In this section, we will learn about various aspects of leisure travel. Leisure travel is travel which is undertaken by a traveler solely for the purpose or vacationing or traveling for a holiday. There has been a massive surge in the number of travelers choosing to travel for a holiday and it is estimated that will be a rise in a number of people traveling for leisure. People today are willing to explore more destinations both within their own country and internationally. This rise in leisure tourism has contributed tremendously to the Global economy and has helped in the growth of allied activities as well. The growth in leisure travel has been so much phenomenal that many countries today have a well-established tourism board and consider leisure tourism to be one of the major contributors in the national income. Tourism boards of many countries have a dedicated tourism program encouraging more foreign tourism which brings in more foreign currency to its economy. In this section we shall also focus on various aspects of leisure travel like Tourism boards, Tours, Types of tours and will also guide you on various destinations worldwide. We shall also provide you reference links through which you can enroll in various tourism programs which would help you in increasing your knowledge on a particular destination or leisure product. So without any further adieu let’s get cracking.
Tourism Boards:- A tourism board is an organization which is responsible for promoting tourism of a country, a city, a state or a region. Its primary motive is to increase the number of travelers to a particular destination. All countries today have a dedicated tourism board and tourism is big business in the modern world accounting for 6.5 trillion dollars of the global economy. Tourism industry helps to bring in a lot of revenue to a country or a region when foreign tourists visit a particular destination. All allied activities related to tourism like hotels, restaurants, local transport, local shops, etc make a lot of revenue due to tourism.
A tourism board adopts various marketing strategies to develop and promote tourism through various channels both conventional and non-conventional. Conventional methods include setting up stalls or booths in tourism exhibitions, road shows promoting tourism, promoting through advertisements on television, radio, etc. Nowadays due to an increasing number of online users many tourism boards have also adopted social media marketing strategies to promote tourism via various online websites like facebook, youtube, etc. Visual media channels like youtube provide tourism boards the opportunity to showcase their destination through videos which is a far effective medium than brochures. Social media sites help to market destinations better as one is able to view pictures, videos of destinations, etc. Social media sites also prove to be interactive as one can leave a comment or alike for a video or a picture. Travel companies also play a huge part in developing tourism of a particular country hence tourism boards of many countries offer familiarization trips to employees of travel companies which would help them in selling the destination more effectively. Such trips are usually paid by the tourism board. Tourism boards have also started certifying agents through various online courses through their websites which are free and will provide one with good knowledge of the destination. If you plan to make a carrier in leisure travel we recommend you to get certified by enrolling for these courses. Below are links to some of the tourism boards which provide value able knowledge and certify you at the same time.
Africa
http://saspecialist.southafrica.net/in/en —South africa
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/egypt/press-club/press-center.html?s=1 –Egypt
https://www.onlinetraveltraining.com/free-courses/providers/-botswana – Botswana
http://jambokenya.co.uk/ -Kenya
http://namibiaknowitall.com/ -Namibia
http://www.tanzaniatourism.com/en – Tanzania (informative)
Indian Ocean Islands
https://www.onlinetraveltraining.com/free-courses/providers/mauritiustraining2016 -Mauritius
http://www.seychelles.travel/- Seychelles (informative)
Australia and Oceania
https://www.aussiespecialist.com/splash.html –Australia
http://matai.fiji.travel/ -Fiji
http://traveltrade.newzealand.com/pa-in/training/nz-specialist-programme/ -New Zealand
http://www.pngspecialists.com.au/ -Papua New Guinea
Asia
http://www.japantravelspecialist.ca/EN/Default.aspx —Japan
http://securepartnernet.hktb.com/specialisthk_india/en/home/index.html –Hong kong
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=Macau&p=index.html –Macau
http://www.pataacademy.co.uk/ –China (registration required)
http://www.pataacademy.co.uk/ –Indonesia (registration required)
http://www.pataacademy.co.uk/ -Korea (registration required)
http://www.pataacademy.co.uk/ -Taiwan (registration required)
