57 years in travel: pioneer and many
firsts
Prem Ohri, 83, managing director, G. C. Nanda & Sons.
With 57 years experience in travel, is considered a pioneer
and leader in the tourism industry. He has played a big
role in advancing the role of the travel agent as well as
contributed to the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board (now
Singapore Tourism Board) He has notched up many fi rsts to
his credit. He was awarded Honorary Life Membership by
Natas in 2006 and his achievements include:
NATAS: As founder secretary, he
established the fi rst Association Of Travel Agents in
Singapore in 1957 with 13 charter members. Later he was
instrumental in successfully merging the two travel agents
Associations to form a National Association. Today NATAS
has more than 400 members. He also served the first
two-year term of NATAS as President in In 1982-1984
SACEOS: When the industry recognized the
need for an association to further the common interests of
MICE, a pro-term committee was established with the help of
SECB (Singapore Exhibitions and Convention Bureau) and Ohri
as chairman and having established the Association as
SACEOS (Singapore Association of Convention &
Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers), he served as
founding President from 1979-1981
ASTA: In 1986, he initiated the Singapore
Chapter of American Society Of Travel Agents. ASTA held its
World Congress in Singapore in 1986. He was the fi rst
agent in Singaporean to get the International Travel Agent
of the Year award by ASTA in 2002.
SKAL: In 1978 he served as the chairman of
the convention organizing committee for XXXIX World
Congress of AISC (Association Internationale des Skal
Clubs) which was the fi rst big travel congress in
Singapore with over 1500 delegates from all over the
world.
Haj Charters: First travel agent to
operate charter flights for Haj pilgrims from Malaysia and
Brunei.Before that most of the pilgrims had to travel by
sea which was along and tedious journey
Opening of East Europe: First travel agent
to establish contact in Eastern Europe. His company was
appointed GSA for the National Russian Travel
Agency-INTOURIST. As agent for INTOURIST. handled cruise
ships from USSR with tourist groups of over 300 passengers.
Also organized the first Trade Mission to Russia and
Eastern European countries led by Sim Kee Boon
European Coach Tours: First travel agency
to offer the concept of European coach tours with Global Of
London.Today European coach tours is a common offering to
public in Singapore.
Student charters: First travel agency to
handle student charters from England to bring South East
Asian students home for holidays.
On his beginning in the travel industry:
After my education and marriage, I was employed in the
Government of India selection competitive exams to recruit
top civil servants. My father-in-law - G. C. Nanda - who
already had a travel agency in Jakarta wanted to expand and
had just opened an office in Singapore. He invited me to
come to Singapore and help in expanding the business. I
accepted his invitation and arrived in 1955 and took over
the offi ce.
What keeps you there for so many years - after all,
agents do not make wide margins?
It has been a continuous journey and one does not know
where to stop. I am almost retired but I want to keep
active and working hoping to keep the brain in shape. It is
indeed very hard to make money in this business but we have
gone through many phases from outbound operator,
destination management company, convention organisers.
incentive tours and many other activities but currently we
are concentrating on corporate ticketing.
Can you recall what the travel industry was in the
early days ?
Yes, I can recall the good old times. When started there
were a few travel agents and they were all on their own and
hardly even knew each other. I initiated the formation of a
Travel Agents Association. There were only 13 approved IATA
Agents who were the first members. There were very good
relationships between agents and airlines who considered
themselves partners. Airlines respected the travel agents,
paid them nine percent commission, wined and dined them,
took them on educational tours and inaugural flights,
allowed them rebated transportation and truly considered
them as the sales outlets. Since then it is a long story of
what changes have taken place.
What has been your greatest triumph?
Similarly, there have been numerous events of triumph, some
of which can be. 1. Forming and leading the Travel Agent
Association for many years 2. Serving as board member of
Singapore Tourist Promotion Board for 11 Years 3.
Organising Skal World Congress in Singapore in 1978 as
chairman of the organising Committee
What has been your greatest
achieve-ment?
Having been able to provide leadership to travel industry
in so many different positions of responsibility.
If you have to go through life again, would you
pick still pick travel?
Again it is difficult to say whether the circumstances and
conditions will be same. I have enjoyed what I have done
and my dedication to travel industry has been sincere and
honest.
What has been your most memorable moment or event
that you have handled?
There have been many but if you want to single out it would
probably be Skal World Congress and Travel Agents
Conference in Srinagar, Kashmir in India. In all of your
years of travel, which destination would you pick as your
favourite: personal pleasure and for business purposes.? I
have enjoyed many destinations but would like to mention
London and Moscow which I visited many times.
Comments on the growth of the travel industry in
Singapore, and what needs improving?
This requires a long discussion and should be a separate
subject by itself.