering tips and itineraries. But, I weave into every blog things that I’ve learned in making the podcast. I also write blog articles based on podcast episodes to help educate others about important travel issues, like overtourism and sustainability.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Erin! I’m a travel blogger, podcaster, and influencer. I create content across all these platforms that covers responsible travel, and practical travel advice, guides, and itineraries.
I think what sets my work apart from other influencers is my focus on responsible tourism. Responsible tourism is all about addressing the pitfalls of tourism, like overtourism, carbon emissions, and the negative impacts that tourism has on local communities, heritage, and wildlife. The goal of my content in general is to share my own journey into responsible tourism. By sharing what I’m learning as I travel, I hope to encourage casual travelers to consider the impact of their travels on the planet and people.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I launched Pina Travels, my podcast, and my social presence in 2019 – one year before the global pandemic started. When the pandemic began, as we all know, many travel restrictions were put into effect around the world. Because of restrictions where I lived, travel wasn’t possible for me from March 2020 to late 2022. This was the case for many other people too. There was a historic drop in international tourism, and the industry was suffering.
As you can imagine, this was a huge challenge for travel bloggers and influencers. There wasn’t as much interest in travel blogs and travel content, and so I saw a drop in engagement across all of my platforms. It was extremely hard to stay motivated during this time, especially because there was so much uncertainty. I wasn’t sure if even I would ever travel again, and so I wondered what the point of working on Pina Travels even was. Despite all the uncertainty (and the drop in engagement), I kept creating content. I focused on the audience I already had, who were still interested in my content, and I didn’t give up.
When pandemic restrictions started loosening and the travel industry started to bounce back, so did my channels. Today, my blog and podcast (and social channels) are doing better than ever before.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn imposter syndrome. It was extremely overwhelming when I started out blogging and podcasting, because I was reading everywhere that the internet was already oversaturated with travel blogs and travel podcasts. I was worried my content wouldn’t be good enough to stand out. I had to unlearn my fears, and make myself put the content out anyways. And doing so paid off! It was a long, slow journey at the start, but now, I’m glad I took the risk. It’s definitely tough these days to carve out your own space as a travel content creator, but it’s worth the effort. I’m so grateful for the community I’ve built.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pinatravels.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinatravels/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/alpacamybagspod
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pinatravels https://pinatravels.org/responsibletravelpod/
Image Credits
Erin Hynes Gabby Frank