http://www.pataacademy.co.uk/ -Thailand (registration required)
http://www.training.tourismthailand.co.uk/login/ -Thailand (registration required)
http://www.pataacademy.co.uk/ -Malaysia (registration required)
http://www.pataacademy.co.uk/ -Philippines (registration required)
http://www.yoursingapore.com/en -Singapore (informative)
http://english.srilankatraining.com/ -sri Lanka
Middle East
http://academy.visitjordan.com/Default.aspx —Jordan
http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Articles/Pages/Recommend%20Online%20Specialists%20Course.aspx –Israel (informative)
http://www.visitdubai.com/en/ -UAE (Dubai Informative)
Europe
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/SWITZERLAND/index.html?s=1 — Swiss advisor program
https://b2b.austria.info/us/ –Austria
https://www.acts-arabia.com/ –Austria (Middle east agents only program)
http://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/tourist-frontpage –Denmark (informative)
http://www.visitfinland.com/ (informative)
http://www.destinationtraining-upperrhine.com/urv/homepage/ -Upper Rhine,France,Switzerland and Germany
https://www.onlinetraveltraining.com/free-courses/providers/aboutnice# -Nice,France
http://www.happygohamburg.com/ -Hamburg,Germany
http://www.going-cuckoo.com/cms/front_content.php?idcat=332 –Southwest Germany
https://www.irelandspecialists.com/ –Ireland
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=Malta&p=index.html –Malta
http://trainings.travelbizmonitor.com/FRANCEMICE/ -Monaco
http://www.monacoforagents.com/register- Monaco
https://www.visitnorway.com/ -Norway (informative)
http://www.welcometoserbia.travel/ -Serbia (informative)
http://www.spain.travel/login-tourspain/ -Spain
https://www.onlinetraveltraining.com/free-courses/providers/grancanaria -Canary islands, Spain
http://tenerife-expert.com/ -Tenerife, Spain (registeration required)
https://www.britagent.com/courses/ -UK (United Kingdom-England, Wales)
https://traveltrade.visitscotland.org/scotsagent/ -Scotland
North America.
https://www.ustoa.com/resources/travel-agent-training –United States
http://www.alaskacertifiedexperts.com/login/ -Alaska,US
http://visitanaheim.org/planner-tools/specialist-program- Anaheim,US
http://www.californiaexpert.in/ -California,US (registration required)
http://www.lasvegasvirtuoso.com/ -Las Vegas,US (registration required)
http://www.miamiuncovered.com/ -Miami, US (registration required)
http://www.uk.nyctrainingacademy.com/login/ -New York, US (registration required)
http://www.orlandotravelacademy.com/user/register -Orlando, US
http://visitflorida.recommend.com/ -Florida , US
http://www.agents.gohawaii.com/user?destination=explore-hawaii –Hawaii , US
http://csp-caen.canada.travel/- Canada
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=mexico&p=index.html – Mexico
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=loscabos2&p=index.html –Los Cabos, Mexico
http://www.mazatlan-mazters.com/ -Mazatlan,Mexico
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=CancunCTI&p=index.html –Cancun, Mexico
https://www.onlinetraveltraining.com/free-courses/providers/homepage-quebec –Quebec,Canada (informative)
https://www.niagarasrto.com/niagara-ambassador –Niagara,Canada (informative)
Central America and Carbbean
http://azantiguabarbuda.com/ –Antigua and Barbuda
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=Aruba&p=index.html -Aruba
http://www.oneloverewards.com/ –Jamaica
http://www.prterewards.com/ –Puerto Rico
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=Aruba&p=index.html – Aruba
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=bahamas2&p=index.html – Bahamas
https://traveltrade.travelbelize.org/travel-trade/become-a-specialist/take-the-quiz –Belize
http://www.go-dominicanrepublic.eu/index.php?article_id=254&clang=2 –Dominican Republic
http://www.visitpanama.com/ -Panama (informative)
http://www.stkittstourism.kn/ -St Kitts (informative)
http://travelagentuniversity.com/courses – St Kitts (registration required)
http://www.saintluciaexpert.com/login/?login=1 –Saint Lucia
http://edu.recommend.com/courses/21/trinidad-tobago-travel-agent-specialist-program -Trinidad And Tobago (registration required)
http://edu.recommend.com/courses/19/martinique-specialist-program -Martinique (registration required)
http://edu.recommend.com/courses/16/guadeloupe-islands-specialist -Guadeloupe (registration required)
South America
http://www.brazilot.com/organization/Site/index.aspx?OrganizationName=Brazil_VBRATA –Brazil
http://www.travelagentacademy.com/Course.aspx?f=Chile&p=index.html – chile
http://www.colombia.travel/en –Colombia (informative)
http://www.peruagent.com/ -Peru
We hope you have gone through most of the suggested destination sites. The knowledge gathered on each of these destinations will certainly help you in organizing a tour or will help you at your workplace. Below we will learn on various aspects of the touring business.
