Ask any Greek and we’ll tell you philosophy started with Thales in 624BCE (just about predating Confucius and Buddha). It’s important to have a philosophy on life, especially when trying to get a perspective on life’s big questions like ‘why are we here?’ So, with World Travel Market just around the corner, we thought it was time to deeply consider how various philosophies might be applied to the biggest travel event on the planet.
WTM AND HEDONISM
Many would argue that travel and holidays are all about hedonism and that is the true purpose and outcome of WTM. In which case approach the three days in total party mode, eating, drinking and being merry. Caution though, following this path has been known to lead to a hangover.
WTM AND TAOISM
More passive than active Tao simply means ‘the way’. It requires minimal effort – Toaists at WTM will simply be there because ‘that is what we do’. You’ll find them drinking green tea in a corner of the Asian Pavilion.
WTM AND CONFUCIANISM
Those who walk in the footsteps of Confucius to ExCel will be there because it is their duty to be there, as told to them by their mother and father, who almost certainly owned a travel agency back in the days when airlines paid commission.
WTM AND BUDDHISM
Of all philosophies, few align with travel so much as Buddhism – after all the journey of continual birth and rebirth very much informs the transmogrification from a short haul coach trip to Benidorm in the 1970s to an examination of the temples of Angkor Wat last summer. Eventually, given time, what goes around will come around (hopefully on an open-jaw ticket).
WTM AND STOICISM
Stoics hardly ever put in an appearance at WTM – with the belief that they have no control over anything they spend their time patiently waiting with fortitude to receive the new biometric passport that is forever ‘in the post’.
WTM AND SCEPTICISM
Yeah, yeah, yeah Socrates – nothing is for certain. Does Bali High really exist? Is the earth round? Does Bernoulli’s theorem really show that aircraft can fly? Isn’t travel really just a figment of somebody’s website? (That’s enough scepticism for now!).
WHAT’S OUR PHILOSOPHY FOR BEING AT WTM?
WE HAVE A BLENDED PRAGMATIST, FREUDIAN AND EXISTENTIALIST APPROACH!
On the one hand we’re pragmatists – we are enablers, doing what we can do to make travel and exploration happen in Greece and elsewhere in the world. The experience is everything and for us at WTM our approach is Freudian – let’s talk about it until we get things resolved and remove all the angst.
But most of all we’re existentialists. If we had one mantra it would be:
I TRAVEL, THEREFORE I AM
Whatever your philosophy at WTM if you would like to discuss exploring Greece by land or sea, or about exploring French Polynesia, or chartering a yacht, we’d love to spend some time with you on stand S12-430 and talk travel.
WHENEVER YOU WANT TO EXPLORE GREECE, WE’RE HERE TO HELP
We are your local expert in Greece. If ypou want to set up a meeting at WTM to discuss how we can help simply email:
diogenis@egh.travel
NB: there was a famous Diogenis, at the time of Alexander the Great, who was a cynic. Just on a small point of philosophical clarification, our man Diogenis has a much more ‘I travel therefore I am’ approach to life.
Or call us on +(30) 21620 20021.
