Interview with Cathrine: Travel, safety and Inclusion

✈️ Interview with Cathrine: On Travel, Safety, and Inclusion

As part of the Inclusive Travel project, I meet people with experience helping others, in schools, in healthcare, and in society. This time, I spoke with Cathrine, who has many years of experience as a teacher and now runs her own business offering courses and guidance for parents and educators.

Elise: Can you tell me a little about yourself and your role?
Cathrine: I've worked as a teacher for 25 years, but today I run my own business where I share knowledge and hold courses for parents and teachers who work with children with high learning potential.

Elise: What does "travel" mean to you, both personally and in your work with people?
Cathrine: For me, travel has always been more connected to leisure and free time than to work. I've traveled a lot within Norway (I think we live in such a beautiful country), but also to various cities and southern destinations. I've traveled with friends and family. Experiencing new cultures and new places together as a family creates memories and shared experiences that bring us closer.

Elise: How do you see travel as a way to prevent loneliness and mental health challenges?
Cathrine: Absolutely. When you get away from things that might feel difficult, whether that's work, family relationships, or something else, and everything around you is new, the people, the place, the food, and the experiences, you also remove some of the barriers that tend to limit or hold you back in familiar surroundings.

Elise: What kinds of barriers do people with mental health challenges or older adults face when they want to travel, in your opinion?
Cathrine: It can be language, lack of accessibility for those with physical challenges, the unpredictability that comes with traveling, structure and organization, showing up at the right time and place, and adapting to a travel group.

Elise: What challenges do you think these groups might face when they want to travel, mentally, physically, socially, and financially?
Cathrine: I think I touched on that a bit earlier. Financially, it can be very demanding for many. Traveling is expensive, and it's difficult to estimate the total cost in advance, especially if not everything is included. Socially, it can also require a lot.

Elise: What kind of adjustments or support do you think are most important for these groups to be able to travel safely?
Cathrine: Information in advance. That way they can feel confident that all possible situations are taken care of. And just as important, communication with a potential travel leader. Safety lies in predictability.

Elise: What do you think about the idea of a travel agency that specializes in mental health, loneliness, and inclusion?
Cathrine: I really believe in that!! If the people who plan and organize the trips have the knowledge and competence to understand the barriers these travelers may face, it becomes easier for the customer to ask for information. A close collaboration between operator and customer will make it possible to fine-tune and adapt the trips to become better and better.

Elise: What values do you think should be at the core of such a travel project?
Cathrine: Inclusion, diversity, tolerance, mastery, community, safety.

Elise: The project will eventually include people with physical disabilities, queer travelers, and families. What do you think is important to consider so these groups feel welcome and cared for?
Cathrine: Variety in the offerings, both in destinations and in the activities at each place.

Elise: What do you hope a participant in an inclusive trip will take away from their experience?
Cathrine: That they've been seen as something more than just a paying participant.

🌈 Conclusion

My conversation with Cathrine highlights how much safety, structure, and human understanding matter when it comes to helping more people experience travel.
Her reflections remind us that traveling isn't only about places, it's about people.
When we create opportunities for safety, community, and inclusion, we open the door to experiences that build confidence, joy, and lifelong memories.

A heartfelt thank-you to Cathrine for sharing her time and insights.
This interview is part of the Inclusive Travel project, working to make the world a little more accessible for everyone who dreams of traveling but needs someone to show them the way first.