‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope[…]’

Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities

We are facing challenging times. We are facing a spring to remember; a summer to remember.  A global pandemic is changing the world as we know it, at the moment. Is it a threat or could it be an opportunity? There are no correct or definite answers. One thing is certain: The evolving challenge has to be addressed with sound judgment and above all, with optimism. And whether or not it will be a spring of hope is up to us, all of us.

We, at the Athens Walking Tours, ever since the company’s foundation, are committed to putting people and their wellbeing first. Much more than any other business sector, tours are all about people, and at the Athens Walking Tours, we are well aware of that. Our employees, our associates, our tour guides, and of course, our guests from all over the world, those who have already shared and enjoyed the Athens Walking Tours experience and all those who will hopefully enjoy it in the future, mean everything to us. 

We believe that a deep sense of responsibility and solidarity are the keys to overcome, just about anything. That is why, ever since we closed our offices to protect our people, our most valuable asset, we issue informative newsletters, organize webinars, online discussions, and other activities, in order to keep a daily, on-going dialogue with everyone, in order to stay in touch, support and reassure each other, and avoid unnecessary stress from fake news.  

Moreover, we are taking all necessary steps to ensure that no job will be lost during this unprecedented and unforeseen situation. In this context, we have taken the initiative to set up an Athens Walking Tours Guides Solidarity Fund, since tour guides have not yet been included in the government emergency plan for professionals with suspended business activities. Our tour guides will be able to draw income from this fund in order to cover their immediate needs.  

We are optimistic and we intend to stay optimistic. Since the beginning of civilization, crises have proven to be tests; tests of endurance, coordinated action, and original ideas. We are currently working towards the future, the end of isolation and the beginning of the new era, with newly updated services involved. Above all, we believe in the freedom of traveling, and we believe in people, and their unlimited capacity to adapt, evolve and overcome challenges. 

And that is exactly what we aim to keep doing.