PRESS RELEASE: Border woes force tour operators to join forces!
Continual border constraints have dented confidence in travel. However, two tour operators on each side of the New South Wales and Victorian borders, are working together to keep travellers moving within state borders.
Sydney based Cocky Guides, Australia’s leader in small group tours for blind and low vision travellers, is working with Melbourne based international tour operator Wandering the World, to continue to deliver accessible day trips for Melbourne’s blind and low vision community.
“Even with all the planning since the start of COVID, we could not anticipate the impact of Melbourne’s second wave lockdown, cancelled tours and the associated social isolation our Victorian travellers experienced. It was important to assist our travellers with opportunities to travel as soon as lockdown restrictions eased. The second border closure between Greater Sydney and Victoria almost devastated our plans. I was fortunate to have previously met Glenyce Johnson, the owner of Wandering the World, at an industry function, who was more than happy to step in and say we’d love to help your travellers” said the founder of Cocky Guides, James McFarlane.
Wandering the World is leading a day trip from Melbourne to the Bellarine Peninsula this weekend, allowing a group of Cocky Guides blind and low vision travellers to be supported on an adventure that builds confidence and creates social and community participation for Australians that are typically underserved by the tourism industry.
“Pre COVID my team and I led walking tours in Europe, so I am always spruiking the many benefits of a walking holiday. The most rewarding of those is getting up close and personal with the region you walk in. COVID has restricted our movement temporarily. However, this has enabled me to take the time to explore my own neighbourhood and appreciate the little things I had not noticed before. I am excited to share a taste of our Spain and Italy adventures, in the heart of the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula for Cocky Guides and our previous travellers.” said Glenyce
Accessible group adventures for blind and low vision travellers can be found online at www.cockyguides.com.au/tours. Would you prefer to discover fantastic walks around Australia? Visit www.wanderingtheworld.com.au
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CONTACT
For further information: please contact James (Buck) McFarlane at [email protected] or call 0403 827 666
ABOUT COCKY GUIDES
Since launching in August 2018, Cocky Guides have specialised in providing unique, multi-sensory adventures for the blind and low-vision community. Cocky Guides has been recognised as an outstanding new tourism business, nominated as finalists in the prestigious 2019 NSW Tourism Awards.
Guide Dogs Australia estimate there are over 450,000 Australians who are blind or have low vision. Cocky Guides aim to be the leading support provider for adventure and travel, designed to increase independence, social and community participation for blind and low vision Australians.
For more information visit www.cockyguides.com.au
ABOUT WANDERING THE WORLD
Wandering the World’s founder, Glenyce Johnson, walked the Camino de Santiago in 2013. After completing her 800-kilometre journey to Santiago de Compostela, Glenyce realised that the simplicity of walking and meeting people from all walks of life – pardon the pun – is addictive, rewarding and, for many people, life-changing.
From our very first Camino in Spain, we’ve expanded our knowledge and expertise to offer itineraries for all the Camino de Santiago routes in Spain, France and Portugal, Caminos across Japan and Italy and long-distance trails in the UK, Europe and Asia. The quality of our itineraries has seen us recognised as a finalist at both the 2018 and 2019 National Travel Industry Awards.
For more information visit www.wanderingtheworld.com.au
