Interview

of Yannis Samsonidis, the founder of Travel and Do Network, 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. Which is exactly what intrigued me to start this network in the first place.

And exactly this networking is the only "new" element in what we offer. You see under the guidelines of the Travel and Do network -formed out of my vision for a slower, more conscious and thus more passionate and “green” tourism (please, do not forget I am a tai chi teacher, moving slowly and consciously half of the day…)- all of our current members provide only environmental friendly, high standard quality, meaningful activity vacation programs, that really make a difference.

Travel and Do is committed to a sustainable, non-destructive form of tourism, which respects and promotes the environmental wealth and the cultural heritage of any visited country. Offered travel packages are planned with this commitment in mind.

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!

 

-Network you said? I thought you were the only one providing these kind of vacation plans..

 

No, I may have founded the network myself, but as a Qi Gong instructor and as a Thai Massage teacher I am offering alternative vacation plans only on Naxos island, whereas Travel and Do is a much wider network of recreational vacation providers all around Greece.

At this moment we offer alternative holiday programs not only on Naxos, but also on Paros, Leros, Astypalea, Amorgos and soon on Crete (all these are islands), on Pelion Peninsula in central Greece, as well as in Peloponnesus during winter time!

Not to mention that we have plans to open our network towards Egypt, Thailand and Mexico by 2.011!

 

- Thailand ? Mexico ? Very interesting! So how come you have started offering your holiday programs in Greece ? 

 

On one hand I am Greek and I love my country, therefore I wanted to create the center of the Travel and Do network circle here in Greece .

On the other hand Greece is among the most favorite summer travel destinations of the Europeans. This has to do with the European’s appreciation and understanding of Greece ’s ancient culture, it has to do with Greece ’s mild climate, its unspoiled nature and especially its deep blue sea, but I believe it also has to do with the Greek people.

You see, Greek mentality is the Alter Ego of perhaps most central and northern European people. They would very much wish they could at some point shout and let go like the Greeks do, dance as crazy and as free as the Greeks do, enjoy their favorite sport -like mountain walking and cycling- under the Greek sun and of course eat all those delicious seafood and drink ouzo at taverns right next to the sea waves.

Of course the modern reality of the Greeks is way far from all those assumptions of an idyllic and free lifestyle, but nevertheless the travel industry has achieved to sustain that picture, which luckily can even today be partially true, mostly during low season summertime and in those travel destinations, where mass tourism has not yet arrived.

Exactly on such destinations we offer our vacation activity programs.

 

-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 Network’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.