Meet Maia, a trusted tour leader in Campania. Her exceptional qualities will leave you in awe. From her linguistic prowess to her unwavering dedication, Maia is a true gem in the world of tour leadership. Get ready to be inspired by her remarkable abilities and ambitious spirit as she takes you on unforgettable journeys through the beautiful landscapes of Campania.
Can you tell us about your background and how you became a tour leader?
My country of origin is Georgia, I was born into an Armenian family in Tbilisi; but I’ve been living in Salerno for more than 20 years so far, that’s in the Southern Italy – Campania region. I dearly love the cosy human-sized seaside town, that welcomed me many years ago and became my home. My immigration story is pretty captivating. I’ve been even interviewed by a Russian journalist about it. The video is uploaded to YouTube. Actually, I set off for Greece, Athens, but ended up in Salerno, back then it seemed that my whole world was falling to pieces, but now I can confirm that it was a blessing in disguise.
At the age of 22 I got my Master’s Degree in languages in Tbilisi and started off my career as an English language teacher at a State School, that I had graduated from, so my school teachers became my colleagues. That was a great experience. When I came to Italy I was a Mum of two, David and George. The first years of immigration were really tough… I was getting divorced, my children were little and they stayed in Tbilisi with my family. I had a cultural shock, I didn’t speak a word in Italian, I couldn’t work as a teacher either as my degree wasn’t valid in Europe. And on top of that I didn’t know anyone in Salerno. I had no other way but to pull myself together and start to learn Italian on my own. I had worked as a babysitter and a maid, I took care of an elderly person.
After 3 years and 7 month I got the Italian residence permit, things started changing. I brought my sons to Salerno, and I entered the University, started working as an English teacher at a private school, going through a series of exams in Rome, held by the main office; I took up working as an interpreter and a cultural mediator at the Court and the Prefectures in Salerno and Naples, I had many other professional experiences as well. 8 years past, my children grew up and I felt I needed a professional change. By that time I had made a lot of friends and one of them, Michele, had always tried to convince me to work in tourism. That was it, in 2018 I obtained the Tour Leader licence.
What inspired you to pursue the career in guiding and tourism?
– Well, I had always been working with people in various situations, I had grown in a multi-cultural environment and spoke many languages, I loved history and I was, definitely, in a proper place to pursue that career. Salerno is a gateway to the famous Amalfi Coast, actually it’s between two amazing coastlines, the other one is Cilento Coast, famous for the mediterranean diet. I’d say that Campania region itself is created for tourism, I’d define it as Italy’s best region. It’s simply enchanting, beyond any doubt.
Moreover, all the soft skills and knowledge, that I had gained in my previous careers were extremely useful and helpful for fulfilling the profession of a Tour Leader. I’m also into meeting new people, helping them discover my wonderful area. So, me and the new fascinating profession were a perfect match. It wasn’t that easy to start working in a new field at the age of 44, but hard work and perseverance have always been the bases of success. I’m really happy I made that choice back then.
How do you prepare for leading a tour? Can you walk us through your typical
planning process?
-My profession requires lifelong studying in order to live up to top-notch standards in my field. It’s one of the keys to be well established within the tourism business. Making site inspections is essential too. Then I write down all the information needed and put my memory to work. As I keep discovering my region, attend seminars, trainings, the information grows year by year.
Can you share any memorable experiences?
– In 2019 I collaborated with a travel agency in Amalfi at Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel. At that time Cristopher Nolan was filming ‘’Tenet’’ on the Amalfi Coast, his family and great part of actors were staying at that Hotel. It was exiting to see all of
them every day: Elisabeth Debicki, Robert Pattinson, Yuri Kolokolnikov, that is a Russian actor.
I organized two tours for mister Nolan’s family and one day Mister Kolokolnikov came in, I spoke Russian, he was quite surprised and sad he could never imagine that Italian spoke Russian so fluently. I smiled and told him where I came from. He
had been to Tbilisi before coming to Amalfi. Whas a coincidence!
Other memorable moments are when I see the sparkle in the eyes of my guests. I’m happy when they say that our tour was highlight of their trip.
How do you ensure the safety and the satisfaction of your tour group during the
trip?
Well, tour satisfaction factor differs from person to person, but there are some soft skills that are crucial for a successful tour; that is effective communication, emotional intelligence, time management, problem solving. Let’s add local knowledge and expertise, enthusiasm, patience and cheerfulness. All these ingredients put together guarantee an unforgettable experience for the guests.
As for the safety and security, I’m very attentive to each one during the tour and in case there is any problem I handle it calmly and efficiently. We have a procedure to follow.
How do you stay informed about destinations you lead tours to? Do you have any favourite travel resources or sources of inspiration?
– Continuous learning is a crucial part of my job as it’s absolutely essential to keep yourself updated. Books are my main resources. I also try to attend as many training courses as I can.
In addition, I learn from my colleagues who have more experience and more knowledge than me. As for the source of inspiration, it’s needless to say that it’s my astounding region Campania itself.
What do you think is the future of guided tours and tourism in general?
– Life is unpredictable, you never know what it throws your way. During the period of Covid the tourism industry suffered a lot; thanks to technology and human creativity online tourism developed. Even though we are back to normal life, online tourism has become a booming industry. As for me it will never be able to replace a real-life travel, rather be a complement to it.
I believe that people will continue to travel and have guided tours, we’re human beings, we want to connect, to experience new places and communicate. Nothing will stop us from being curious and explore the world! Slow travel is becoming more popular, it helps you to immerse into the local life, traditions, absorb culture, even though mass tourism like cruising keeps increasing.
What do you enjoy the most about being a Tour Leader?
– Becoming a part of someone’s happy and unforgettable memories.
To follow her @amalficoastbymaia
"Hard work and perseverance have always been the bases of success"
