INDUSTRY AND LOCKDOWN: Gunbir Singh, owner of tour and travel agency

Charanjit SinghTeja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 10

Gunbir Singh, Chief Managing Director (CMD) Divine Destination, a tour facilitation company, has a vast experience in the tour and travel business. In an interview with Charanjit Singh Teja, Gunbir Singh discusses the impact of the lockdown on the tour and travel business.

-How has the lockdown impacted the industry?

This has been a catastrophic setback for the industry. Businesses have accumulated losses over the last quarter, and will continue to reel in this quarter. Our travel industry especially has taken a substantial hit across all its verticals, be they leisure and business tourism, logistical support, the hospitality assets, the food catering businesses and aviation. The human resource within these modules in the tertiary areas especially such as guide services, ticketing agents, visa services et al are in quandary. It has been a disaster of magnitude yet not contemplated since this industry is among the largest employment generators.

-Do you expect resumption of your business in near future?

There is an absolute uncertainty in the travel sector presently. Once the spread of the virus is stalled, there will be a period of only essential travel. Businesses have learnt that decisions globally can be made through online web based meetings. The impact on business travel shall be prolonged, and primarily need based. Leisure will await till the panic subsides globally. We do not see this happening in 2020.

-How are you dealing with the issue of paying salaries to workers?

We have been constantly in touch with our employees and addressing all their needs and even ensuring counselling for them and their families. These were not days for being penny wise, and the company believes in taking care of their own. We have dug into our savings to ensure that our extended families who rely upon us do not suffer the pain on the fiscal front or otherwise.

-What is the role of online in your business?

Online advent in travel trade is nothing new. The rail and aviation ticketing business had therefore all but turned online through the last decade. It is experiential travel which engages visitors, filling hotels, tourist spots, cab services, restaurants. This cannot be virtual. However, the push for doing everything online will see the travel assist fraternity losing business further as the traveller will find solutions on his own more than before. The advent of the laptop based buyer booking services shall be more pronounced. Of course the handheld travel niche shall be maintained.

-Have any of your major investments been deferred due to the lockdown?

Investment came to a standstill during this crisis. The crunch will continue till fund flows stabalise. Presently it is imperative to maintain status quo and the need to stay afloat the top priority.

-Do you consider the current crisis as a challenge or an opportunity?

Every challenge opens new windows of opportunity. This time has been utilised to keep in touch with existing client base, and utilise the same for new businesses that can sail on the credibility of the old. We believe that 2021 will figure as a significant year for riding the stallion of success built on the trauma of 2020. Businesses shall be leaner and more dynamic to change than ever before.

-What are your expectations from the government?

Industry needs support more today than ever before. This is a time when lip service and virtual fiscal reliefs must be replaced by real time monetary succor. Promises for more loans add future loads onto the business financials. Governments of state and the union need to fish into deeper pockets and come forth with out of the box solutions. Also they need to be prepared for kick starting demand once the healthcare issues are resolved. Their stimuli have not even begun. Hope they are better equipped for that than they were on the healthcare front.

EOM