30 Under 30: Meet David Urban
From working as a journalist to founding his own responsible travel series, David Urban speaks to TTG about combining his love of storytelling with sustainability
Award-winning former journalist David Urban (29) has just celebrated the second birthday of his responsible travel series Beyond Your World which he founded in May 2018. His love for travel can be traced back to his childhood and was nurtured further during his solo travels as an adult.
“I was really privileged as a kid to see many countries,” he explains. “Then when you go abroad on your own when you’re older, you are in an environment where you have to mingle with local cultures. Ever since then I’ve had a passion for other countries and travelling.”
After studying for a sociology degree, David started his career in broadcasting with BT Sport, and then went on to work as a producer for the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), BBC Worldwide and as a travel journalist for The Telegraph.
“My father was a film director so I grew up helping out on set where I developed a love for narratives. So after university I got a job as a journalist in television, where I cut my teeth learning to present and edit film,” says David.
Finding film
While at the BBC, David profiled Nick Vujicic, a man who learned to swim, surf and skydive despite having no limbs, in a video which went viral and bagged David a Shorty [social media industry] Award.
“I realised that through video I could combine my love for travel with my skills for storytelling and use these to create something special,” he says.
Beyond Your World was born when David pitched the idea of a travel series focused around Unesco heritage sites. The series focuses on places and the people around them with themes of sustainability, adventure, culture, conservation, heritage and travel as education.
“Everyone should go and visit heritage sites, even if they just have a camera phone to capture the experience. It’s about learning how we can preserve them for future generations,” he says.
Although additional episodes due to launch this year have been postponed due to the coronavirus, David says he is thinking about a profile piece on one of the many places offering accessible experiences that have sprung up in the UK, such as Cornwall’s accessible surfing scene.
Human element
David’s favourite part of his work is "the human element" – meeting local guides who are passionate about and connected to a particular place. “There’s no one better to explore a place with than someone who lives there. They help me to be in the moment and mindful of how a place is brought to life through its inhabitants.”
He hopes to capitalise on the opportunity for connection during his 30 Under 30 experience, using networking events to learn from other travel leaders and see what opportunities are out there.
David’s advice for other young people who are thinking of a career in travel is simple: think green. “Coronavirus is just a dress rehearsal for climate change," he says. "The travel industry needs to keep an eye on the future, especially as we have been impacted so heavily. There’s no way sustainability can be ignored.”
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