Wim Kok
Wim is our expert on two of our break-even travel principles: an even distribution of people and an even distribution of knowledge.
Wim Kok – Expert on African travel experiences
Between 2003 and 2006 Wim worked all over Africa, Asia and the Middle East as a tour guide, and in Uganda as a teacher. His love for Uganda inspired him to co-found a local branch of Matoke Tours in 2008 and to become partner in the Matoke Tours holding in 2013. The Dutch travel organization specializes in tailor-made African travel itineraries and has received top ranking by Safaribookings.com, the world’s leading safari review website. Matoke Tours, in the meantime, opened Mutanda Lake Resort in Uganda and Betsileo Country Lodge in Madagascar. Together with other business partners Wim opened the Turaco Treetops lodge in Uganda and is investing in a big-scale reforestation campaign. In 2019 Wim co-founded the Rwenzori Tourism Academy in Uganda.
As a full time single father Wim considers travel experiences to be vital life lessons, both for him and his 10-year-old son, with whom he has traveled extensively. ‘The travel virus seems more contagious than COVID-19, as my son loves traveling more than anything else. He constantly makes new travel plans and he dreams about becoming a biologist and a safari pilot on an electrical plane. I owe it to him – and all the other children – to do whatever I can to preserve our stunning planet.’
Wim’s thoughts on the future of travel
Sustainable travel doesn’t necessarily mean flying less. Leaving a positive impact on local nature and the local economy is just as important – especially in developing countries. If we all start flying less to developing countries, tourism will decrease in areas that rely on it, and this will ultimately be at the expense of nature and wildlife. This has become painfully clear during the COVID-19 crisis. People who used to work in tourism don’t have any income anymore and are forced to fall back on what nature provides: wood and bush meat. In a relatively short time, many trees and animals have been killed as a result of illegal logging and poaching. Travel organizations can and should lead the change.
I strongly believe that travel organizations should start offering longer itineraries. A longer journey equals more time to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations and a more even distribution of tourism money. It also creates employment in areas that have lacked work opportunities. Tourism, however, can only be realized if plenty of trained staff members are available to clean, cook, waitress and guide. That’s why it is essential to invest in the training of local people. Lastly, I think it is important for travel organizations to share their knowledge with their clients, so that they, too, can better understand the importance of the actions. There’s also the added bonus of traveling off the beaten track – it is much more rewarding.
