Philosophy

A presentation

Background of the company

Läs & Res (Study Tours) was founded in 1979. The objectives of the tours as well as the style of operation are completely different from ordinary tourism business.

The company started on the smallest scale possible. Since then it has grown by a couple of tours each year. During 2008 we had a program of approximately 128 tours spread over the year to several destinations in 37 countries. We only arrange tours to countries with a non-western culture. Our tours go to Asia, Latin America, Africa, South Pacific and a few to Russia. The tours are between two and five weeks long and the prices are low.

During 2009 we had 1039 customers. The company is economically very sound and not operating with an aim of maximizing its profits. The turnover is 3 million USD.

How do we find customers? Most of our customers come recommended by friends. Therefore our best marketing strategy is simply to make good tours and thereby get satisfied customers. However we do some advertising on a small scale. Our main marketing is the printing of the yearly tour-program. Today it is only published in Swedish. We start working on it in October with the purpose of having it ready for distribution just before Christmas. Last years issue it was printed in 23 000 copies.

Besides organizing tours we also run a bookshop. Each Tuesday and Thursday we give lectures, open to the public, in the basement of our shop on topics related to our activities. This has become a success and the lectures are usually full (60 persons/lecture).

Our webpage is well developed it has received awards and is today visited by approximately 1500 persons each day. Most bookings today are through the webpage. Please visit it!

The important aspects of Study Tours are not the destinations, nor the itineraries, but the philosophy. We make tours only for people who are seriously interested the world and different cultures, and not simply looking for recreation. Below is a list of the important aspects of our philosophy.

Travel in a basic way

  • we use ordinary hotels such as where the domestic middle class stay
  • we travel with common means of transportation - trains and buses used by the domestic population
  • to travel in a simple manner is also a condition if you want to get in touch with people and get to know the local culture closely
  • to travel in a simple manner is more fun and undoubtedly more interesting
  • this way of travelling also benefits the local people. You do not pay to big corporate enterprises or international companies. Instead the money goes businesses owned by inhabitants of the country.

Local tour leaders

  • local tour leaders know their own society better than a Swede
  • the leader has got many contacts and can assist you better
  • the leader creates a different atmosphere among the participants
the leader becomes your host while you are guest in his/her country

Small groups

  • the smaller the group, the easier it is to get in touch with people
  • the treks are usually done in groups of 2-4 people

Longer tours

  • Time is another condition in order to get in touch with people
  • Time is also a requirement to be able to do things on your own, things that you are personally are interested in
  • Our tours are therefore usually 4-5 weeks long

Countryside and villages

  • Most of the people in the countries we visit live in the countryside. On our tours, most of the time is spent in the countryside or in the nature
  • If you only visit big cities and sightseeing sites, you risk getting an incompletepicture of the country you visit
  • A village is easier to understand compared to a the bustling city
  • The landscape is often beautiful and there it is easier to get in touch with people

Interpretors

  • with the help of interpreters, you can talk with the people in the villages

Flexible program

  • You are free to take initiative on your own to explore what specially interests you
  • On our tours, you will get plenty of time to do and see the things that lie in your field of interest. The tour leader will assist you in various ways.

Preparations

  • The better prepared you arrive to a new country and culture, the more you will benefit from your journey. Therefore, the following is included in our tours:

Demands on our participants

  • We demand that our participants shall adapt to local customs regarding behavior, clothing and customs, this in order to respect the host country and its citizens.