Not Just A Holiday, This Is How To Make Traveling A Profession

JAKARTA - For some people, traveling is a way to let go of fatigue. But for others, traveling is a way of life, even being a source of income. Making world exploration activities as a profession is no longer just a dream, but a real opportunity in the midst of the development of the global tourism industry.

Apparently there is a way to make traveling a sustainable and professional profession. What's more, age is not a barrier to continue to explore the world of traveling professionally, while pursuing the desire to explore various corners of the world.

This was experienced by Harmini Marzusy, or familiarly called Kak Zusy, who is known as a figure who is enthusiastic and easy to get along with generations. This woman who was born on October 9, 1969, has a strong passion in the traveling world, visiting remote places to see the natural beauty, unique culture, and a distinctive architecture of various countries.

Starting from his love of traveling, this graduate of the Management Master of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University founded a business in the traveling sector called Jalan Langit.

I am a hobby and love for traveling and culture. I want to be a professional tour leader because I really love traveling activities and want to share experiences with other people," said Zusy, from the official statement of Jalan Langit.

"I feel that the journey is actually not only about visiting destinations, but also about giving and receiving stories, sharing cultures, and establishing social relationships during the trip," he added.

In every traveling mission as group leader, Kak Zusy enjoys the process of organizing and ensuring things run smoothly. The position as a tour leader (TL) allows him to combine his management, communication, and leadership skills to provide the best traveling experience.

"I feel satisfied when I can be part of the beautiful memories they created during the tour from the start and the end of the trip," continued Zusy, who has joined the ITLA (Indonesia Tour Leader Association) organization for almost a decade.

ITLA houses professionals in the world of traveling who live a profession as a tour leader. This organization provides space to develop, share knowledge, and access training about the travel profession both at home and abroad.

Zusy's first experience leading the journey was when traveling to Singapore brought 12 people. He remembers that moment as a turning point, no longer solo traveling, but managing and maintaining the comfort of all participants.

After that experience, Zusy admitted that he was addicted. He started sowing suitcases for traveling to various parts of the world. Until now, almost 70 countries have been explored. From all places, his favorite destination is Paris, a luminous city that always invites him back every year. Switzerland with snowy mountains, Amsterdam, to Rome has also become part of the story of its journey.

"As a tour leader, I not only describe the beauty of the best places that tourists visit, but also share stories, history, local experiences and tips that make each participant more memorable," he said.

With international tour leader certification from Pramindo, the best tour leader award in national training, and the 2022 Certified Professional Tour Leader, Zusy has contributed significantly to the realm of traveling, both domestically and globally.

He has helped thousands of traveling tourists explore the world, introduced new cultures, and supported the local tourism sector in various regions, while encouraging the regeneration of young tour leaders.

"As an International Tour Leader, I am always ready to face various unexpected situations on the ground," he said.

Zusy shared one of the most stressful traveling experiences while in Spain. A participant lost his wallet along with important documents.

"Without time, I immediately calmed the participants," he said.

Zusy shared tasks with other TL colleagues, took care of reports to the police, contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid, and helped participants get emergency travel documents so that they could continue traveling without a hitch.

I also help rearrange access to emergency funds, ensure they can still enjoy the rest of the trip. This experience taught me that in the world of tourism, a TL is not only a travel guide, but also acts as a problem solver, accompanies, and has skills to calm participants in critical times, "he explained.

Since then, Zusy has always ensured that travel participants provide themselves with copies of documents, both print and digital. He also gave a security briefing before leaving for vulnerable destinations.

"For me, this kind of challenge makes the TL profession more meaningful, because every trip is not only about visiting famous places but also how we pay equal attention and are skilled at overcoming obstacles calmly and professionally," he explained.

As a person who has long been poor in international traveling, Zusy has the desire to build his own platform to provide a more meaningful traveling experience.

I enjoy every moment when I invite tourists to explore various destinations, introduce new cultures, and make sure they come home with fond memories. However, behind that, there is one dream that continues to grow, namely building their own tour & travel company," he said.

That is what prompted him to establish the Langit Road. Even though at the beginning faced limited capital and tight world travel competition, Zusy was not afraid.

He made his experience as the main capital, knew the needs of tourists and how to create a pleasant journey. By building a network, offering flexible travel, and using social media power, he developed the brand Jalan Langit to be widely known.

Starting from open trips, family trips, to group companies, now entrusting their travel to Langit Street.

The proudest for me is when customers come back and recommend their trip to friends and family. It is proof that I have succeeded in creating something more than just a business, but a memorable tour experience for others," he explained.

The valuable lesson learned from the world of traveling is not to be afraid to start, find uniqueness of services, such as documentation, flexible itinary, or exploration of anti-mainstream destinations.

If you have experience and passion in certain fields, make it an initial capital. Focus on the value you can offer. It's not only about price, but also service, experience, and customer satisfaction," said Kak Zusy.