Robert Louis Stevenson saw the value in seeing the world as something more than just having an adventure. For him, the purpose of visiting some place new was the journey itself.
“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move,” Stevenson once said.
And the Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance couldn’t agree more. For the last four years, the chamber has sponsored international trips to Asia and Europe for both chamber members and the community at large. The idea, said Executive Director Karen Riordan, is to offer “cultural exchanges” in a group setting that business and civic leaders, neighbors, families and friends can take advantage of.
“It’s quite popular for people in a community to travel together,” Riordan said. “Church groups do it, student groups do it. There’s really no reason why business groups can’t do it.”
International trips sponsored by local chambers of commerce is a growing trend. Increasingly, Riordan said, there are travel companies that specialize in helping chambers organize such trips.
The Williamsburg Chamber’s trips are literally open to anyone who wants to go. Travelers don’t have to be members of the chamber, nor do they have to be residents of greater Williamsburg. Guests from Charles City County, Iowa and even Philadelphia, have all taken trips organized by the alliance.
“It gives people a safe haven and a group to bond with,” Riordan said. “It’s just a way to kind of build community spirit and make some new friends.”
Travelers pay for the cost of the trip itself, which usually spans nine days and seven nights. The only investment on the part of the chamber is marketing the trips and the costs associated with offering a credit to chamber members, typically either $100 off the booking price or a free excursion.
Since 2012, the chamber has sponsored two trips per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Chamber groups have visited China, including Shanghai and Beijing, and Ireland, including Killarney and Limerick. Most recently the chamber sponsored a trip in October to Tuscany, Italy.
Each trip offers guests a chance to experience a variety of cultural sites and traditions. Several trips have also included guests the opportunity to participate in a chamber or business exchanges to learn more about local business in the area they’re visiting.
In Ireland, for example, Riordan said guests learned about a family owned marble company. In Tuscany, they visited a leather works company that specializes in goods such as handbags and belts.
The point is to give guests a different perspective on international cultures and business, all while building local relationships. And from the Williamsburg Chamber’s perspective, the value of seeing how other countries approach tourism marketing is immeasurable.
“Any time you go to a different part of the world, there are opportunities to learn about their tourism and what they’re doing,” Riordan said. “I think it’s interesting to see how other places do it.”
The Williamsburg Chamber’s spring 2016 trip is scheduled for March 26-April 3, featuring a “Tulip Time” river cruise of Holland and Belgium. The trip starts from $3,599 including air and cruise. For more information go to www.williamsburgcc.com/programs/chamber-travels-abroad.
