When lockdown repeated itself last year, one local entrepreneur decided to make it work for her. Why not propose to small groups of locals themed walking tours around the area? Debra Kinson started All Around Geneva - Creative Guided Tours and has recently launched her website www.allaroundgeneva.com.
The website describes Debra's tour themes from Discover the Secrets of Geneva to Punctuality! 500 years of intricacy and craftsmanship - luxury watchmaking in Geneva. Among the 11 themes currently on offer, many more are in the works so you will always find one to suit your needs. You may sign up for All Around Geneva's newsletter through the website so you will be the first to know when something special is going on.
All Around Geneva also offers tailor-made tours for groups that are the subject of your choice or for a particular museum or château in the area. We caught up with Debra so our readers could get to know her a bit better before booking a tour... and she is offering a pair of tickets for an upcoming tour, read below.
Why did you start?
I started this adventure in 1982 as a novice tour guide in Spain, meeting and greeting and being the general point of contact for my clients abroad. Life is a mystery and in my case has led me full circle to reembrace a career that I began long ago, before marriage, children and moving to Switzerland in 1998. After various careers in my time in Switzerland I realised that my vocation lay in a past career and I just had to find a way of legitimising it.
What has been the inspiration?
My wonderful daughter Victoria arranged a weekend in Rome, during which we booked a guided tour of the Vatican. With no religious connotation, I had a light bulb moment and decided this is what I wanted to return to do!
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
Once this idea became concrete, I realised this was my comfort zone and my expertise: I have always enjoyed interaction with the public : as a tour guide in Spain, as an air hostess for British Airways. Then it was a question of seeing what was available in Switzerland in terms of guiding Diplomas and recognition.
With lockdown last year, one person's effort to reinvent themselves was fruitful. Debra Kinson decided to go solo with All Around Geneva: Creative Guided Tours. Local tours for locals was something that not many people would have considered but with no tourists travelling, looking no further than her own doorstep became a great place to create an audience.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
I would say launching myself into the fully immersive French programme organised by the University of Geneva to obtain the Diploma in Culture and Tourism, committing to hours of learning and challenging my creativity!
Where do you see your company going?
My reputation as the only English mother tongue guide in the area is crucial and very particular. As well as offering a diverse programme of themed walking tours in Geneva and nearby Vaud for the general anglophone public, I would like to be the point of contact for English Language Learning experiences for local and international schools and Universities and for new and current parents who form part of the expat community, in order to bridge the gap between cultural knowledge and a sense of understanding and of belonging.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m working hard to continue to offer new themes and interests year-round and I hope to organise some day excursions and local events in the future in addition to local walking tours. Lots to think about!
What is your favorite product you offer and why?
I do love my Curiosity and Crinolines walk – it’s so British - I love reading excerpts from Miss Jemima’s journal. She was among the first tourists to discover Switzerland with Thomas Cook in 1863. It’s the theme of the paper I wrote in order to pass my guiding Diploma so I’m very proud of it!
Anything else you think our readers would like to know.
Guiding may be my day job but the immense pleasure in what I do is in meeting my clients and sharing my knowledge with you all. Everyday is different, questions and discussions evolve as we all learn something new and enjoy a moment together which allows us to forget the present and escape in time for an hour or two! I’d also like to thank those of you who have already followed several of my tours for your immense support and enthusiasm.
Debra is kindly offering a pair of tickets (value Fr. 40.-) to one lucky knowitall.ch reader. The tickets must be used in tandem during one of Debra’s upcoming tours available though her website through December 2021 (pending availability). Just fill out this form and answer this question: In which city did Debra get her "light bulb moment"?
Only one entry per email is allowed. The competition closes at midnight on Thursday, 9 September 2021. The names of all those submitting correct answers will be placed into the digital hat and the winner's name drawn at random on Friday, 10 September 2021. The winner will be notified by email and their initials will be added to this article after the competition closes.
Debra Kinson
All Around Geneva
www.allaroundgeneva.com
Cultural & Tour guide
Member Geneva & Swiss Guide Associations
Facebook and Instagram: allaroundgeneva
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMPETITION WINNER: JC
