The Travel Industry
Name:
Occupation: Tour Operator
Company: Friendly Planet Travel, Inc.
How long have you worked in the travel industry?
30 years.
What is your favorite destination? Why?
I have several “favorites”. I love Argentina and the area of Patagonia that spans both Argentina and Chile. I love the amazing contrasts between Iguazu Falls and the frozen glaciers of the south, like the Perito Moreno. This contrast frames the country for me, making Argentina a land where water as art can be appreciated. I love the friendly, carefree atmosphere of Buenos Aires and the amazing array of landscapes, flora and fauna.
What does your job entail?
I am partner and President of Friendly Planet Travel. I handle the sales and marketing for the company, and I contribute to product development as well as handling some of the administrative functions of running a company.
Do you prefer travelling by foot, car, bus, plane or train? Why?
I love to travel by train whenever it’s possible. It gives me a chance to get to know new people, enjoy a sense of how the locals travel in their own country, maybe meet locals and interact. Train travel somehow seems the most leisurely way to go long distances, where it’s possible to enjoy the countryside as it rolls by or read a book or doze, whatever suits my fancy. If I can’t travel by train, next best is comfortable car or motor coach.
The next ‘hot’ destination is…
Cuba which will probably be open for travel from the USA sometime in the next year probably less. A bill now in committee is due to pass the Congress soon, and President Obama has pledged to sign it if it passes. The pent up desire of Americans to visit Cuba is evident to us from a survey we have just conducted of our travelers. 5,000 people replied to our survey about travel to Cuba, and an overwhelming 90% said they would go there the moment it’s possible to visit.
What do you never travel without?
My camera, my iphone and a notebook to record thoughts.
Do you think the invention of GPS, international roaming and the internet has improved the travelling experience or spoilt it?
Absolutely, these items have improved everything about international travel. We have never had so abundant an array of information sources making even the most remote places accessible.
With the above technologies, what do you think the future of guidebooks and independent travel is? I personally love to ‘hold’ a guidebook in my hands, so for me, guidebooks will never become obsolete. Even if I’ve done plenty of research and I’m sure about where I’m going, I still love to have the guidebook to refer to as I tour. Who can remember everything noteworthy about a place, so referring to the handy little book from time to time is essential. I have a collection of guidebooks for a good part of the world, and I’m a tour operator with many, many sources of information at my disposal.
Why do you travel?
It is amazing to roam the world, meet people who look different from me, speak a different language, eat different foods, and yet, are basically the same as I am. I encounter this in every single destination I’ve explored.
People are essentially the same everywhere. If people could only be exposed more and more to different people, I believe the things that separate us and cause friction between people would cease to exist. Getting to know other cultures demystifies them, making it easier to refrain from fearing them.
On a simpler note, I love to experience new places, discover new foods and meet new friends. I love to travel, because it makes me a happier person to do so.
Category: Behind the Scenes
