INCOMING Asata president,
Dinesh Naidoo, has put
transformation at the top of
his agenda in his new role.
But Dinesh is not just
looking to transform the
management and ownership
landscape of the travel
industry. He believes
technology is the key to
transforming agents’ market
offering.
Artificial intelligence,
cryptocurrencies and bots
are some of the technology
developments the travel
industry needs to keep its
eye on, says Dinesh. He is
fascinated by technology
and always tries to stay
abreast of new trends. He
says the industry needs to
keep up with the changes
in technology so that it can
compete with the US and
Europe.
He stresses that, because
travellers are booking online,
South African agents are no
longer competing only against
other South African agencies.
Dinesh grew up in
Merebank in KwaZulu Natal,
a short distance from the old
Durban International Airport.
As a child, he would watch
the aircraft flying overhead,
never knowing he would end
up in the travel industry.
After completing school,
he registered for a threeyear
diploma in coding and
programming, but left after
completing one year because
he couldn’t afford to pay for
further studies.
Dinesh then started doing
various jobs in a range of
fields, including property
and insurance and was also
involved in an NGO and youth
organisation.
It was through this
involvement that he was
able to take his first trip – to
New York, San Francisco and
Hawaii – as part of a youth
delegation to the Parliament
of World Religions in 1993.
First overseas trip
This was his first trip
overseas and having grown
up in apartheid South Africa,
it opened up his view of the
world and excited him.
Soon after his return
from the US, Dinesh was
selected for a placement in
Copenhagen to learn about
democracy.
He spent 18 months
working in conflict resolution,
before returning to South
Africa when his grandmother
died. On his return, his
mother begged him to stay.
Dinesh started working at
a company with an insurance
and property division as well
as a travel agency. He quickly
racked up experience in travel
and was asked to manage
the agency.
Following an educational in
India, where he discovered
that there was only one
operator supporting the
South African market, he saw
an opportunity.
His boss at the time didn’t
share his vision, and Dinesh
decided to leave. Soon
after, Carol Du Preez and
Lal Jayamaha and Dinesh
started Serendipity Tours, and
together grew the brand and
expanded its footprint.
Dinesh met his wife,
Simi, through work. While
watching a movie with a
wedding scene set at an
Indian temple, Simi remarked
that she didn’t know people
could get married there.
Dinesh proposed and made
it happen.
Dinesh and Simi have two
children. Their son, Gajen,
is 12 years old and their
daughter, Lea, will be five in
April.
Dinesh chuckles that, until
the birth of Lea, he was his
own boss.
Dinesh is very mindful of
the impact of technology
on our lives and, while he
sees it as something that
can be used for good, he
emphasises that it can
quickly turn into an addiction.
He points out that
while alcohol, smoking
and gambling are all age
restricted, today’s youth
have unfettered access to
technology.
For this reason, in the
Naidoo household, the family
go tech-free for at least one
hour a day
when they spend quality time
together.
Getting to goKnow Dinesh
Dinesh has a black belt
in karate
He produces movies and
also distributes Indian
movies in the South
African market. In 2010,
he produced White Gold.
Dinesh has a finger in
every pie, and is also
involved in putting
shows and concerts
together.
He loves the arts,
music and dance
“Work hard, but party
harder” is Dinesh’s
mantra together with
“18 till I die”.
He says fun must be
an element of work
life and quips that
Serendipity throws the
best parties in the
industry.
