Louis Theroux shares top tip for travel firms in the media spotlight

Theroux also discussed his passion for travel and what he looks for when seeking out experiences with different cultures. “For me, the most enriching experiences I’ve had in my life have been about meeting extraordinary people, rather than going extraordinary distances,” he said.

“I love Australia, and there are extraordinary places in Australia, but the culture in certain respects is quite similar to British culture. But if you can fly to somewhere like Marrakech, [you can] feel like you are on the other side of the world in just a short plane ride.

“The feeling of travelling massive distances, without moving great distances, is what I enjoy. You can travel by walking 400 metres down the road in London. It’s such a polyglot city, and there’s so much under our noses.”

Theroux continued: “I see people trying to have experiences, rather than simply just going to places. It’s those immersive encounters that mean you get deep quickly and meet people in ways that absolutely open your minds.

“The most privileged experience is one that feels intimate to my mind, and in a world that is increasingly divided – and a lot of that has to do with social media and the nature of how technology is changing the human landscape – those chances to experience lives through different eyes and to have an intimate encounter in someone’s home or livelihood.

“You’re getting inside places that aren’t just giving you a buffet and an Elvis show, not that I’m not partial to an Elvis show. Getting the deep insight into how other people live, you can take things away and that gets you excited and I see that more and more in other people.”

He also revealed his desire to visit North Korea for a future documentary – and even joked to the audience about setting up a travel agency offering trips to the highly secretive, totalitarian state.