Week Three: Tours
Types of tours
Tours can be classified into a number of categories:
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package tours
escorted tours
hosted tours
all-inclusive tours
Segmentation of the inclusive tour market
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By mode of transport (air/rail/sea)
By distance to the destination (long haul/ short haul)
By length of holiday (short break/ long holiday)
By travel season (summer/ winter)
The package tour
A pre-arranged combination of not fewer than two of the following tourism services when sold
or offered for sale at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of more than 24
hours or includes overnight accommodation:
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transportation – air, sea, road, rail etc. to/from destination
Accommodation – hotels, guest houses, cottages etc.
other tourism services such as transfers between air/sea port and accommodation at
destination, accounting for a significant portion of the tour package
Often package holiday can include the following additional elements:
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meals – breakfast, half board or full board
Supplementary services – events, city sightseeing, theme evenings
Entertainment – animation etc.
Insurance – and other ancillary services
Advantages of a package tour:
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locating information about a destination reduced, consumer selects a tour from a
brochure created by tour wholesaler
transaction costs of making reservations with different suppliers are reduced
passed on benefits and discounts through bulk buying from tour wholesaler to final
customer
“no hassle” element, everything is arranged for the traveller
legally the tour operator adheres with his name (EU consumer protection policy)
Disadvantages of a package tour:
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overwhelming choices and varieties of tour may cause difficulties to find the “right” tour
for customers
having to cope with a fixed itinerary
Some tour wholesaler now allow tourists to customise their packages, either by designing
shorter tours and allowing travellers to combine them together in various ways.
Escorted tours
This kind of tour is a group tour which uses the services of a professional tour manager. The
escorted tour is a structured programme of sightseeing, meals, transportation and
accommodation. The professional tour manager is in charge of all arrangements. Specialinterest tours are generally escorted tours. (Lubbe 2000)
All-inclusive tours
An all-inclusive tour includes the coverage of all costs in the unit price except for personal
items. This usually means the coverage of all air and land arrangements such as transportation,
accommodation, meals and sightseeing. (Lubbe 2000)
Incentive trip
Journey for the staff of an enterprise or for the members of a professional group to reward or
encourage them. The costs of incentive trips are largely or partially borne by the hosts.
Other tours
There exist many other types of tours, for example study tours or sales tours just to mention a
few.1
1
(Anon., 2013)
How to Organize Package Tours
Package tours are excursions or holidays which “package” a variety of services together to
make a single “combined” trip. Commonly they combine such things as transport,
accommodation and meals. They may also include the provision of a tour guide and/or leader.
Tours can be long or short in duration and distance. They may be a one-day or overnight
package, or they could be a period of a month or more.
Packaged tours typically include:
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All transfers between airports/harbors/stations and hotels
Twin share tourist and first-class accommodation with private facilities, as specified
Cruises
Rental cars
Entrance fees to attractions
Insurance
Tickets for entry to events or attractions
Insurance
Other Types of Packages
The types of packages available in today’s market are vast and varied. This ensures all
consumers’ needs and desires are met. Package tours can be further broken down into specific
tour types. Tours available range from Special-interest tours, Adventure tours, City or Regional
tours, and Group tours.
Special-interest tours are designed around a particular interest area which could include arts,
food and wine, sport, cultural or agricultural. Specialist tours may include an expert or celebrity
guide who relates to the theme of a tour (e.g. a gardening expert accompanying a garden tour,
or an art expert accompanying an art tour).
Adventure tours are designed to allow the consumer to participate in their area of interest for
the length of the tour and more experience based. They generally are physical and require a
certain level of fitness, however, can sometimes be modified to meet your needs depending on
the other travelers. Some examples of this tour type include diving, rock or mountain climbing,
horse riding, skiing or cycling.
City/regional tours normally last for one full day or less. They follow a fixed itinerary and will
visit areas of interest in a specific place, whether that is historic, religious or cultural,
refreshments or meals are often included.
Group tours also follow a fixed and pre-arranged itinerary. They often only take place
depending on the number of travelers i.e. they require a certain number of travelers in order to
go ahead or it becomes a financial cost rather than profitable. It is also worth noting there are a
maximum number of travelers on group tours too, as determined by the mode of transport – a
56 seater coach can accommodate no more passengers and therefore the number limit is
defined. Group tours are generally always escorted or a tour guide service is provided.2
Tour Management and Planning
Before tour operators decide to design their tours they often take into consideration the
research that has to be undertaken. This includes researching on the destination, which
destination is currently “trending” or popular in this regard it ensures that the tour operator
selects a destination that there is a demand for. It also requires them to contacting the relevant
suppliers i.e accommodation, airlines, attractions, transportation companies, destination
management companies. There are three stages in the planning stages: Pre – tour phase, tour
execution phase and the post tour phase.
What is travel planning?
