Lessons from the Past

I guess it’s a wee bit early in the month to go into restrospection mode but nonetheless let me pen down these thoughts. When the New Year of 2008 was ushered in, the travel industry was upbeat about everything… booming tourist figures, aviation soaring high et al. The current scenario is exactly the opposite with the global financial crisis bringing down super powers such as the US and UK, nearly eight terror attacks in the country and closer to home, falling international tourist numbers (currently a dip of 2.1 per cent in November 2008 as over last year) and travel agents being burdened with commission cuts. All this has only lead to a very disheartening scenario. Least did anyone, in their wildest imagination, contemplate a scenario like we are in today. The gloom just got worse with the atrocious terror attacks adding to the already reeling financial crunch. These catastrophes have resulted in a very subdued and subtle festive season which is just round the corner. But an even more hopeful New Year will usher in with a lot of anticipation for a better 2009.

All these situations have had quite a few lessons taught to us as an industry.