Alok Singh,
Director,
Enriching Journeys P Ltd

By Alok Singh

Director,
Enriching Journeys P Ltd

A Brief Introduction

Personally, in the span of the last 19 years of serving in this specialized field of tourism, with different companies, I have had varied roles and responsibilities.

I have been recognized and acknowledged in the sphere of work on several occasions; have represented Enriching Journeys and the companies I have been associated with in the past on different International Travel Exhibitions in India and abroad sharing our passion for India and the subcontinent’s rich heritage and avenues; getting more and more attention and visitors to come to India!

Nation Building

I have ventured out as an entrepreneur, setting up a business and contributing in providing employment to staff in our company.

I have employed resources not just from the top schools/colleges of the country, but also from mediocre backgrounds and families, and have helped them learn on the job. It is easy to employ the best and get the best. We pay them salary which the best deserves, and we offer them training on the go.

I have mentored and advised students on various aspects of tourism, career and contribution towards making a better county. What else to begin with than tourism. This has been done in various ways: as guest lecturer, and by training and interacting with aspiring management graduates and post-graduates of Tourism Management Colleges and other Management institutions.

We have acted as an ambassador of BRAND INDIA overseas with our interaction with people and companies, promoting our company and the country as a great destination. By respecting foreign tourists, and sharing our passion and encouraging all the vendors and suppliers we work with, we have had delighted guests and free positive publicity of the country and its people. Tourists come as guests and go back as admirers.

We have bridged the gap between various States in India and the countries in the subcontinent by spreading tourism all across in personal and professional capacities. The method is to involve the locals in each State to be of assistance in shaping, and assistance in executing the holidays/travel of the guests. The artisans and artists at the lowest possible echelon have been touched upon and brought into contact with the end user. For instance, the artisans and artists in distant Dhar, Bhuj, Bastar, Kasargod and several other such underdeveloped regions which are extremely rich in art and craft. This has increased their work and helped them financially! The knock-on effect has really worked well, and we are consistently trying to find better avenues to get more of it done.

We have also contributed in our little way in bringing Foreign Exchange through the Inbound Tourism business adding to the FOREX earnings of the country. We have also encouraged foreign visitors and overseas friends, when traveling in India, to contribute by donating water coolers, RO systems, fans, uniforms in various schools in small villages, which has improved the education in those areas. For instance, Mujhela Primary School, Village Delwara in District Rajsamand.

Finally, we have also contributed towards nation building by not adding fuel to the fire, by discouraging any negative publicity of our work or our country globally.

New India

I envision a tension-free India; a secure and strong India; an India in which anyone even thinking of planning something like 26/11 should tremble by just the thought of it; an India where tourism is recognized, understood and accepted as an important driving force of economic development.

We envision a 100% educated India, great institutions and basic schools all over the country including the villages.

I also envision a country which is free of corruption, backwardness, parochial and restricted thinking, free of regionalism, hatred on the basis of religion, and a country which is ONE from North to South, East to West.

I envision an India which is connected, has world-class infrastructure; an India which is responsive; and an India which cares for its women and children.

I also envision an India which is pro-business, entrepreneurs and startups.

How I See Myself

I am obsessed about keep things and work in order; I am highly organised. I just do not like missing deadlines, and I always want to stay in control of the subject. I like to keep my cupboard, home, office workspace clean and tidy. I like co-workers and even members of my family who are efficient, who respect time and work, and who are organised.

I am diligent. Even if there is a call at odd hours from a different time zone, which is normal in our business from clients/guests overseas, I would make sure to answer and resolve any query. I am helpful to those who are in need and in resource crunch.

I have helped people who work with me in various ways I could – in finances for their weddings, getting admissions in school for their children, offering advance payment for anything which is important for them, offering them leaves even if they are not entitled to, so on and so forth.

I love music, and I believe that ‘where words fail, music speaks’. I am skeptical in getting outdoors for taking any assignments, but once I have gotten out and taken the task, nothing can stop me from doing it passionately.

Inspiration in Life

At different phases in my life, the inspirations have been different. People, places and games have been my inspiration in different ways at different time.

Cricket was always a great inspiration in my life as I was growing up. It kept me focused, and taught me several aspects of leadership, including being a team player, which perhaps even the management colleges were unable to teach me.

Sunil Gavaskar and Martin Crowe as cricketers were big inspiration for me. My father has been a great inspiration for me. Actually, my entire family has been a strength and inspiration.

Ratan Tata has also been a great inspiration to me for all that he has done and achieved as an individual and entrepreneur.

My Success Story

Personally, I believe that behind every success, there lies a story. My failure to reach the top as a cricketer, and not to be able to become a career bureaucrat perhaps led and gave avenue to my success in tourism.

The takeaways from passionately playing cricket for almost 7–8 formative years of my early days, studying history in the school and university, and joining a tiny but effective company in the initial days of my employment have been instrumental in shaping me up.

Carving a niche in a varied, disorganized domain and industry of tourism which wasn’t in the scheme of things in my life ever, perhaps would be the success I can attribute to. From an apprentice in a small company 19 years back to be able to set up and run our own company, delivering consistently the best, receiving feedback and accolades constantly from guests have been a great journey.

My Share of Challenges

I can share a lot, ranging from the possibility of losing a year in school due to my avid involvement in cricket, to not being able to represent the country in the sport, to the unsuccessful attempt to clear civil services exam and the associated guilt, loss of self-esteem, getting up, venturing into a very unknown management territory of tourism, being doubted at initially if this is a career-worthy move, then success in the profession, followed by another bout of challenge to set up the business without any background of business, initial struggling phases.

Reforms in My Field of Work

Our field of work – tourism – is vast, and involves a lot of resources and manpower. Hence, tourism calls for better connectivity, favorable policies & tax reforms.

The Regional Connectivity Scheme titled UDAN has worked well, but it needs more attention and improvement. Removing bureaucratic barriers and encouraging private initiatives are the cornerstones of our industry.

Tourism development strategies with a cross-sectoral approach is the need of the hour.

Growth of tourism is good, but we have to be very conscious that the tourism is eco-friendly, sustainable and responsible. If not, it would add negative returns, which is absolutely not good for the country and people in the longer run.

Better India

Several reforms to modernise the economy are required to drive the creation of high-quality jobs, as well as measures to improve public services and welfare.

Less government is the need of the hour. The construction, real estate and infrastructure sectors are in deep trouble, hence they need proper focus.

Digital India and Fit India initiatives are excellent. Unemployment problem should be fixed urgently. The Make in India initiative is also excellent, and we would like to see it getting larger and bigger over a period of time.

Tourism and Hospitality industry should be given an equal status to other ministries, and should not be a sidelined posting for bureaucrats and ministers.

The Wildlife sector also needs attention. Many Tiger reserves no longer have tigers, and nature safaris feel like crowded parking lots, where there are more shutterbugs than subjects to shoot.

Professionals and specialists of the field must be involved with the government as stakeholders to create better experiences to the end consumers in all industries. These concerns are most pronounced in the high-altitude Himalaya in Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh where we cross the carrying capacity each year.