“I could probably think of a thousand different ways to see Asia, but in my book there’s only one way to travel, and that’s with respect for the people and places I visit. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do tourism. I’m determined to get it right, because I know that if we don’t approach travel in a thoughtful way, it loses the magic that we’re seeking, and that begs tough questions like whether one should even travel at all.”
In his words
The drive to travel further has been with me for as long as I can remember – it’s in my nature to look deeper, make each journey count, and reach places via a different path. I’ve been on some extraordinary trips in the 30-ish years since my early backpacking days, from building a medical centre in post-civil war El Salvador, to navigating the Northwest Passage, to standing in the shadow of Everest. As you can tell from this latest venture to India by train, the urge to ask “Where next?” doesn’t look like letting up any time soon!
After a promising rugby career was cut short by injury in my early 20s, I turned my passion for finding far-flung corners into a career, working in a variety of roles across the travel industry before founding Selective Asia in 2005. I’ve been engaging with all aspects of the business ever since, always looking to fine-tune the way we work to optimise the positive impact of our journeys for everyone involved.
I’ve loved Asia since the first time I set foot in Thailand in 1992, and have watched the region’s ever-changing social and economical landscapes closely over the decades. Although I initially missed some of the old tranquillity and simplicity, it’s been a joy to see the region grow and become ever-more dynamic. There’s still plenty of tranquillity to be found, even in the busiest places, if you know where to look.
Travelling responsibly and sustainably has come into sharper focus in recent years and, as a business, we innovate and collaborate to help improve the industry. Constantly re-imagining and re-evaluating how things can be done led to me being elected onto the Executive board of Travel by BCorp in 2022. This collective of like-minded, B Corp-certified travel businesses, with a shared commitment to making travel a force for good, collaborates to create meaningful change. Finding better ways to travel is hard-wired into Selective Asia’s foundations (and founder!), and I’m eager to see where this momentum takes us next.