Leuven travel agency offers trips to outer space

The Leuven travel agency Tierra is offering tickets on commercial space flights planned by Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic (pictured). For about €229,000), travellers can take a trip to outer space.

Tierra’s owner, Willy Paquay, says that he’s fully aware that people will not be queuing outside his business behind Leuven’s train station. The offer – although real – is more of a stunt to encourage adventurous souls to reflect on their dream trip, he told De Standaard.

“We help anyone interested with the online inscription for one of the space trips Virgin Galactic is planning to organise from its base in Mexico,” said Paquay. “We provide them with all the information they need. There are currently about 800 people worldwide signed up for a space journey.”

Tierra normally specialises in travel arrangements to in far-away destinations, such as southeast Asia and eastern Africa, that respect the people, their culture and nature. “Our business is making dreams come true,” said Paquay, “and we’re using this offer to talk about dream holidays that are more feasible.”

Photo: Virgin