It was an urge to rewrite the tenets of experiential luxury travel that made Taruna Seth launch Encompass Experiences. The company focusses on unique, customised, and sustainable travel to ensure every customer has a superlative experience.
Excerpts from the interview with Taruna Seth, Founder And Navigator-in-chief, Encompass
T+L India: With an international relations degree, you have worked across various fields and travelled extensively as well. What led you to launch Encompass Experiences?
Taruna Seth: I’ve always believed that travel is critical to self- discovery. For me, travel is like living and breathing. Travel makes us better people because it allows us to prioritise ourselves and introspect. When we challenge ourselves, we automatically contribute more to the world.
T+L India: Encompass caters to the luxury travel segment. What are the things you pay attention to while curating an immersive experiential tour?
Taruna Seth: Attention to detail is a crucial aspect of luxury travel planning. Luxury travellers often have high expectations and seek personalised unique experiences. As a luxury travel designer, it is essential to pay close attention to every detail to ensure a seamless and memorable trip for our clients. Everything—from the right luxury accommodation that aligns with our client’s persona to timely communication and curating the right and the best-in- class experiences for them— is catered to. Our greatest strength is preempting what our clients may not have even thought of.
T+L India: How do you align luxury travel with sustainable tourism?
Taruna Seth: Of late, many service providers are striving to make sustainable practices n luxury experiential travel more mainstream by involving local communities and educating guests on how to reduce their carbon footprint. Encompass Experiences curates many sustainability- focussed travel experiences. When we curate journeys, we encourage involvement with the local community. We work closely with hotels that ensure that they offset their presence in a remote destination by implementing practices that are not only ethical but also involve the local community.
T+L India: From popular European tourist destinations to India’s tiger parks, many destinations are faced with the bane of overtourism. How should overtourism be addressed?
Taruna Seth: Addressing overtourism is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders including governments, local communities, tourism boards, and travellers themselves. In luxury travel, we work with partners who implement effective destination management strategies that focus on sustainable tourism development.This includes setting limits on visitor numbers, regulating accommodation options, and diversifying tourism offerings beyond overcrowded hotspots. We also encourage travellers to visit lesser-known destinations by promoting their unique attractions. This helps distribute tourism demand more evenly throughout the year and across different regions.
T+L India:With the digital media rife with suggestions on how to plan an itinerary, are travel planners still relevant today?
Taruna Seth: In the world of information saturation, travel planners can provide valuable insights and recommendations based on their experience and expertise. Besides being able to offer a highly personalised programme, travel planners have access to exclusive deals and benefits through their networks and relationships. Real-time support and assistance are other perks.
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