Depression is a mental health condition that has a negative impact on the physical and mental state of a person.

A report released by the World Health Organisation revealed that over 300 million people worldwide are affected by depression. The report ranked Kenya as the sixth country in Africa with the highest number of depression cases. A total of 1.9 million depression cases were reported in Kenya by 2017.

Depression can be caused by trauma, loss of a loved one, a negative childhood experience among other stressful situations. Symptoms include a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities, even the mundane daily tasks.

Luckily, with the right medical care and attention, depression is curable and one can resume life as they knew it.

“While distraction is not a cure to depression, it helps the brain to get used to not concentrating so much on inner thoughts over time and allows one to see life in different angles at the same time”, says Ms. Emma Tirop Karitu, a psychologist at Smile Wellness International.

Ms Tirop advises that travelling is a good way to relieve stress as it boosts happiness and helps one to free up their mind. “Travel is a great stress buster since it promotes happiness and helps a person to take their mind off stressful situations. This leads to low cortisol levels, a stress hormone, making one feel calm and content. Apart from the obvious fact that one doesn’t have to go to work, travelling gives one an opportunity to step away from the daily toil of life,” says Ms. Emma Tirop.

Her sentiments are echoed by, the Managing Director at Deans Travel Centre Ltd Mr Patrick Maina who says that travelling is recommended by Doctors as helpful.

  “Travel is recognized by doctors as being helpful in alleviating stress. I have had some families book holidays for their loved ones to help them forget their worries,” Says Mr Maina.

He adds that it’s not only travelling abroad but it could also be a trip to Mombasa or Diani to seat by the sea or to Haller Park and engage the giraffes by feeding them.

“Currently one of our clients suffering from a terminal disease has been asked to Travel and the family are booking a European tour to cheer the patient up and probably the patient’s last trip,” says Mr Patrick Maina.

According to Ms Tirop, travelling opens one up to situations that require attention to what is happening in the surroundings and the brain can think in different ways and solve problems that are not common in day to day life.

Travelling also helps one in meeting new friends and having new experiences which free up emotions.

“Meeting people at home can be hard but when you travel you are more likely to meet open, friendly people to strike up conversations with. This helps in creating a common bond with fellow travellers as you share similar experiences. Some of these experiences like meeting people who are less fortunate than you can help change your perception and allow you to appreciate the good things in your own life,” she says.

Ms Tirop further points out that nature has a way of relaxing the mind and body. A new environment or a change of surrounding can help improve one’s mental well-being.  New sceneries calm senses by uplifting spirits and moods hence helping to shed off the negative thoughts.

Travelling also opens an individual up to new opportunities and possibilities. A person undergoing depression has little self-worth which can lead them to think that they cannot succeed in realising their goals. Travelling is therefore capable of educating and informing on alternative ways of approaching a problem.

Before John Meyer travels anywhere, he slips a small security device that looks like a two-way radio into his luggage. Recent reports of vacation rental owners spying on guests persuaded him to pay $199 for a “bug” detector that finds hidden cameras and microphones.

“I stay in a lot of Airbnbs,” says Meyer, a technology investor who lives in Los Angeles. “Unfortunately, this is the reality of the age we are living in. I’m proceeding with more caution, as it relates to my privacy.”

Security devices like Meyer’s bug detector can ease traveler concerns. Although he has not found a hidden camera or microphone — they are rare — he likes the peace of mind. Other popular portable gadgets include safety locks, alarms and smartphone apps. Should you pack one for your summer vacation? It depends.

If you’re worried about your privacy, you have a few choices. Meyer’s T-9 Specialty Bug Detector scans the room for frequencies between 50 MHz and 6 GHz and reveals hidden wireless cameras and microphones. You can also download an app for your smartphone, such as the Hidden Camera Detector, that uses your phone’s camera and flash to find possible hidden spy cameras in your rental. Here are some other such devices.

A personal alarm: That’s what Namita Kulkarni, a yoga teacher and frequent traveler, carries with her. Her device, a Vigilant 130db personal alarm, is worn as a small pendant. “When you’re traveling, you have to be alert and ready to respond if anything goes wrong in the spur of the moment,” says Kulkarni, who documents her solo trips on her blog, Radically Ever After. She says the most important lesson is how to silence the device. Her first personal alarm met an untimely demise when she couldn’t find the “off” switch after she triggered it by accident. She had to hold it underwater to make it stop.

A portable door lock: Security expert Robert Siciliano takes one on every trip. “Hotel locks can be compromised by the hotel staff and anyone with access to YouTube,” he says. He likes the simple Calslock portable door and travel lock, which works on inward-opening doors. A more expensive model puts a lock on the door lock, which can prevent your children, if you have children, from opening the door without your knowing about it.

A portable smoke and carbon monoxide detector: Sheryl Hill, the CEO of Depart Smart, a travel safety-preparedness company, remembers checking into a hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was a four-star resort that lacked an important safety feature: smoke alarms. “When I inquired with security, they said, ‘No worries, lady. We see smoke, we get you out,’ ”she says.”Fire safety is not a standard everywhere.” So she carries a Kidde battery-operated smoke and carbon monoxide detector with voice warning.

