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Firstly, let us find out who is a Coach Captain. From the Travel Industry perspective, a Coach Captain is one who either makes or mars your trip especially when you are going on a long European Holiday traversing almost 4000 odd kilometers. He is the one who has full control over the tour
itinerary and we were fortunate to have Mr. Gan (pronounced as Yon) Vermeulan, 50 years of age residing in
Holland. As a traveller, we expect a lot from our tour. However, I turned the tables on Gan by asking him not only what inspired him to be a Coach Captain but also to find out what it takes to be a good coach captain and what does a Coach Captain in turn expect from his fellow
travellers.
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Gan, tell me when did you
first think of becoming a Coach Captain?
This happened around 8 years ago when a friend of mine who
owns the company which I now work asked me to join him in
summer for a Europe Tour. I was always keen on exploring
European countries and as I knew to ride a coach, I took
the opportunity and that's how I got started. I came from
altogether a different background though. After completing
my education in the field of Engineering I started my own
company. However, I preferred to be around people and I
became a Mechanics Teacher in Middle School guiding 16 to
17 year old students to be an Auto Mechanic. In a way, teaching automobiles helped me later in my career as a Coach Captain as I learnt how to fix any problem if something went wrong with the coach. Nowadays everything is computerized and to fix any problem you have to go to a garage and the computer fixes the problem. I have always believed that whatever you do, you should know it well. I am sure the same holds good in the tour business-Product knowledge is extremely important!!
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What have been your interesting experiences in your job?
I am a person who likes adventures and every new group that comes from India is an adventure. In the first few days, especially in a long tour like yours which is for around 20 days, I can assess how the tour is going to be. If you don't get respect and co-operation from your fellow travellers then you are really going to have a tough 20 days. There has also to be a co-ordination between the Tour Leader and Captain as the tour participants are very sharp in observing any conflicts between the two of us. From the angle of adventure, things get exciting around winter especially in the mountains when we have to drive up 3000 to 4000 metres. At times it is exciting, at times it is dangerous. However, I have been fortunate enough not to have had any accidents till date.
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How is your schedule during peak season and the off season?
I drive all round the year, so there is no season or off season for me. Like now I am just going on so once your tour gets over on 4th June in London I have another group from London on 6th June. So I am not going home and I will stay back in London for the next group. Normally there has to be a break given between two tours but in season it rarely happens. My first tour this year was just 2 days after I stopped doing winter sports. So I have had no rest at all. My only day off is in Villars in Switzerland where we give the people a day at leisure and as this off day is during the trip itself, the day goes in cleaning the coach from the inside for the onward journey on the following day. In winter our tours are very different, most of them extend up to 8 days only.
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They depart every Friday and return on Sunday. They start from Holland and we go to the French Alps.
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Which are the countries you have driven through?
I have explored almost the entire European Continent. The Grand Europe Tour that you are on covers 10 countries which includes U.K., France,
Italy,Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Vatican, Liechtenstein and Monte Carlo. Other than these I have done Hungary, Romania, Russia,
Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, Spain and Portugal.
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What are your plans for the future?
I believe you must do as much as possible in your lifetime. I always wanted to tour the world. However that would require a lot of money. I am planning to go back and teach. However each year I plan to do that and lo, I am back again driving across Europe.
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What are the qualities and attributes to become a coach captain?
Above everything, patience is the key. Then comes the driving skills, knowledge of the routes and having the knack to deal with cross cultures as we take tourists from various countries and continents.
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What are the formalities to obtain a license for Coach Captain?
Firstly, you have to do the drivers test in order to get a diploma. Next is the social education and lastly you have to know the countries that you would be driving through. In order to do the European tours you have to complete all group diplomas. Normally Germany, Austria, Switzerland and all other countries have a different diploma that one must go through. But now it has become much simpler, there are just 2 diplomas to do and that would give you the permit for all European Countries. Drivers who obtain this special license get to drive all over Europe or else they drive only in Holland. All together you need to have 5 qualifications which include the driver's license, the social diploma, Holland license and 2 diplomas of Europe. It is important that you should have reached the age of 25 before you get your license.
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What has been your overall experience with Indian passengers?
I would say that I've had rather mixed experiences some good and some not so good. Mostly it is meeting the deadlines of time. Last summer, I was compelled to leave the tour half way and someone else took over as there was one family who just wanted to do what they wanted without showing any respect for anyone and then it becomes impossible to go ahead with the tour.
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What are the languages you speak?
I speak French, German, English, Dutch and then Spanish. In Europe it is extremely important to be multi-lingual as you have people from various nationalities.
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What are the rights you get as a coach captain?
I am authorized to put someone outside the coach when they misbehave. According to the European law for the coaches when you give a time as a driver and people are not there on given time, the coach driver can give notice not wanting to continue the trip, this is officially allowed. As far as powers are
concerned for each driver it is different if you are a driver with fewer complaints or no complaints you have more power. If you are a driver with lot of
complaints against you, you have no powers. A lot of drivers have been sent home doing a tour.
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Tell me something about Muy Reizen (the coach company) and this Coach ?
Muy Reizen is a company which has a contract with a company based in London. This coach in which you are travelling costs Euros120000 and it is 2 years old. From the time it is purchased it was given to me and until now I have driven 255,000 kms. It still looks as good as new because I have been
taking a lot of care and I ensure that the coach is well maintained all the time and that includes maintaining cleanliness and hygiene as well.
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What is your philosophy that keeps you moving?
Worry about real things and have respect for each other. Smile everyday. Money is not important, health is. If you are healthy, you are lucky,
you are rich.
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