Adnan Gilitwala is the Director of Dadabhai Travels, a Bahrain-based travel agency that was established in the Kingdom back in 1981. The young entrepreneur and business leader is responsible for the company’s growth, innovation, and expansion. During one of our drives around Manama, we caught up with Adnan to learn more about his journey, experiences, and some travel insights for 2023.
What brought you into the travel and tourism sector?
Dadabhai Travels is a family company that my father started over 40 years (in 1981). It was more or less certain that when I graduated from university, I was going to work with the family and grow in the industry. So, the day after my graduation, I was back in Bahrain and the office.
Does working in the travel industry, give you the perks of getting to do a lot of travel?
At times yeah, but not as much as people would think. it’s not like just because you work in travel, you’re travelling every week. It depends on what your job is. A lot of the work going into it is virtual now.
What would you say are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned since the COVID-19 pandemic?
Being adaptable and flexible was important during the pandemic because the more rigid you were the more you struggled to sustain your business. It is essential that you step outside of your comfort zone. It’s not just about being purely reactive but you have to be ready to change something.
What is a destination you would recommend our readers explore?
If you’re looking to explore a beach destination in India, Gulf Air has started direct flight services to Goa. Goa is lovely and a fantastic place to go visit with beautiful beaches, culture, historic structures and forts along with great food and warm people. During the onset of monsoon, there’s a nice drizzle going on which can be a very scenic experience.