When it comes to apps and integrated security devices, there are almost too many options. For example, consider the danger of logging into an unsecured wireless network. For a problem like that, Adomas Baltagalvis likes Lookout Personal, a program that offers mobile security, identity protection and theft prevention.

“When you’re traveling actively and connect to dozens, if not hundreds, of WiFi spots each month, the app is super-valuable,” says Baltagalvis, the chief marketing officer for a technology company in Toronto. He also likes the app’s tracking feature, which gives him extra security in case the phone goes missing.

If you’re worried about losing your phone or mobile device, there’s Prey, an anti-theft program that tracks electronic devices. If someone steals your device and you report the theft, Prey locks on the device and transmits its location and other information that police can use to recover it.

For personal security, there’s also Silent Beacon, a wireless panic-button device that connects to your phone. When you push the panic button, it can simultaneously call emergency responders and alert up to six additional contacts with a text, an email and live tracking GPS information about your location. It works internationally, and you can program the device to call your home country’s embassy in an emergency. The device’s call and alert settings can be updated through the free Silent Beacon app, so travelers can easily customize their settings for an upcoming trip.

If you’re a cautious traveler, you might want to consider some of these devices. My favorite strategy is taking a more aggressive approach to travel safety. That includes thoroughly researching a destination or a hotel and maybe, just maybe, a little counter surveillance. I mean, why should those Airbnb hosts have all the fun?

I liked the idea behind the HD Mask, a high-resolution surveillance camera hidden inside a USB phone charger. You can record in a continuous loop or use motion detection to record when someone is in the room. So if your host makes an unscheduled visit to your quarters — gotcha! (Make sure you follow all state laws about surveillance before you use one of these gadgets. And remember to take it with you when you check out.)

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/technology-responds-to-travelers-concerns-about-safety-security/2019/08/15/989e2844-b3e0-11e9-8949-5f36ff92706e_story.html?noredirect=on

Ruby Walji director of Ideal Travel Limited in Mombasa Kenya talks to KATA Weekly Travel News on her journey in the industry.

1. How long have you been in this industry?

I have been in this business for exactly 8 years.

2. When did you start this business?

I have always had an intense passion for travel. For about 20 years I handled my boss’s travel plans then one day my boss decided to open a travel agency at City Mall and I became the manager in 2011. In 2014, he decided to sell the business to me in 2014 where I have run it since. I am always thankful for the opportunity.

3. What were the challenges then and what continues to be the challenge now?

There are a number of challenges in this industry but the one I have dealt with most is fraudsters and conmen. Luckily, we dust off the experience and carry on. Another thing is when business is slow and we have to make do with the situation.

4. What has been the highlight in your journey in this industry?

I was once conned by one of my clients from Nairobi. It was a devastating loss but the highlight of it was being able to rise up and move on with business. We were able to recover from the huge loss.

5. What has been your lowest moment?

When business is down is a low moment for me. It means we do not make revenue yet the expenses and bills have to be paid.

6. What would your advice be to women interested in this industry?

This is a great industry to be in, especially for women. The exposure and experience are very worthwhile and satisfying. It however takes passion, patience, hard work, aggressiveness and good communication skills to survive. Give your work 100 per cent, give excellent services and go the extra mile for your clients.

7. What changes would you like to see?

I would like to see the travel trade industry grow to greater heights. That would also mean that businesses like mine are doing great. Growth in the travel trade industry means that tourism is flourishing and the country in general benefits too.

8. How do/did you manage to strike a balance between family and work?

It is not easy but one does have to strike a balance because both are very important aspects in one’s life. I plan ahead and accordingly to ensure that my family and my job both get ample time and do not suffer from my absence.

9. Anything else you want to add

It is always a great joy for me to serve my clients well and this gives me contentment and fulfilment. I urge more women to take on this path as it is a fulfilling journey. Seeing a client that is happy is always rewarding.

Like many spaces in the industry, the majority of players are men. However, women have continually cut a niche for themselves and are now a force to reckon in the travel industry.

In this four-part series, we talked to four women who have years of experience in the travel industry and this is what they said about their journey.

Today, we feature Ms Rashida Pereira, the General Manager at Fourways Travel Services. She is also a Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) Board Director and the Mombasa Region Liaison.

Rashida Pereira

1. How long have you been in this industry?

 I have been in this business for the past 24years.         

2. When did you start this business?

 I joined Fourways in 1995 with a degree in psychology. Now I am the General Manager.

3. What were the challenges then and what continues to be the challenge now?

The challenges have evolved over time. When I joined Fourways, travel sold itself and it was easy to get client despite having to do it manually. Writing out the tickets manually especially for large travel groups was time consuming and tedious. With the systems in place now and technology being progressive, things are so much easier now. Storing blank tickets in the office was also a problem due to theft.

