How a Goan Couple Transformed Travel Passion Into Community Livelihoods
In recent years, the travel industry has seen a growing shift toward experiences that foster meaningful connections between travelers and local communities. This shift is exemplified by the journey of Maria Victor and Pawan Gorantla, a couple from Goa who transformed their love for travel into sustainable livelihoods for over 100 local families. Their initiative not only redefines tourism in India but also enhances cultural preservation and community empowerment.
A New Beginning Amid the Pandemic
Pawan Gorantla recalls, “I have always worked in different jobs like events and bartending. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I was at a standstill, trying to figure out what to do next.” He adds thoughtfully, “I didn’t know then that this uncertain time would lead me in a new direction.”
For Maria Victor, the search for meaning started much earlier. Despite having a stable and successful corporate career in her early 30s, she felt something was missing.
From Corporate Success to Searching for Meaning
Maria trained as a Chartered Management Accountant with the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting in the UK. She worked for nearly eight years in various industries, including retail at Tesco, oil and gas with Schlumberger, and later with Accenture and HP. Her career took her from Bengaluru to Mumbai, Dubai, and the UK.
On paper, it was an ideal career. But Maria felt a quiet disconnect. “I had a comfortable, predictable life,” she says. “Yet, I kept asking myself if my work was meaningful or fulfilling.” This question stayed with her and eventually changed her life.
Taking Time to Travel and Reflect
In 2011, Maria left her corporate job, initially just to take a break. She traveled slowly, using each trip to experience new places and new ways of life.
More than just seeing new places, Maria says travel opened her to people and cultures she might have missed otherwise. “Travel wasn’t just about the sights,” she tells The Better India. “It was about what the experience made me feel and realize about myself.”
Maria started organizing trips for small groups, around ten people, making the experience personal and meaningful. She named her venture ‘Make It Happen’ and launched it as a sole proprietorship in September 2011.
These trips took travelers to places like Ladakh, Spiti, Nagaland, and Gujarat. They emphasized homestays and community connections rather than just sightseeing.
A Shift Toward Meaningful Travel
Even after this growing side project, Maria briefly returned to corporate work. But by April 2014, she chose to focus entirely on Make It Happen. She says, “To build something meaningful, you have to give it your all.”
“Even if we cannot see the world, the world can see us.” – A local shawl seller’s words that reshaped Maria’s perspective on travel as a two-way exchange benefiting both travelers and communities.
A pivotal moment occurred in Dhampus, a small Nepalese village with views of the Annapurna range. Maria met a shawl seller who asked her to take his photograph. Afterward, he told his wife, “Even if we cannot see the world, the world can see us.”
This changed Maria’s perspective. She realized that travel should be a reciprocal exchange, supporting local communities as much as enriching travelers.
Building a New Model of Tourism
Between 2014 and 2015, Maria began reshaping Make It Happen. She felt traditional tourism was shallow and lacked real connection. Although booking travel became easier, true immersive experiences were missing.
Storytelling became central. Maria says, “Setting up the company meant creating something new, without a clear market or name in India.” It wasn’t a carefully planned business move but driven by passion.
However, financial needs brought Maria back to corporate work in 2014. For nearly two years, she worked full-time while building the business nights and weekends, a challenging balance.
In 2016, she made a deliberate choice to commit fully to Make It Happen despite uncertain outcomes.
Community-Driven Travel Experiences
Maria’s travels revealed that much of India’s cultural richness was invisible in mainstream tourism. Local communities were often left out. She started creating experiences co-designed with locals, rooted deeply in their stories.
When Two Travelers’ Paths Crossed
Murali Shankaran, after years in the gaming industry, also sought deeper travel experiences. On a three-month Himalayan trip, he met Maria at Chandra Taal in Lahaul Spiti. They instantly connected over shared views on life and travel.
Murali said, “What I was doing casually, Maria had formalized with Make It Happen.” By July 2017, they co-founded the formally incorporated company, with Maria as CEO. Their bond grew stronger, and they married in 2019.
Early Steps Toward Experiential Travel
Before the company’s formal launch, Make It Happen hosted its first curated tours in Goa during the International Film Festival of India in November 2015. These included heritage walks in Fontainhas and Old Goa and trips to Divar Island.
Maria says, “We wanted people to feel the place, not just see it.” Murali adds, “Storytelling is key. Heritage is more than monuments; it’s food, music, traditions, and everyday life. Stories make these real and relatable.”
Today, Make It Happen offers over 50 experiences like heritage walks, food trails, art workshops, and nature explorations. Each focuses on local community themes.
Pricing and Business Model
Standard experiences, such as heritage walks, cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 per person. Food trails and longer experiences range from Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,500 per person. Revenue streams include direct bookings on their website, private and customized group experiences, consulting for tourism development, and training community hosts.
This diverse model centers on immersive, community-based travel.
Empowering Storytellers and Communities
Pawan, an associate storyteller, appreciates the training and enjoys leading tours globally. “It doesn’t feel like work. It feels like sharing my home with friends.”
Rachana, a senior storyteller, joined planning to work for a year but stayed on. She has grown in public speaking and leadership and now trains others.
Local hosts find new meaning in their roles. Jorge Da Silva Pereira says, “We enjoy welcoming guests. Each group brings fresh energy.” Aires Antonio Andrade notes improved income and pride in sharing their culture.
Rohan Nazareth explains, “Visitors’ interest brings pride and visibility to our village. It has turned our farm into a learning space.”
Impact on Travelers and Communities
Travelers like Sumanth Vashist found the tours engaging and conversational. He noticed layers of history often missed.
Gul S Jain found the experience reflective, appreciating small stories behind everyday life.
Make It Happen has worked with over 100 community members, involved 35 storytellers, and welcomed more than 65,000 travelers. Nearly half their revenue goes back into local communities to support sustainable livelihoods and new careers.
Looking to the Future
Maria says, “We create opportunities so people can stay in their homes while earning a living.” Murali adds, “We redefine careers by turning passion into something sustainable.”
The company operates in Goa and Bengaluru, with projects in Diu. They plan to expand to 20 locations across India in the next two to three years. This growth relies on local partnerships, community-led designs, and rising interest in immersive travel.
Murali concludes, “At its core, Make It Happen is about creating something meaningful for travelers, communities, and everyone involved.”
All photos courtesy Maria Victor.
