The man of smiles

On a busy morning, Sethaphan Buddhani welcomes us into his office with a warm smile. His Nariman Point office offers a breath-taking view of the Arabian Sea splashing against the rocks, as Buddhani recounts anecdotes and experiences from his career spanning three decades.

Buddhani, director, started his career in the tourism industry after a serious observation. "Before I graduated, when I was in Thailand, I saw that there was a lot of inequality in the society, which was unfair to the underpreviliged. I completed my Masters in Public Administration from Texas and returned to Thailand trying to figure out what I wanted to choose as a career, because I wanted to bring about a change in my own way," he says. "Tourism, to me, was one way to create more jobs and income for the larger part of the society." He explains that when a traveller comes to Thailand, the first person to gain an income is the rickshaw-driver followed by the doorman, the bell boy etc. "Tourism brings money and livelihood for many," says Buddhani.
Buddhani feels that tourism as an industry facilitates the relationship between different countries globally.

"Once tourism came to be recognised as a lucrative industry, it played an important role in helping two countries understand one another. People across borders have similar desires, love and hatred. They even shop like us!" laughs Buddhani. "That's when I knew that this was the career path meant for me!"
Armed with 30 years of experience, Buddhani says that he still yearns to learn more every day. He feels that the tourism industry has grown exponentially. "Three decades ago, when I started working, Thailand saw one million visitors and we revelled in that fact! But this year, we saw 19.8 million visitors from all over the world. The growth has been phenomenal!" he says.

As a part of the organisation, Buddhani has had many hats to don, but it was his first job profile that taught him the most. "I was a small potato when I joined the business in Bangkok and because I knew English, they put me in charge of receiving people from all over the world," says Buddhani.  "I met new people from different walks of life every day. I opened my eyes to things around me and learnt how others promoted their countries."

Because of the nature of his work, Buddhani had to showcase his country for his guests. "Now, I can say confidently that I know my country at the back of my hand! I knew exactly where to take the birdwatchers and where to take the photographers to show them the lotus blooming early mornings," says Buddhani.

Experience, Buddhani believes, gives you the opportunity to tell stories. "Some experiences in my life made me request my headquarters to allow me to be ordained as a monk. I wanted to practise meditation. So for 100 days, I ate one meal a day and meditated every day," explains Buddhani. He deconstructs his last name Buddhani to Buddha—referring to Lord Buddha himself and dani meaning 'city'. "I thought a divine force was trying to tell me that life is too short. The meditation led to a change in my attitude," he says. And it was this spiritual journey that put Buddhani on a road to India. "While I was ordained, I learnt that they were opening a new office in Mumbai and I saw it as a sign," he smiles.
"I understand people better now. My job is to get the best out of people. I take interest in my staff's needs, religion, beliefs and ambitions. I try to be happy by just smiling in the face of every crisis," says Buddhani.

His love for India started with the books he has been reading since he was a five-year-old. Also, the fact that Thailand largely has its roots in countries like India, Burma and China, made Buddhani feel at home as he explored the country. "One of the places I loved was Aurangabad, a home to one of the oldest Buddhist communities. There are many similarities between the culture and art of India and Thailand," says Buddhani, who has even made an attempt to learn Hindi as it helps him order his lunch. "Indian cuisine is one of my favourites," he says. Among the Indian delicacies, the Hyderabadi Biryani holds a special place in Buddhani's heart.

His favourite destination in Thailand is Krabi. "With good food and beaches, Krabi is infact a very romantic place," smiles Buddhani. Speaking about the memorable destinations he has visited, Buddhani says, "Banff in Calgary, Canada, is one of the most breath-taking places in the world. One must experience it to believe its beauty," he says excitedly.

As we ask about the future, Buddhani tells us that he believes in the present. "I don't look at the future. I do my best right here, right now!" he smiles as we walk away inspired by the man who keeps stress at bay in a city like Mumbai.