A Travel Agency Created by a Doctor: Initiatives to Make “One More Trip” a Reality by Honoring the Value of Life

Travel Doctor, Dr. Reiya Itoh

Travel Doctor, Dr. Reiya Itoh

Travel Doctor, the travel agency founded by a physician, launched on December 24, 2020, with the aim of providing “an opportunity to travel with peace of mind” to those who had given up on traveling due to illness or caregiving needs. Staff with extensive medical and nursing expertise, including doctors, nurses, and caregivers, accompany travelers and provide support for the entire itinerary, including transportation via accessible taxis.

Their philosophy is to never refuse a trip due to the severity of an illness, and they work to create an environment where even those with serious medical conditions can enjoy traveling safely, securely, and comfortably. We spoke with Dr. Reiya Itoh, the company’s Representative Director and a travel doctor.

Beyond the “Limits of Medicine”: The Choice to “Make” Travel a Reality

Dr. Itoh says he started the business out of a sense of powerlessness and his frustration with the limitations of medicine he felt in his clinical practice. While treating patients for whom a cure was not possible, he continually asked himself, “What can I do as a doctor?” This reflection led him to focus on the profound meaning that the option of “travel” can hold.

“Just because a cure is not possible through treatment, it doesn’t mean the relationship between people should end there. In the consultation room, patients would sometimes say to me, ‘Doctor, I want to go on a trip somewhere.’ “At first, I would sometimes brush the comment aside and humor them, saying, ‘Yes, it would be nice if you could go someday,’ but I began to question if it was right to simply leave it at that.”

The reason often given for not traveling is a vague anxiety that “something dangerous might happen.” Dr. Itoh thought that by visualizing and managing that “something” using his medical knowledge, he might be able to make his patients’ wishes come true. He saw that the knowledge of “medicine” and “travel” were disconnected, so he started Travel Doctor to become “the one to bridge that gap.”

Challenges Found in Clinical Practice: A Lack of “Sympathetic Ears to Really Listen to Patient Wishes”

Accessible Vehicles to Fulfill the Wish to Travel

Accessible Vehicles to Fulfill the Wish to Travel

One of the problems that became apparent through Travel Doctor’s activities was that medical professionals were not listening to their patients’ wishes to travel. “When doctors say, ‘It’s too dangerous; you should forget about it,’ patients feel that they are not allowed to travel. If you only look at the illness, travel seems like a risk that could worsen their condition, but if you look at the patient as an individual, you can see ‘the reason why they want to travel now.’ “There is a saying, ‘See the person, not the illness (Don’t treat the disease, treat the patient),’ and we need more medical professionals who understand the context of a person’s life.”

When the primary physician’s risk assessment and the patient’s wishes conflict, the “Travel Doctor” plays the role of bridging that gap. By explaining the specific transportation, accommodations, and medical support system, they alleviate the primary physician’s concerns and are providing the information needed to determine if travel is advisable.

The Importance of Information Gathering and System Building

Securing safe accommodations and transportation requires diligent on-site research. The information provided by hotels is limited, so Travel Doctor continues its efforts to resolve information gaps by spending time gathering information and, in some cases, conducting preliminary inspections.

“There is little accessible information available, such as on the barrier-free status of accommodations or whether they can meet medical needs. So, we check the location ourselves and carefully examine whether a trip can be made safely.” This kind of information gathering and system building is time-consuming, but Dr. Itoh says it is essential to making travel with peace of mind a reality.

Flexible Decisions on Doctor Accompaniment and Future Outlook

A medical team specializing in travel helps fulfill the wish to go on a trip

A medical team specializing in travel helps fulfill the wish to go on a trip

In making travel dreams come true, it is not the case that everyone needs a doctor to accompany them. Rather, I feel it is important to expand the system for receiving medical support during the preparation stage. In the future, as we gain more hands-on experience, we hope to establish a more flexible support system, while also assessing the necessity of accompaniment.

Also, the number of doctors who can conduct these activities is still limited, but I hope we can build a system where "Travel Doctors" increase in various regions, supporting safe and secure travel.

Never losing sight of the “spirit of medicine,” I will continue to draw on my experience as a doctor, and as a Travel Doctor connecting medicine and travel, I hope to continue supporting the wishes of those who “want to travel one more time.”