Tours: – A tour can be termed as a visit by a traveler or a group of travelers to a particular destination for varying reasons like leisure, work, health, sports, etc. However, when we think of a tour the first thing that pops up in our mind is a group tour or a holiday for leisure purposes. Touring today is a profitable and significant segment of leisure travel which immensely contributes to the profits of a travel agency. The origins of the touring business can be traced back to 19th century England when an Englishmen by the name of Thomas cook first proposed the idea to organize a group tour. The first truly international tour was arranged in the year 1846 when he took 350 people from Leicester England to a tour of Scotland. Ever since then he embarked upon this journey and in the year 1872 he formed a travel agency with his son John Mason cook which was named as Thomas cook and son. Thomas cook as a brand is still in business and is one of the most renowned travel brands worldwide. The touring business ever since has evolved massively and is not limited just to group travel or leisure travel alone. Below we shall discuss various types of tours and how tours are formed, this will give you a brief idea on the world of touring.
Types of Tours.
Group Tours: – A Group tour is the most common form of a tour. As the name suggests a group tour is conducted for a group of travelers who wish to travel to a particular destination. A number of travel companies organize group tours. This type of tours are normally for a longer duration and are sold as an all-inclusive package covering meals, sightseeing, travel costs, etc. This types of tours are conducted for a minimum of 25 to 150 people and are usually managed by a tour manager who is accompanied by a local tour guide. Itineraries are fixed for such tours and the tour manager is responsible for conducting a smooth tour. A group tour is normally sold well in advance of the travel dates so as to get the best rates possible. Below we have listed out certain Advantages and Limitations for group tours. Going through below points one can decide if they are suited for this type of touring.
Advantages
a) Low cost:- Cost of a group tour is comparatively less expensive as bulk buying of hotel rooms, flight tickets, meals, tickets to attractions, etc are made well in advance which helps in negotiating better prices which reduces the overall cost of the tour itself.
b) More Number of destinations: – A group tour is normally conducted for a week or more covering several destinations or countries. The itineraries of group tours are designed to cover maximum destinations possible in available duration.
c)All inclusive:- Group tours are all-inclusive tours which include your Hotel stay, Flight tickets, Meals, Visa fees, Sightseeing, etc. As such the traveler need not worry about arranging for different aspects of travel as it is the sole responsibility of the agency through which the reservation is made.
d) Meals:- This is one of the main reasons why people opt for a group tour. Many travelers are particular about their food preference and do not want to venture into local cuisine. As such many touring companies at times have a chef and kitchen caravan which accompanies them throughout the tour.
e) Guidance: – Group tours are normally assisted by a tour manager who oversees a tour and is responsible for smooth running of a tour. Group travelers opt for a group tour so they can seek the assistance of an individual who speaks their language and at the same time is well traveled.
Limitations:-
a)Schedules/ Itineraries:- Group tours follow a fixed schedule which has to be followed in order to run the tour smoothly. The tour manager ensures that all members should be on time so there are no delays and most of the attractions in the itinerary are covered. There are wake up calls which ensure that all group members wake up on time and leave for the tour every day as per the itinerary. This can be difficult for somtravelersravellers who are on honeymoon or expecting a ultra luxurious experience.
b) Local cuisine: – The food menu on a group tour is generally fixed and basically compromises of food which the travelers are accustomed to (the food from their country). Hence travelers who want to taste the local cuisine may have to spend on their own if they are interested in local cuisines.
c)Fatigue:- A group tour has a packed schedule and one has to travel from one city to another or from country to another on a daily basis which can be exhausting at times. Travelers have to be ready for long walks as in places where the coach cannot enter the travelers may have to walk or climb depending upon the destination.
