The One-Stop Platform for Safe and Accessible Travel
Eliminate travel planning hassles with Viageur - a comprehensive travel resource for marginalized communities.
When Kristina Liburd and her husband were robbed at gunpoint during their honeymoon in Rio, it became clear that the resources available to travelers omitted crucial details that could have kept them safe. Determined to create a more comprehensive travel resource for marginalized communities, Liburd founded Viageur in January 2019.
Viageur's vision is to revolutionize the future of travel through a one-stop platform that seamlessly combines culture, experiences, and safety to empower women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities. By offering personalized travel experiences, Viageur considers the unique safety and security needs of women and other vulnerable populations.
The inspiration for Viageur came after Liburd's experience in Rio. Still, the interviews with over 400 members of the global majority solidified the need for a travel resource that would allow marginalized people to plan travel for work and recreation safely. These interviews revealed a gap in travel resources for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals, who often rely on anecdotal experiences and research scattered across multiple platforms.
Viageur's initial beta program hosts 450 members who have provided feedback to support the platform's expansion. With over 17,000 activities across more than 1,000 cities, Viageur is well on its way to building a community of 10,000 regular users by the end of year one, based on conservative estimates informed by existing travel platforms and population statistics.
But what sets Viageur apart from other travel platforms? For one, the platform plans to use blockchain technology to provide verified safety information for destinations, ensuring that the information provided is accurate, reliable, and not influenced by any central authority. By drawing on community-verified reviews, Viageur will provide a more accurate and trustworthy resource for travelers, particularly women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Viageur's Safety Program will provide educational resources, support systems, and a community-verified platform to empower women and marginalized communities to enjoy safe and inclusive travel. By partnering with organizations focused on preventing and protecting against gender-based violence, Viageur ensures that the platform is safe for women to engage in a global community of travelers.
The success stories and user feedback from Viageur's existing platform show the value of community-driven safety information and personalized travel plans. For example, one user noted how she could use Viageur to plan a solo trip to Japan, including finding a women-only capsule hotel that made her feel safe and secure. Another user remarked on the community-driven aspect of Viageur, saying that it was a place where she felt seen and represented.
In short, Viageur is a travel platform that will change the future of travel by empowering underrepresented groups through personalized safety information. By considering the unique safety and security needs of women and other vulnerable populations, Viageur provides a more comprehensive and trustworthy resource for travelers and sets a new standard for inclusivity in the travel industry.