Vagabonding: a new art of travel?

American author Rolf Potts, one of the most prominent travel writers today, will be a guest at Università della Svizzera italiana as part of the Master's programme in International Tourism. On Tuesday, 10 March 2026, at 6 pm, in Room 355 of the West Campus in Lugano, he will deliver a public lecture in English.

Rolf Potts's visit offers an opportunity to explore a concept of travel that moves beyond mere tourism to embrace a deeper experiential and cultural perspective.

In his talk at USI, Potts will address the philosophy and ethics of independent travel, themes that have always been central to his work. According to the author, travel is not simply a trip or a product to be purchased, but a different way of being in the world. The ability to travel, even for extended periods, depends less on financial resources and more on a flexible, open-minded attitude and a willingness to embrace change.

Drawing on his own experiences and reflections from over thirty years in the field, Potts will offer Master's students and the public a critical and informed look at contemporary travel practices, inviting them to rediscover their transformative potential.

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Active since the 1990s, Rolf Potts has backpacked across much of the globe: he has hitchhiked through Eastern Europe, walked across Israel, cycled through Burma, and completed a six-week round-the-world trip without luggage. His debut book, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (2002), became an international bestseller, selling over 300,000 copies, with 40 reprints and numerous translations. This was followed by Souvenir (2018) and, twenty years after the first book, The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel (2022). Potts contributes to leading international publications such as National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Outside, The New York Times Magazine and Sports Illustrated. He lives on a small farm in Kansas with his wife, actress Kristen Bush.