d) Minimum self Exploration:- There is room for minimum self-exploration on group tours as the
Customized Tours (FIT) :- A customized tour is a tour which is designed as per preference and requirement of a traveler. This type of tour as per industry terminology is also referred to as FIT or Foreign independent tour. A customized tour offers more luxury and comfort compared to a group tour hence this type of tour can be ideal for honeymooners. The market for FIT tours is on the rise as this type of tours are ideal for short breaks and offer more flexibility however the cost for a customized tour is comparatively higher as each element of the tour is designed as per the traveler’s preference and there is no bulk buying, unlike the group tour. The customization can be made as per the traveler’s budget and preference, the cost varies upon the category of hotel chosen, flight (air tickets) cost, mode of transportation etc. For e.g.:- For a budgeted FIT tour, a seat in coach arrangement may be made which costs less. A seat in coach tour bus is arranged in coordination with a local travel agent and a guide cum tour manager accompanies you on the bus. A seat in coach arrangement has people from various nationalities who are picked up from their respective hotels or designated spots. The bus would take travelers around the city explaining along the way and would stop at significant monuments or places just like a group tour. However, a FIT tour can also be customized where a special car is designated and the driver would be at your disposal at all times. This type of customization would cost comparatively more and the driver itself acts as a local tour guide. This type of customization offers more comfort and luxury but has its own drawbacks like lack of personal support at the destination. However, nowadays many tour companies also provide a local contact who could be contacted in case of emergencies. A FIT tour is also suited for young travelers or travelers seeking a quick city break who are willing to explore a destination on their own or try out a local cuisine as meals generally excluded from a FIT tour. A FIT tour offers enough flexibility for self-exploration and adequate support is provided to the traveler in form prearranged transportation and tickets to monuments, parks, etc which are generally handed upon arrival itself. It is advisable that a travel agent or a salesperson should make the traveler aware of the ground realities of both types of tours and help the traveler in making a decision.
Independent Tours/Travellers :- Independent tours are tours which are conducted by a group of travellers instead of a travel agency or a travel company. These types of tours have no intent of making a profit and are rather organized amongst friends and families for the purpose of travelling. Ideally a thorough research about the destination needs to be done by the travellers before conducting such tours as there would be no guidance available on destination. However due to the amount of information available today on the internet it has become easier to travel internationally. Many youngsters from countries like Australia, New Zealand, UK , USA ,etc prefer to travel independently as they are on tight budget. Websites like airbnb and wayn.com has made it easier for independent travellers to travel globally.
Medical Tours/Health and wellness tourism: – Medical tours are tours which are conducted for health reasons. A medical tour is just not limited to transportation of people from one country or city to another for the purpose of conducting a surgery or getting a cure and is rather connected to a myriad of health and wellness related activities. Medical tourism is growing at a fast pace especially amongst developing countries which have good medical facilities or wellness centers which are dedicated to curing an illness. Due to high medical costs in developed countries like US and UK many travelers from these countries opt for medical treatment in developing countries like India, China, Brazil, Malaysia, etc where the cost of their medical treatment would be comparatively less than their native countries. In the past couple of decades, there has been a massive inflow of foreign travelers who have traveled to developing countries solely for the purpose of medical treatment. Hospitals and Doctors have also been instrumental in the growth of this type of tourism wherein some hospitals have also started out with special packages for this type of travelers. Apart from medical treatment travelers also travel to various wellness and health spa seeking rejuvenation. For e.g.:- a Large number of travelers travel to the state of Kerala in India which is famous for its spas providing therapeutical massages reliving them of various ailments, similarly, there are health and wellness centers in countries like Srilanka, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. Besides wellness centers, there are also rehabilitation centers in countries like Thailand and Indonesia which help in rehabilitating drug users. Besides medical treatment, there has also been a massive growth in the number of patients traveling for cosmetic and dental problems in developing countries. Medical tourism is just not limited to developing countries and even developed countries in Europe like Austria, Turkey, France, etc are famous for their spas helping patients on various ailments to rejuvenation and weight loss programs. Such travelers mainly depend on travel agents for flight reservation and accommodation during their treatment however certain patients may have special requirements which need to be adhered to. For e.g.:- There are obese patients requiring bariatric surgery and at times some of the patients may require more than 1 seat, for such travelers an extra seat has to be booked.
