The Association of Small-Scale Travel Organizations (VvKR) has a new chairman. Kim Nooyens follows in the footsteps of Ton Brinkman, who after more than 6.5 years is handing over the chairmanship baton to – as he says himself – the younger generation. Who is Nooyens and what do they plan to do with the VvKR? She tells TravMagazine.
Could you briefly introduce yourself? ‘My name is Kim Nooyens and I’ve been working as a travel rector for about twenty years. I started at Sawadee Reizen in 2004, where I started working as a tour guide mainly for trips to Africa and the Middle East. At that time, Sawadee was looking for tour guides for her French-speaking countries who speak French, I am from Belgium and also speak French. I did that job for about five years. That’s when I met my partner and moved to Amsterdam for love. Then I went back to work for Sawadee Reizen, but this time at the head office. I started in sales, and later I was a product manager for the trips to Africa and Southeast Asia for about six years.’ What did you do after that? ‘I had no more career opportunities at Sawadee and in 2015 I started my own business with Reisbrigade, which focuses on individual tours to destinations in Africa and Southeast Asia. Sawadee and Reisbrigade do not bite each other, as Sawadee does not offer individual tours. The director even helped me write a business plan at the time. I thought that was very special and I appreciate it very much.’ Reisbrigade is not your only company. What else do you have? ‘In 2020, we had to deal with the Covid pandemic, which meant that people could no longer travel far. In that year, together with Saskia Griep of Better Places, I founded the travel company Avontuur Dichtbij, which focuses on travel in the Netherlands and Belgium. And in the same year, together with Silvie Sweegers of Tiara Tours, I started the company Expedition Europe, which again focuses on family trips within Europe. They are different travel companies, each with its own target group and offer. Of course, there is a plan behind it. I want to motivate people not to travel far away every year because of the sustainability aspect, because you can easily have nice holidays close to home too.’
Are all three companies affiliated with the VvKR? ‘Avontuur Dichtbij falls under the umbrella of Reisbrigade, which is affiliated with the VvKR. Expeditie Europa falls under Silvie’s travel company Tiara Tours and is affiliated with the ANVR.’ Photograph: Kim Nooyens (new chairman of VvKR) and Ton Brinkman (former chairman of VvKR) Read more in TravMagazine of week 49.