Now our main problem is competition as one has to have an edge over the rest. While before we concentrated on selling the product, now we work hard towards selling the company name through online presence. we have to market ourselves.

4. What has been the highlight in your journey in this industry?

The little things we do in service to our clients that make them smile. Going beyond the call of duty to ensure customer satisfaction. For instance, I once facilitated travel for a client’s pet, they were so happy that they sent me chocolate and flowers from Mauritius.

5. What has been your lowest moment?

When things go wrong and a client is unhappy has to be one of my lowest moments. As I said, we pride ourselves in customer satisfaction and when that goes wrong it becomes disheartening. I remember one time when we booked travel for a client for Hajj. We managed the booking through a third part and the client was quite unhappy with the transfers and accommodation. I tried my best at my own personal expense to find better accommodation which was quite difficult as it was peak season. It was the worst two days of my life.

6. What would your advice be to women interested in this industry?

I learnt that this industry demands 100% from oneself. It is best suited for either single ladies or those that have teenagers.

I would also ask the women to try and personally experience the travel aspect of the industry.  Unfortunately, the women get carried away with other aspects of living in this world and forget that to be passionate about anything one has to live the passion.

7. What changes would you like to see?

I would like the travel agent fraternity to be more helpful to each other and not always be at each other’s throats.  The present KATA executive has worked hard to bring trust back into the fraternity but needs more work to even out the differences.

8. How do/did you manage to strike a balance between family and work?

It was hard work and unfortunately the line between family and work blurred. I would take work home and would still be dealing with clients in the evening and sometimes late in the night.  I once went to work at 9pm as I thought I had forgotten to request either a meal or wheel chair for a client’s next day travel.  With the internet now, work is easier and I have more time with loved ones.

9.One other thing…

The industry has come a long way. Modern technology has made everything accessible. This has intensified competition and to keep up I am now a 24-hour service travel agent. The traveller can contact me from any part of the world and get an immediate response. I can truly say that I have not met more than 50% of the people who book with us as its all on email or on the phone. This is a far cry from 20 years ago when striking a balance was tedious.

One good thing that I still admire about the past is that the interaction with clients was physical and through this I made lasting friendships. Many would come in after a travel to give feedback which most of the time was to thank us. Nowadays, client doesn’t appreciate the effort we put into ensuring they enjoy a perfect holiday and the only feedback we get are complaints even where we are not at fault.

When all has been said and done, I believe that travel consultancy is still the most fulfilling career I have experienced.

1. How long have you been in this industry?

I have been in the travel trade industry for the past 7 years.

2. When did you start this business?

I started this business in the year 2012. It was a tough journey for me but I thank God that I made it. I was a hotelier when I decided to resign from my job to venture in the tourism and travel industry. My then boss refused to pay my dues and I was stuck. I took up a loan of Ksh 50, 000, I wasn’t able to pay on time it accumulated to Ksh 500, 000. I used the Ksh 50, 000 to buy a laptop which I used to operate from as my office. I reached out to clients door to door.

I got my first client after two months through a referral from one of the offices I had visited. I remember it was six couples and their children. From the money that I made, I was able to clear my debt and rent a small office space. I struggled a bit for about four years until we were contracted to become service providers in one of the government institutions. Few people have helped me through my journey and they are my husband Anthony Mukomah, brother Simon Ndungu, Mr Mohammed of Vogue Tours and the Kenya Airways Sales Manager Mohammed Hamo.

3. 3. What were the challenges then and what continues to be the challenge now?

         Challenges I faced include lack of enough capital making it hard to penetrate the industry. I also lacked proper information and knowledge on the business. The cost of doing business was also a hinderance, this included agency licences and fees.

Luckily, that is no longer the problem now as what I have to contend with is competition from other agencies and delayed payments from clients.

Technology has made work easier but it has also made business rough for us travel agents as a client can easily book their holiday and tickets online.

4. What has been the highlight in your journey in this industry?

Opening my business and succeeding in it despite the rough patch is a highlight for me. I look at my work and staff and I am grateful for the far that I have come. It makes me appreciate what I have much more.

5. What has been your lowest moment?

I once could not raise money to pay a service provider and had to shut down my business to avoid being auctioned. I payed the provider back later.

6. What would your advice be to women interested in this industry?

Women in the travel industry should be resilient and learn to weather the challenges. They should also try seek procurement opportunities in the government through the proper channels.

7. What changes would you like to see?

Agencies should embrace technology as times have changed. Everything has become digital and we need to conform for our businesses to keep up.

8. How do/did you manage to strike a balance between family and work?

I have very supportive husband who is there for our family in every aspect. I also have a competent working team for our company. This makes work family balance easy and enjoyable.

9. One more thing…

I appreciate organisations and people who take time to support and help nurture the dreams of women in this industry. As I have learnt from my experience, sometimes it is not an easy journey but with people who build you and organisations that boost you, like the Kenyan Government did for me, then we will make tremendous progress and boost this industry which will in turn benefit the country at large.