Sports Tours:- Sports tours are tours which are conducted for observing a sporting event. Sports tours are either conducted by a sports management company or travel agency specializing in such tours. Sports tourism is a relatively new concept and this segment of travel has seen a substantial growth in the last 10 years or so, Sports tourism today is an 8 billion dollar industry and is expected to grow even further. Sports tours are conducted for various national and international sporting events which attract a large number of people who are fans of the sport. Sporting events like the Olympics, FIFA world cup, rugby world cup, Cricket world cup, etc attract a huge number of fans. Sports tours are sold as a combined package which includes air tickets, hotel reservations, tickets to sporting events, local travel required, etc. Sports tours are generally conducted for large groups and hence there are considerable savings which make the travel to an event economical. Certain sports tours also offer other privileges like a small tour of the player’s balcony or meeting with sporting personalities. Sports tourism today is not just limited to international events but also domestic sporting events like the super bowl in the US has become one of the major events in a sporting calendar which attracts a huge number of travelers. Sports tourism has become so much popular that even sporting bodies have started collaborating with travel agencies forming a branded sporting tour.
http://www.fanaticsports.in/
Religious Tours: – Religious tours are tours that are conducted to a place of worship. Religious tours can be arguably classified as modern-day form of pilgrimage. Religious tours attract a huge number of travelers and are probably the oldest form of touring. A religious tour is generally conducted for a large group with the prime intention of visiting holy sites or a place of worship. Holy sites such as Mecca (Saudi Arabia), Vatican city (Rome, Italy) and Jerusalem (Israel) attract the most number of religious tours. Mecca is the most visited pilgrimage site in the world, there are many tour companies which offer Hajj tours and Umrah tours at fairly reasonable and at times at discounted prices to travelers. Airlines also offer lucrative group fares to travel agents at very discounted rates. Every year over a million pilgrims visit Mecca and the government of Saudi Arabia has also been instrumental in raising the standard of infrastructure and facilities for the pilgrims. The Saudi government has spent over a 100 billion dollar to improve housing, transportation and sanitation facilities. Similarly, the Vatican also receives a huge number of travelers as pilgrims and also as tourists who want to visit the famous Sistine Chapel, St Peters Basilica and the museums of Vatican. It is estimated that 25000 people daily visit the Vatican which helps in generating revenue of 80 million Euros a year. Holy land tours conducted to Israel also attract a large number of religious travelers.. For most of the travelers this is international tours and require precise arrangements although the local governments to provide appropriate guidance and leeway in the form eased out visa regulations, cheaper airfares, highly subsidized accommodations for pilgrims, etc Hence the travel agent also needs to provide appropriate guidance on all travel procedures so the tour goes smoothly as planned. Religious tours are also conducted domestically and there is a huge market for religious tours in a country like India. In India, the religious tour market is mostly dominated by small travel agents. A huge number of devotees visit temples like Tirupati Tirumala temple, Sai Baba temple in Shirdi, Golden temple in Amritsar, Vaishno Devi yatra, Ajmer sharif etc. Most of the tours conducted to these sites are by local religious groups and mandals (associations) however there are a large number of modern-day travelers who travel on their own with their families and friends. Even religious events like Kumbh Mela, Jagannath yatra, etc attract a healthy number of international tourists apart from the pilgrims alone. Religious sites like Varanasi have been made popular by various films, actors and even CEO’swhich attract a lot of tourists yearly. Moreover, religious tourism is here to stay and is one of the biggest segments which is still untapped and has tremendous potential.
MICE Tours :- MICE stands for Meetings, Incentive, Conferences ,Exhibitions and Events. MICE tours are conducted mostly for corporate travellers and are usually arranged by a travel agency (travel Management Company) or the Travel department of the organization itself depending upon the scale of the Event. These type of tours are generally a combination of a meeting or a conference along with a day or two of leisure travel however the core motive of a MICE tour is purely related to work. Many Multinational companies appoint a travel management company which can cater to a large moment as the number of travellers can be huge depending upon the size of the organization which requires expertise to conduct the event successfully. MICE tours is one of the most profitable segments in the travel industry today owing to the sheer volume and spending of corporate companies on hosting meets and events. Apart from hosting events for employees, various corporate companies have also started hosting events for their top clients and customers wherein large sums of money is spent on such events. For e.g. : – Pharmaceutical companies hosting special events for doctors, Car companies hosting events for its top car dealers, etc. MICE segment has seen a massive upward trend in the travel industry and is even further estimated to grow steadily in the coming years.
