Interview

of Yannis Sampsonidis, the founder of Travel and Do, by Chris Kokkonis, director of the tourist office of Leros Island

 

-Travel and Do? “Travel” I understand easily, but “Do”? Do what exactly?

 

Do any recreational and environmental friendly activity that would lead you to find and connect to the harmony in nature within and around you.

According to Travel and Do’s concept, the connection with the laws of nature is the only way that can lead us to true joy and meaningful transformation.

 

-Could you please be a bit more specific?

 

Well, we focus our vacation seminars on Yoga, Thai massage, Qi Gong, Tai Chi Chuan, Belly Dancing, Tango Argentino, Greek Circular Dances, Mountain Walking, Horse Riding, Sailing, Greek Cuisine, Greek Mythology, Star Watching …should I continue??

 

-I am still trying to understand what the new element in your concept is, if any. You seem to emphasize the “green” aspect of your vacation plans a lot. What is this all about?

 

You are right of course, we have not invented the wheel! Other vacation providers offer similar activities as well. But as a former customer of such vacation plans myself, I always felt there was something missing. Which is exactly what intrigued me to start my own holistic offers in the first place.

The effort to be "green" is not the only, but is indeed the most standing out "new" element in what we offer. Travel and Do tries to provide only environmental friendly, high quality, meaningful activity vacation programs, that really make a difference.

Thus we are committed to a sustainable, non-destructive form of tourism, which respects and promotes the environmental wealth and the cultural heritage of Greece.

 

Our aim is to ensure that our holiday packages will benefit the local communities and people, as we fully appreciate the economic, social and environmental impact of tourist visits on local areas.

 

Travel and Do also supports actively the preservation of the environment of the Mediterranean Sea by offering a percentage of its annual profit to Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece. I believe it is not accidental the fact, that all of our independent sale agents in Europe, are former customers who tried out and liked our vacation concept so much, that decided to get professionally involved and start promoting it!

   

-So, what type of people are the Travel and Do customers? I am trying to figure out who would combine Horse riding, Thai massage, Greek Mythology and Sailing in one vacation package!

 

No specific type! We offer such a variety of activities that we attract every possible type and age of people. We have noticed that we have many single women though, so we are trying to build programs that would attract more men, so to bring more balance.

You would be surprised to find out how many people look forward to try out so many and totally different activities in one vacation plan.

I guess the era of “I lay under the Greek sun and burn” style of vacation is slowly dying.

Nowadays people need variety, as long as they can have a choice to follow or not, according to their needs.

Therefore we have planned our programs very carefully, providing much “free of activities” time during the day for rest and swimming.

All of our outdoor activities are booked by our customers on site anyway, according to their mood of the day.

 

-Would you like to give us an insight of your future plans or send a message to our readers?

 

Travel and Do’s potential seems unlimited and the formation of the future is so dynamic and fast, that I think no future plans could really be predicted.

 

So, I will simply say this, as a message for your readers to think about:

 

Tourism is a force, which if taken responsibly and ethically, could not only change one’s self, but also provide the elements for a meaningful interaction between cultures.

That would lead to the appreciation of each country’s resources and uniqueness and would form a consciousness of sustainable progress all over the planet.

So, let us all use traveling to find the missing will and wisdom to respect and preserve our planet for the future generations.