Travel is a big part of everyone’s daily life. Journeys range from travelling to work, shops, school
or leisure activities. These journeys may use a single or combination of the following modes;
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Private Car
Bus
Train
Cycling
Walking
The way we travel has an effect on the environment, our health and our finances. Both
individuals and governments have become increasingly concerned about the impact of the
modern industrial society on the planet. It has been estimated that car commuting contributes
almost 20% of all UK energy use. Cars travelling on business contribute a further 10%.
In 1998, the Government published “A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone”, which
identified the need to reduce vehicle trips and use more sustainable forms of transport to the
private car. Green Travel Plans were identified as the mechanism to reduce private car trips and
facilitate more sustainable and integrated transport. Green Travel Plans have since become
Travel Plans. Against this background, the format and content of Travel Plans have developed.
The need for Travel Planning is also identified within Planning Policy Guidance Note 13:
Transport (PPG 13). PPG 13 states that “The Government wants to help raise awareness of the
impacts of travel decisions and promote widespread use of Travel Plans amongst businesses,
schools, hospitals and other organizations”.
“A Travel Plan is a package of measures aimed at promoting sustainable travel within an
organization, with an emphasis on reducing reliance on single occupancy car travel.” A Travel
Plan Resource Pack for Employers: Transport Energy (2004) Travel Plans however, are not
generic documents. In order to succeed they need:
2
(Anon., 2011)
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To be developed by or on behalf of companies according to their specific circumstances;
The commitment of all of the organizations inhabitants (management, staff, students) in
their implementation; and
To be monitored and driven by a Travel Plan Co-coordinator or process owner.
With the travel plan comes a range of measures to incentivize travel by bus, train, cycle and
walk along with the more efficient use of cars and car parks. In addition it offers tools to assist
with networking without the need to travel using IT solutions.
My Travel Planning offers the means to adopt all these plus provides the tool to help generate
travel behavior change through social marketing techniques and a web based interface for
individuals.
Benefits of travel planning
Traffic increased by 73% in the UK between 1980 and 2002. This has resulted in a 39% increase
in greenhouse gas emissions from transport, which now accounts for 26% of UK emissions.
With road traffic expected to increase by 26% by 2010 and 40% by 2025, emissions will
continue to increase unless we change our attitudes to travel.
In addition to the environmental aspect of travel, congestion is also a major factor of increased
car use. Figures from the commissioner of Integrated Transport suggest that traffic congestion
is projected to grow by 65% overall by 2010.
Effective travel planning benefits both the individual and organizations.
For Individuals it can provide them with the following:
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cost savings – through tax incentives and reduced travel costs
lifestyle – more healthy and less stress, through the use of other forms of travel and the
need to make less journeys
citizenship – through making a positive contribution to the challenges of climate change
and the need to reduce CO2 emissions
For organizations it can provide them with the following benefits
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financial – through tax incentives and reduced business miles
environmental – through the reduction in carbon footprint generated by travel
profile – through the adoption of a proactive CSR and environmental policy of travel
planning, in turn creating a stronger platform for organizations to develop and recruit
the best people(Anon., 2013)
Travel Planning Process
The TravelSmart methodology involves developing and implementing travel plans to encourage
the use of more sustainable transport modes. Travel planning is a strategic approach
underpinned by models of behavior change theory.
The development of a travel plan can be broken down into five key steps:
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Getting started;
Gathering the facts;
Planning better ways to go;
Making it happen;
Monitoring and sustaining
Getting started
In order to change travel behavior, people must feel a sense of ownership of the plan. This first
step is important in building the foundations of the travel plan by securing support of the site
(the school, tertiary institution, workplace or community). This can be achieved by identifying
who should be involved; getting them on the working group; finding out what they see as the
issue/s to be addressed; and, mapping out a project plan together.
Gathering the facts
Before the travel plan can be developed, data needs to be compiled in order to better
understand the existing travel behavior. This includes undertaking a range of research tasks
such as travel surveys, counts and observations, focus groups, and consultation to help
determine current travel patterns. Another important component is ascertaining the barriers to
sustainable travel as well as determining the opportunities for promoting sustainable travel.
The information should be analyzed and presented to the Travel Smart community.
Planning better ways to go
After gathering the facts, a range of actions need to be formulated to address the identified
barriers and opportunities— the analyzed results will guide the strategies. It is important to
regularly seek feedback from the target audience as the plan will need their support to succeed.
Create strategies, objectives, targets and action items as part of developing a simple,
accountable travel plan.
Making it happen
Once the plan has been written, the next step is to launch it and start implementing the actions.
Ensure travel plan actions are maintained and regularly checked against the travel plan
schedule. Think about how the plan can be launched and changes to travel behavior promoted.
What actions need further communication or can be reinforced by providing rewards for
achieving goals? Celebrate the achievements and share the success.
Monitoring and sustaining
Part of the process is to formally review the travel plan and provide status updates to the
TravelSmart community. Undertake annual follow-up travel surveys on travel behavior and
identify any new issues that may arise. Continue to review the travel plan and recognize what
has or has not worked. Embed the process into the school, university, workplace or community
by incorporating it into the policy framework and culture. Think about long-term incentives for
maintaining travel behaviour change.