In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Martin Gannon, a British expatriate with deep ties to the former Yugoslavia. Martin shares his experiences of first moving to Yugoslavia in 1980, initially as a holiday job opportunity, which evolved into a long-term career in tourism. He discusses his early days working in places like Poreč and later organising tours across the region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro. Martin reflects on cultural differences, the impact of Tito's death, the ease of working in tourism, and navigating the local languages. He reminisces about the vibrant tourism scene of the 1980s, his work with Yugoslav Airlines, and developing pilgrimage tours to Medjugorje. The discussion also touches on the current state of tourism in former Yugoslavian regions, emphasising Bosnia and Herzegovina's untapped potential.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:00 Meeting Martin Gannon

01:51 Martin's Journey to Yugoslavia

03:31 Life and Work in Yugoslavia

05:33 Navigating Language and Residency

08:25 Exploring the Region

11:40 Involvement with Yugoslav Airlines

16:15 Reflections on Tourism Then and Now

19:42 The Impact of COVID and Future Plans

29:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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