@AmarLatif_
Amar Latif is a blind traveller, entrepreneur and TV personality with an astonishing track record of facing up to major challenges. Due to an incurable eye condition, Amar lost 95% of his sight by the age of 18. Through sheer determination he has managed to turn an unpromising tale of loss, into one of truly inspirational achievement.
Amar is most excited about his upcoming BBC Two show called 'Travelling Blind', where Amar sets out to travel eastern Turkey with the comedian Sara Pascoe as his sighted guide. (Thursday 8th March, 8pm on BBC2)
Amar originally became known to millions through the groundbreaking BBC2 reality series, Beyond Boundaries (series 1), a jungle endurance expedition across Central America.
In 2004, Amar founded Traveleyes, the world’s first commercial tour operator to specialise in holidays for blind as well as sighted travellers. Traveleyes has opened the holiday travel industry to millions of blind and partially sighted people around the world, giving them the opportunity to walk with lions in Africa, sail the Ionian Sea and ski down Europe’s highest mountains. Amar continues to lead many of these group explorations himself; uncovering the countless wonders that world travel offers the senses.
For his entrepreneurial achievements, Amar received The Outstanding Young Person of the World accolade (Business / Entrepreneurial category) from the Chamber of Commerce International (JCI) and the prestigious Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award, presented by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
Amar’s inspirational public speaking engagements for major organisations and charities have included key speeches to: The United Nations (Ethiopia), German University of Technology (Oman), The Arabian Travel Market (Dubai), The NHS, HSBC, The Royal College of Art and The Royal National Institute for the Blind (London). His talks cover a variety of themes: entrepreneurial, motivational, inclusive design, world travel, equality and diversity.
Amar is very rarely in one place for long, but when he isn’t travelling, he is often giving his time to charity. Amar is a regular fundraiser/supporter of blind-related charities including Sightsavers and the RNIB.
Through Traveleyes, Amar has created an innovative partnership with international schools around the world. Sighted students join on Traveleyes adventures to act as sighted guides for the blind travellers, building their communication, leadership and teamwork skills, and helping them to increase their awareness of disability.