Now that you have learned about various types of tours and have gone through the various destinations we will now discus how a tour is formed. We will let you know what are the main components of a tour and process of how to arrange a tour.
Although there are various types of tours the primary components remain the same. Below we will explain to you on the primary components which form a tour.
a) Transport: – This is one of the most important factor which will make or break your tour. The transportation arrangement for the tour should be comfortable, safe and on time at all times. Tours are highly time bound hence it is important that transportation arrives on time , any delays or breakdowns will cost the tour to lose value able time which may result in cutting short on some of the activities and sightseeing’s which will ultimately result in negative feedback by the clients. Hence arrangement of proper transportation is important. It is necessary to ensure that coaches and cars arranged for the tour arrives on time and are relatively comfortable as at times there may be long travelling involved. In the event of long road transport, one must ensure that breaks are taken at regular intervals for toilet breaks, food breaks, etc. It is the duty of the tour manager to keep the group engaged and entertained during a long travel as there is a high possibility that long travel may cause fatigue and boredom. Even air transportation needs to be taken care of. The travel agent should ensure to provide direct flights where ever possible ensuring least travelling time. A tired traveller may become agitated which may negatively impact the outcome of the tour.
b) Accommodation: – This is another important component of the tour. All travellers expect to be accommodated in a comfortable abode when on a tour. A travel company must not compromise in any manner on the quality of the accommodation. The hotel that is chosen for the tour should have all necessary amenities as most of the travellers are on vacation and expect a comfortable stay. Travellers who are on leisure trips and vacations expect a comfortable and luxurious stay and anything short of expectation can cause a revolt in the group. The tour company making arrangements for hotels must check on quality of the hotel, rooms, service, etc. In case of FIT tours (individual tours) it is essential that the hotel booked is centrally located so the traveller can have easy access to local transportation and is closer to touristic places. Improper accommodations can be one of the factors determining the outcome of the tour.
c) Itineraries :- Itineraries are backbone of a tour. Itinerary can be regarded as a blue print on what would be the outcome of a tour. Although itinerary a FIT tour is controlled by the traveller and has minimum consequences on the outcome of the tour. The itinerary for a group tour is one of the most important component. Although the itineraries for group tours are expected to be tight and fast paced, there are certain aspects that the travel company must take care of to conduct a successful tour. The travel company and the tour manager must ensure that the itinerary is not too fast paced. In case the itinerary is too fast paced there would be possible exertion on the travellers and they may not be able to keep up with the pace of the tour and lose interest in travelling with the tour. Apart from this the itinerary should be logical and should not be crammed with too many destinations to cover in one day as the travellers may not be able to enjoy them properly. The route for a city tour also should be pre planned and properly decided avoiding any back tracking and loss of time. Routes with heavy traffic jams should be avoided and maximum time should be utilized for touring and visiting places. More time a itinerary allots a traveller the better would be the feedback of travellers which will result in repeat customers.
d) Meals :- Meals may not seem to be a important component when you consider it in context with a FIT (indivual) tour however this is one of the primary and probably most important factors why travellers choose to travel in a Group. The Meals served on the tour should be up to the mark at all the times. There should be no compromises made in the quality and quantity of food being served to the travellers on tours. The tour company must ensure that the restaurants chosen for the tour offers a good quality and tasty food with appropriate ambience. Any shortcomings in the quality of food served will definitely impact the overall outcome and outlook of the entire group. Care should be taken if it is known that certain travellers are vegeterians or have special meal requirements like a diabetic meal, etc. If it is known that some of the travellers have upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Then the tour manager in charge of the tour must try and arrange for a cake if possible. A well feed traveller is a satisfied and happy traveller and hence meals play a very vital role in the success of a tour.
Since you know now what are important components that form a tour now we shall learn on what goes behind in making of a tour. These are some of the requisites that have to be adhered to if you want to conduct a successful tour.
