Globetrotter Tykese Henry hopes to conquer world with Butterfly Travelss
Published:Saturday | October 14, 2023 | 12:07 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
There is a pure unadulterated freedom that comes with seeing the world. When Tykese Henry shared her exciting trip to Panama on social media last year, it inspired her followers to experience that same sense of liberation. They eagerly requested to join her next adventure, leading her to organise a fully booked group trip to Colombia. This success ultimately led her to establish her own travel business called Butterfly Travelss.
“Currently, I offer group trips, but not only to countries that I’ve been to. I also provide tailored budget friendly packages for customers wanting to travel to other destinations solo,” the entrepreneur told Saturday Living.
Exploring the boundless blue skies was once nothing but a pipe dream for Henry, who grew up in rural St Thomas. Fascinated by planes, she fondly remembered rushing outside as a child whenever she heard one passing overhead, just to catch a glimpse of them. It was her hope that someday, she would have the opportunity to be a passenger on a flight of her choosing.
Proving that it’s never too late to travel, that fateful day arrived at the peak of 2021 with a trip to Curaçao. Things never felt the same for her after she returned to Jamaica. Having had a tantalising taste of the world, she yearned for more.
“I’ve been to over 10 countries thus far. Cuba stood out the most for me because that country showed me how to appreciate life no matter how little we have. The love they have for each other was really unforgettable. My best memory was meeting two locals [who] took me, a complete stranger, into their home when I was unable to reach out to my Airbnb host due to lack of Internet service in the country,” she revealed.
Inspired by the fact that she hadn’t seen anyone around her travelling when she was younger, Henry decided to flip the script in her favour. Despite the financial concerns shared by many, this determined agent of change made it her mission to show persons that budget-friendly travel options for Jamaican passport-holders are not only accessible, but that reaching certain destinations is more achievable than one might think.
Venturing into entrepreneurship within the tourist industry has allowed Henry the freedom to fulfil her heart’s desire whenever the opportunity arise. “Promoting and providing the luxury life of travel can often times become overwhelming, especially if you’re like me and doing everything on your own,” she shared. Nonetheless, the overwhelmingly positive feedback received thus far serves as a strong motivation for her to persist on this path.
Her biggest obstacle to date has to do with the immigration encounters in different countries while using her Jamaican passport, “because most Jamaicans utilise the countries that grant US visa-free access to try and cross the border illegally, especially true for the central American countries, that makes things so much harder for travellers who desire a wholesome and stress-free vacation.”
She recalled getting detained in several countries for hours and being interrogated, “all because I was Jamaican. I had to present my business page, business registration and even my TikTok account, just to get out of detention after being interviewed”.
But she maintains her positivity and optimism when embarking upon a new adventure. “Travel teaches us about humanity and gives us an appreciation, understanding and respect for different points of view and ways of life. It’s important to venture into other countries so you can expand your perspective and view life at a wider angle.”
Whenever she books a flight, Henry has these essential items on hand for a hassle-free travelling experience: her phone which has the Airola app, a SIM card app that facilitates the purchase of SIM cards for any destination, a Google map which doesn’t require Internet service; a universal adapter, a planned itinerary for immigration purposes and Google translator, preferably one that works offline. “A nice warm blanket is the icing on the cake,” she added.
With high hopes to expand her business on a global platform, this avid world-traveller is already making plans to visit Europe, namely Portugal, Switzerland and Italy. “My advice for anyone who wants to travel or even create a business in this field is just to start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. There are different types of travelling, so pick one and just start. And ensure that you do your research before you attempt to explore any country,” she said.