Alan has seen many changes in Travel in the last 50 years of working in the Travel and Tourism Industry!
Alan has been a seasoned traveler and an even more seasoned travel agent for the past five decades. He’s witnessed the travel industry transform from a world of handwritten itineraries and hefty fare manuals to the digital age of instant bookings and online travel agencies. But his passion for crafting unforgettable travel experiences remains as strong as ever.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane with Alan, starting with his unforgettable adventure driving across Africa in 1974 – five weeks crossing the Sahara, dancing with rainforest pygmies in Congo, and witnessing the majesty of the Serengeti – before he embarked on his remarkable 50-year travel agency journey! Below is his open letter about his journey:
Hello, fellow travelers,
My name is Alan, and today I’m taking you on a journey—not through the savannas of Africa or the bustling streets of London, but through the memories of my 50-year voyage in the travel and tourism industry.
It all began in 1974, fresh out of school, with a heart full of wanderlust. I embarked on an overland adventure that took me from the dunes of Tunisia, across the stark Sahara, to the heart of Africa. I danced with pygmies in the Congo, marveled at the wildlife in Rwanda, and roamed the endless Serengeti before arriving in Kenya, the land my great-grandfather first set foot on as an Anglican Church Missionary in 1918. I joined my first travel company in April, starting on the tours side.
I sold safaris in zebra-striped minivans and sent Kenyan residents to witness the majesty of our Wildlife National Parks. But soon, I was drawn to the skies, dealing with air travel on aircraft like DC8s, VC10s, and the supersonic Concorde. I’ll never forget my first flight on the Concorde, zooming from London to New York in just 3.5 hours at Mach 2. It was a time when the Jumbo Jet, a marvel of its era, had just begun service.
For Safaris:
Back then, an enquiry would arrive by post, and our messenger would fetch this precious bundle daily. We’d craft itineraries, check availability, and respond with a handwritten letter. This process could take weeks before we’d get the go-ahead, place bookings, and bank the cheque. Making a booking meant calling the hotel on a rotary phone, requesting rooms, and sending a manual reservation voucher via messenger. We’d wait for the stamped voucher to return, which we’d then hand to our clients, along with hand-drawn maps—there was no Google Maps, and country maps lacked detail.
For Air Bookings:
Booking a flight required a call on that same rotary phone, reserving seats from Nairobi to London and beyond. Tickets were handwritten on carbon-sensitive paper, whether it was a simple two-coupon ticket or a complex round-the-world itinerary with conjunction tickets. Fare calculations were done manually, using a thick green Official Airline Guide (OAG) fares manual and red and blue ABCs for schedules. Travel has indeed come a long way. From Teletex and Telex to lengthy faxes and the overwhelming flood of emails. And now, we stand on the brink of a new era with New Distribution Capability (NDC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
For Sustainability:
It all began with conversations about tourism going green. I took an early interest in the Ecotourism Society of Kenya and served on the board for several years. I also played a key role in making Laikipia a recognized tourist destination marketed around the world. Ecotourism has since evolved into responsible tourism, aligning more closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and gaining increased momentum. However, I believe we still need to take a bigger bite.
In recent years, I have steered Let’s Go Travel Uniglobe to become the leading sustainable inclusive travel management company in Kenya and East Africa.
Through it all, my passion for travel has never waned. I’ve poured my heart into my business, Let’s Go Travel, for 45 years here in Nairobi, Kenya. As my wife Sue often says, I’m working “harder than you ever have done.” And she’s right—I love every minute of it.
So, here’s to the next chapter, to the new adventures that await us all. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.
Dependably yours,
Alan Dixson
Lets Go Travel Uniglobe Can Help You Plan a Stress-Free Holiday
At Let’s Go Travel, our experienced and knowledgeable travel and tour advisors can help create a customized safari itinerary for you and help you select lodges to make your experience as stress-free and fun as possible.
To start planning your perfect adventure, contact us at +254 722 331 899.