The accidental tour bus operator

That occurred in 1985 when she ran the OTOP business at the Wat Sai Floating Market in Bangkok. Now, 30 years later, Nisa has a fleet of 1,800 tour buses operating nationwide, 351 staff and annual revenue of more than Bt200 million.
 When she took over the company it was running at a net loss.
 Her company, OA Transport Co Ltd, is targeting average annual growth of 10 per cent a year in line with tourism industry growth.
“As a result [of the debtor not having the money] me and my husband made a decision to do the business and tried to learn how to do it,” said Nisa, the president of OA Transport.
Doing so involved a steep learning curve. To help her ease into the business, Nisa approached tour operators who knew her from her OTOP days and asked them to steer business her way.
She also asked the 20 staff she inherited to help make the transition as painless as possible, telling them that their failure to help may result in the business being suspended and sold.
She said that “strong collaboration” meant the original 10 coaches were still in operation.
Nisa also thanked the tour operators who have supported her despite there being strong demand to use other services for domestic and foreign tourists.
She said she continually had to expand the business to serve demand.
There have however been tough times. Perhaps none more so than the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that devastated major tourist destinations in the South.
“At that time, we tried to survive this crisis and keep our staff by cutting prices and also contracting tour operators and asking them to use our coaches at locations that still had tourist,” Nisa said.
It took about three months before the situation began to turn for the better, she said.
Nisa said the key of success was being sincere with customers and doing everything to try and make sure they are satisfied.
More than few companies could take a leaf out of her book.