It was in 2002 that ‘NEI UK’ first attended what is usually called a Travel Mart. This was in Kerala, southern India, and now 23 years later, we’ll be attending our second Travel Mart this year: this time in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, India.
One difference is that this time we will be attending wearing two hats, me, Eric, as ‘Wales Beckons’ and Peter as ‘NEI UK to’ (our long haul tour division of ‘Wales Beckons’). This is not a usual occurrence, but the organisers of the Mart have agreed that that can happen, and we thank them for that, even though there is a crossover as far as India is concerned.
A reason to attend such Marts is to make new contacts and often renew old ones. Not only is this good for us and our ability to be advised of any developments/ changes in hotels, activities, tours and quite a lot more.
One word which does perhaps epitomise what such Marts aim for is ‘collaboration’, but that is, in essence, what we do now and have actually always done: we collaborate with a variety of people.
In case there is any doubt about what the word means, here is the OED answer: “the action of working with someone [or group of people] to produce or create something.”
At its core, collaboration involves cooperation, communication, the pooling of resources and ideas to achieve a shared goal. It is more than just working with anybody; it is about creating a synergy where combined efforts yield results greater than what individuals could accomplish alone.
In the context of tourism, collaboration is essential. The tourism industry is inherently interconnected, relying on multiple stakeholders such as tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, local communities, governments, transport providers, cultural institutions and activity organisers. None of these entities can thrive in isolation.
Ultimately, collaboration in tourism is not just a business strategy but a necessity. It ensures that the diverse players within the industry align their interests to create sustainable, enriching and memorable experiences for travellers worldwide.
Collaboration, though does not happen by itself; it requires a degree of trust, especially in the early days of any relationship. We have ensured that any people we work with are those we can trust to do their best at whatever they are asked to do.
Any traveller’s experience depends on the seamless coordination of services and attractions, all aimed at providing authentic visitor experiences. And ‘traveller’ is the word we have used for many years to describe the people who entrust their faith in us to arrange a holiday for them which meets all of their expectations.
In today’s world, travelling is not always thought of as being ‘green’, but for those of us who believe that travelling promotes a better understanding of different cultures and people, there is no better way to enhance one’s understanding of the world.
In the coming weeks, there will be some fundamental changes within ‘Wales Beckons’, all aimed at increasing the scope of what we can offer our travellers. Our aim though to satisfy our travellers by arranging the holiday that they expect will remain, so keep checking the website www.walesbeckons.co.uk
