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ANDRÉ VON THURONYI |
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 Born
in Rio de Janeiro on November 21, 1954. Spent his
infancy in the northwest Paraná municipality of
Paranavaí on a newly-opened coffee farm surrounded
by exuberant Atlantic forest. His parents of Hungarian
origin, refudees of World War II, here initiated
him in the respect and love for the land.
In his adolescence, while attending the 2nd year
of Naval College at Angra dos Reis - State of Rio
de Janeiro - he had the opportunity to sail and
thus explore that bay and its islands, deepening
even more his enchantment with nature.
From 1973 to 77 he studied at the Federal University
of Rio de Janeiro, where he graduated an Electronics
engineer. During this period, taking advantage of
his fluency in German, French and English besides
Portuguese and Spanish, he worked as a tourist guide
in his native city.
Thanks to his everlasting curiosity and spirit of
adventure he soon plunged into the Amazon Jungle,
and this it did not take him long to, in 1974, extend
his guiding activities to that region. This are
born the first products od adventure tourism for
foreigners, on the island of Marajo and along the
Amazon river.
In 1976, as the Transpantaneira highway was nearing
completion, André “discovers” the fascinating world
of the Mato Grosso Pantanal and again establishes
pioneer routes of success.
In 1978, a graduate with employment guaranteed specialization
in fiber optics, he is confronted by the prospect
of living in the megalopolis of São Paulo. Faced
with theis reality, he takes the definite decision
of transforming his thus far temporary profession
as a guide into his true and permanent work. Building
experience and following-up new exploits he jounds,
in 1983, EXPEDITOURS expeditions and tourism operators,
a pioneer of its kind in Brazilian territory.
Progressively and in cooperation with people from
varions regions of the Brazilian Jungle, he creats
products and builds up new bases for tourist operations.
Finally in 1991, called by EMBRATUR and representing
ABAV-RJ(Association Brazilian Travel Agencies) he
prepares the first Brazilian nature tourist manual,
with the object of producing a document to present
Brazil’s ecotourism potencial to the authorities
and participants at the Earth Summit Conference
know as Rio-92.
This work earns EXPEDITOURS worldwide recognition
of its relevant service to the protection of nature,
expressed in the diploma GREEN ACTION for the Programs
of Ecotouristic Itineraries and Introduction of
Ecotourism in Brazil.
The firms growing success, however, removed André
from nature and his spiritual journey, leading him
to take, in 1994, the unexpected decision of reducing
his structure and concentrating his efforts and
attention on the state of Mato Grosso. This decision
enable him to “return to his origins” and again
approach the travelers thus re-starting the guide
service and the development of new products and
environmental strategies in the three biomes within
this state: Amazon, Cerrado (Savanna) and Pantanal.
Presently as proprietor of an area of 2.700 hectares
- 6,670 acres – inside the Mato Grosso Pantanal
where Araras Eco Lodge is located
– a reference in ecotourism for the Pantanal region
– Park Eco Lodge on the border
of Chapada dos Guimarães National Park among other
participations in various projects, hi continues
to dedicate himself to divulging and introducing
the foundations of sustainable tourism at private
and governmental levels, considering this activity
an important tool in environmental and cultural
preservation.
The operator Pantanal Explorer – Expeditours
is proceeding with the development of new products,
in the Cerrado and the Amazon forest of Mato Grosso,
as well.
Tourist activities of specific interest such as
bird watching among others, give this unique and
tireless character the needed oxygen to carry on
creating and living this life with much faith and
determination.
His mind, open to new challenges, inspires new generations
of guides and entrepreneurs who, like himself, believe
in the power and need of love for Mother Earth,
Gaia.
In the governmental sphere he makes his experience
available for actions toward sustainable development
in order to contribute to the general well-being. |
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OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT |
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 From
left to right:
Tatiane (operations manager), Rafael (marketing
and directly contacts), Janaína (receptionist/secretary)
and Ingrid (operations and reserves/bookings) doing
the best to make you a nice trip and experience
taking it to the max! |
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FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT |
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 From
left to right:
Eva (financials and control) and Cleide (purchases
and lodge control) to keep everything running well
since the gifts sold at the lodge till the food
shopping. |
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