CHAPTER 5TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Better By The Bunch: The Tour Industry Today
OBJECTIVES:
oDescribe
the many kinds of tours that exist
oExplain why tour manager jobs are in such
demand
oDetermine what motivates people to take a tour
oExplain how tours are priced and sold
TERMS:
oAdventure
tour
oAll-inclusive tour
oDay tour
oDeadheading
oEcotourism
oFly-drive tour
oIncentive tour
oMystery
tour
oSplit itinerary
oTour
oTour manager
oTour operator
oTransfer service
oTrip director
TOURS
oTour:
any preplanned
package to one or more
places, which includes two
or more travel components
(flights, lodging,
attractions)
oTour: can be highly
structured or loosely
organized
KINDS OF TOURS
oEscorted
Tour: structured
tour with a travel professional
that oversees everything
oTour Manager: the
professional in charge of all
details of the escorted tour, may
also be called the tour leader,
tour director, escort, conductor
or tour guide
KINDS OF TOURS
oMotorcoach
tour: Escorted tour with main
mode of transportation is a motorcoach
oMotorcoach: the preferred mode of
transportation for escorted tours, “bus” designed
for touring, may cost as much as $500,000
KINDS OF TOURS
oIntermodal
tours: combines different types of
transportation into one package; may include
bus, train, airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.
KINDS OF TOURS
oHosted
tour: similar to escorted tour,
however, guide only meets with
travelers
and does not travel with them
oIndependent tour: for travelers that want their own
itinerary, but get discounts for a package that includes
overnight accommodations plus one or more other
travel components, you get to a destination, then do
what you want ( this type of tour out sells other tours 4
to 1 in the U.S. and Canada)
oFly-drive tour: must have air transportation and rental
car
KINDS OF TOURS
oDay
tour: lasts fewer than 24 hours, usually a
city tour
oSite tour: conducted at a specific building,
attraction or limited area, may be a walking tour
or a vehicle tour
KINDS OF TOURS
oAdventure
tour: features
physical activity such as hiking,
diving, white-water rafting, safaris,
etc)
oSustainable tours: also known as
ecotourism, where you “leave no
trace” of a human being there
oIncentive trip: business with
pleasure, usually a company’s way
of rewarding an employee
TOUR FACTS:
oU.S.
and Canada spend $11 Billion a year on
tours
oTours packages are purchased from tour
companies, packagers, brokers or wholesalers
oTravel agents like to sell tours because they
make commissions from suppliers
WHY PEOPLE TAKE TOURS…
oTime
and Money: tours often give you a better deal
for your money-you get more with the package
oQuest for Knowledge: you “learn” as you travel, often
the most important benefit of a tour
oCamaraderie: you meet people and become friends,
share the experiences
oGroups: you go with a group when you foresee
problems such as language, customs, safety issues
TOUR PRICE
oAll-inclusive
tour: offers most of its features
for one price, traveler usually pays for most
everything before they go
oCost: depends on where, when and how long
the trip is
HOW TOURS ARE SOLD…
oPublic
or per-capital tours: sold to
the general public and groups
oCustomized or charter tours: tailored
to a specific group, for a specific price
oInbound operator: company that
concentrates on tours in a particular
city, area or country
oOutbound operator: company that
takes groups from a particular city or
country to another country
Careers in the Tour Industry
oSenior
executives,
directors, and managers
oClerical support
oReservationists
oTour conductors
oTour guides
oDistrict
sales managers
oHuman resource
officers
oTour planners
oDrivers
oTechnological support
WEB SITES
oAmerican
Association of Museums (AAM)
http://www.aam-us.org
oAmerican Bus Association: (ABA)
http://www.buses.org
oNational Tour Association (NTA)
http://www.ntaonline.com
oU.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA)
http://www.ustoa.com
TOURING WITH THE INTERNET
oBrendan
Worldwide Vacations:
http://www.brendantours.com
oCollette Vacations:
http://www.collettevacations.com
oContiki Holidays:
http://www.contiki.com
oTauk World Discovery:
http://www.tauck.com
oTravcoa: http://www.travcoa.com