Not all of us are lucky enough to be Chris Noth. You might know him as the actor who portrayed “Mr. Big,” Sarah Jessica Parker’s love interest in the HBO television series “Sex and the City.”
But what you may not know about him is that his mother was a reporter who traveled all over the world. As a result, Noth did, too. In a recent article for Forbes.com, Noth recounts how being exposed to travel at an early age made seeing the world a lifelong interest of his.
“I think it’s essential for all kids, because we’re living in a world of paranoia about different cultures,” he said. “When you travel, and you get to know people, you realize we are living in a global society, that we’re all together in this, and that we’re all facing some of the same problems. Travel knocks down these barriers of fear and prejudice.”
Travel does bring people together and, very often, a travel advisor is the driving force who helps families expand their vacation possibilities.
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According to the Family Travel Association’s 2018 Family Travel Survey, parents acknowledge that travel benefits their children. Nearly 69 percent of respondents strongly agree or agree with the statement that travel has helped their kids become more interested in other cultures.
Eighty percent of parents answering the survey told us they agree that travel helps their children see the world from a broader perspective, and 43 percent strongly view travel as an important part of their kids’ education.
The dilemma is that parents aren’t taking enough time to help their children discover new places, new people and different cultures.
Our research, and data from other organizations such as Project: Time Off, demonstrates that parents struggle to use all their vacation time and prioritize travel.
That’s where great travel advisors come in.
Professional advisors are the ones who not only understand what parents want, but also know the ages of their clients’ children, what these children are learning in school and what their hobbies and interests are.
They also understand that not everyone is ready to take the leap from Disney World to Djibouti. Incredible advisors are the ones who nurture families along the path, from a visit to the state next door, to a flight to a different part of the U.S., then to Canada or Mexico, and then farther overseas.
Sometimes all parents need is a knowledgeable advisor who is skilled at helping families see beyond their previous limits. A good agent can break down a client’s trepidation with facts — which, as a result, also helps counter some of the fear and prejudice that seem to be weighing down our world.
The Details
Family Travel Association
www.familytravel.org