Strategising: – This is one of the most important factor before you begin any task and conducting a tour also requires a solid strategy. A strategy is the culmination of all aspects that help you in achieving the end result. An idea is a mere thought and implementing the idea into action and the process of how to implement your idea into reality is called strategy. Before conducting a tour a tour company conducts thorough research on various aspects like costs, promotion, marketing, etc. Besides these basic factors, the tour company must also decide on the hotels, flights, restaurants, sightseeing, time period of the tour and cut of date for booking the tour. A proper strategy would be detrimental in achieving expected profits and results at the end of the tour.
Negotiations: – Once you have done with strategising on how to go about conducting your tour. The next step is implementation and the first step in implementation is contacting your suppliers and vendors both domestic and international. The tour company has to negotiate with various parties like hotels, airlines, restaurants, transport companies, etc to get the best rates possible. Lower the cost more the profit, there is always room for negotiations since there is a large volume involved. Airlines provide special discounted group fares for a group of more than 10 at all times. Similarly, you can also negotiate with hotel, restaurants and transport companies which would oblige anticipating more business in the future. Your cost of the tour is one of the most important factors in deciding your overall profits.
Pricing:- Pricing is the process of determining the cost or selling price of your tour package after factoring all allied costs and after adding up mark up to the cost which would make the agencies profit. Pricing or cost of the tour package is a very important factor which would decide the overall sale of the tour. If the cost of the tour is too much expensive then the clients may not choose to buy your tour package and may choose a slightly cheaper tour package with the competeitor. Similarly, if the package is very cheap and if you leave minimal margins that will leave you with very little profit for too much of work. Hence it is necessary to ascertain a cost which will make you enough profit and at the same time keep the overall cost of the package in line with your competition.
Marketing, advertisements and Promotion: – Apart from the above three factors this factor is also equally important especially in today’s heavy competitive market where you have to face massive competition. And hence the only thing that will set you apart and help you in generating more sales is your marketing strategy. If you believe you have an ace product which is of top most quality you have to make your customer believe the same. If a company is not able to market a product properly there is a very high probability that it will end up having lower sales hence various measures must be taken to promote and market your tour package. The first and foremost thing that goes into marketing your tour package is the age old reliable brochure. For centuries travel agencies have been depending upon brochures on promoting their tour packages. A brochure is a detailed pamphlet or a prospectus which provides prospective clients with inclusion, exclusions, costs, and other factors which will help them in choosing your tour package. While making a brochure ensure that pictures of touristic places are there on the brochure and correct information is printed on the brochure. Any incorrect information may lead to altercations which would harm the reputation of the organization. Apart from Brochures, there are travel companies with a big budget which would rely on other forms of media for promoting their tour packages like advertisements on Hoardings, radio, television, etc. This kind of marketing is expensive and requires massive budget and planning however today with the help of the internet and social media even a small organization can reach the masses. Social media marketing on social media sites like Facebook, twitter, instagram and whatsapp play a huge role in marketing a tour package today and these form of marketing are relatively inexpensive in comparison with Television or radio or hoardings and at the same time will help you reach the masses. Thus having a great product is not enough unless and until you have a good marketing strategy to accompany it. However one must ensure that they do not claim about something that is not included in the tour or a service that won’t be rendered on the tour. A marketing strategy has to attractive in luring the customers and at the same time must be clear and concise so you have repeat customers and goodwill.
Customer Service: – A wise man once told me when selling a holiday package you are selling a dream to a person who has been wanting to travel. And these words have stayed with me for a long time now. Customer service without a doubt is one of the most important factor in any industry today and touring industry is no different. The customer service what a customer receives before booking a tour and during the tour will determine the future of your business and repeat business. Hence it is important to offer uncompromised service to customers at all times. It is essential to ensure that visas, tickets, vouchers, etc are delivered to clients well before the tour begins and each every aspect of inclusions and exclusions are thoroughly explained so there are no misunderstandings. Similarly, during the tour the tour manager must ensure that all possible client requirements are met with and all places and destinations included in the brochures are visited. Any shortcomings on customer service will have a negative impact on the tour and image of the organization itself.
We hope this information will be useful in understanding and selling leisure travel. Do leave a comment below or let us know in case if you have any queries.