Travelers' Century Club
Encyclopedia
The Travelers' Century Club, or TCC, is a club for people who have visited 100 or more countries
.
The organization was founded in California
in the fifties and now has almost 2,000 members throughout the United States
and the world. The club has 12 regional chapters in the U.S. and one in London
, and holds regular meetings and arranges tours to remote destinations.
The TCC has a fairly loose definition of what constitutes a country and has established its own list
of currently 321 "countries". This includes not only sovereign states but also certain territories, exclaves and island
groups. The club argues that "although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from parent, either geographically, politically or ethnologically" , based on rules established in 1970. The list is very roughly based on the amateur radio
DXCC award criteria for working 100 "entities".
Anyone who has visited 100 or more of the places on the list is eligible to join. The club has no requirements as to how long the traveller must have stayed in a country to qualify; even a port-of-call or a plane fuel stop suffices.
The club charges a US$100 joining fee and annual fees of US$50 for US residents, or US$60 for residents elsewhere.
In 2004, club member Charles Veley
was featured in the International Herald Tribune
and the UK's Daily Telegraph as the new holder of a Guinness world record, but this was never reflected in the Guinness Book of World Records, thereby undermining the claim. Some world travellers dispute Veley's claims or their significance.
Travelers' Century Club List of Countries
The Travelers' Century Club list of countries is a list of 321 countries as defined by the Travelers' Century Club according to its rules established in 1970...
.
The organization was founded in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the fifties and now has almost 2,000 members throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the world. The club has 12 regional chapters in the U.S. and one in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and holds regular meetings and arranges tours to remote destinations.
The TCC has a fairly loose definition of what constitutes a country and has established its own list
Travelers' Century Club List of Countries
The Travelers' Century Club list of countries is a list of 321 countries as defined by the Travelers' Century Club according to its rules established in 1970...
of currently 321 "countries". This includes not only sovereign states but also certain territories, exclaves and island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
groups. The club argues that "although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from parent, either geographically, politically or ethnologically" , based on rules established in 1970. The list is very roughly based on the amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
DXCC award criteria for working 100 "entities".
Anyone who has visited 100 or more of the places on the list is eligible to join. The club has no requirements as to how long the traveller must have stayed in a country to qualify; even a port-of-call or a plane fuel stop suffices.
The club charges a US$100 joining fee and annual fees of US$50 for US residents, or US$60 for residents elsewhere.
Records
- By 2004 only nine members had visited every place on the list. John Clouse, from Evansville, INIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, was the first to travel to all the countries and was recognized by the 1995 Guinness World RecordsGuinness World RecordsGuinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
as "the world's most traveled man." - The youngest to join the club was Lani Shea, whose parents, Jeff and Novita from Novato, CA, reported that she reached her 100th country at an age of two years and eight months. She also set a new Guinness World Record under the category of "Youngest person to travel to all seven continents," accomplished in December 2003 when she was two years and 307 days.
- Charles VeleyCharles VeleyCharles Veley is an American claimant to the title of the world's most traveled person. At age 37 he became the youngest recorded person to visit all countries of the world as defined by the Travelers' Century Club....
from San Francisco in 2003 became the youngest person, at 37, to visit all countries, having visited all but about 70 countries in just over three years. - However, except for Lani Shea, none of the travellers currently included in the Guinness Book of World Records are members of the Club.
Critics
Some argue that the club is little more than an exclusive group of mainly wealthy Americans who enjoy showing off their extensive travels and lavish lifestyle.In 2004, club member Charles Veley
Charles Veley
Charles Veley is an American claimant to the title of the world's most traveled person. At age 37 he became the youngest recorded person to visit all countries of the world as defined by the Travelers' Century Club....
was featured in the International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
The International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
and the UK's Daily Telegraph as the new holder of a Guinness world record, but this was never reflected in the Guinness Book of World Records, thereby undermining the claim. Some world travellers dispute Veley's claims or their significance.