Tour Operation Management - Report

Tour Operation Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Analyse effects of current or recent trends and development on tour operator industry......1
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Assessing the various stages and timescale for developing holidays..................................2
2.2 Sustainability of different methods of contracting for holiday components and types of
tour operators..............................................................................................................................4
2.2 Calculations of selling price of holiday package..................................................................5
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Evaluation the planning decisions taken for the design of a selected brochure....................5
3.2 The suitability of alternatives to a traditional brochure for different types of tour operators
.....................................................................................................................................................6
3.3 The suitability of different methods of distributions used to sell a holiday by tour
operators......................................................................................................................................7
Task 4 ............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Evaluate the strategic decision made by different types of tour operator.............................8
4.2 Compare the tactical decisions that could be taken by a selected tour operator in different
situations.....................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
In the current scenario, travel and tourism industry has wide scope in overall sector as it
is growing rapidly and contributing more to the UK economy. The business of tour operation is
very important constituent in tourism sector. Tour operator is considered as a firm where they
provide holiday packages to the customers including travel and accommodations that are booked
for people. They focus on giving the best facilities, better services and provides luxury holidays
to the audiences with favourable price. This project is based on Trailfinders Ltd. which is a travel
and tourism firm (Afshar and Haghani, 2012). This company has around 29 centres in the UK
and three others in Ireland. It provides various tourism facilities such as holiday packages with
various services as airlines, hotel and resort, etc. There are approx. 1000 staffs working in this
firm. This report will explain the effect of current and recent trends of tour operators industry
and timescale for developing holidays. It will evaluate different methods of contracting for
holiday and types of tour operators. This will calculate of selling price holiday and plan for
design a brochure and its sustainability for tour operator. Different methods of distribution to sell
a holiday. There are various strategic and tactical decisions that also will discuss here.
TASK 1
1.1 Analysing effects of current or recent trends and development on tour operator industry
According to environment, there are various changes occurs so businessman have to
face. Travel and tourism industry is one of the most important constituents in the business so it
also influence by current or recent trends in positive as well as negative. It is necessary to adopt
new changes for attracting number of customers towards organisation. Competition is increasing
fast and tough and companies are focusing in adopting the best strategies for surviving among
competitors so that they can develop their industry and also create more awareness about tour
packages. Trailfinders which is travel and tourism firm is also concentrating on developing their
business by making appropriate decisions towards adoption of new trends and provide better
facilities as well as services for the development (Ahmadi, 2015). There are various recent
trends which must be adopted by firm for the purpose of meeting customers’ needs or wants in
an effective manner.
Internet and latest technological equipment: This is the best and most trending method
which is very effective for promoting the products as it is an essential for identify unique or new
1

destinations places by using internet source. It is very supportive in discovering more attractive
places so that visitors can be attracted. Company uses this tool for conveying the message as well
as providing information through official websites and social media (Seifi and Tootooni, 2015).
Trailfinders is giving the first priority to internet source for creating awareness among customers
by providing important information regarding tour packages and various kinds of services or
facilities while travelling. Internet is effective for connecting with a wide range of people. So,
company designs the websites and also publishes some online ads for conveying the message.
Environmental awareness: It is compulsory for every business to screen the environment
and find out its effects on the business firm. In the travel and tourism industry, there are various
kinds of changes involved in this that are generally made by the government towards some tour
destinations and historical places. Environment is dynamic in its nature and therefore, company
is required to conduct survey for analysing market trends as they receive data about recent
trends, customers and competitors that are very important for making decisions for tour
packages.
Types of tour operators who organise holiday packages such as:
Direct sell operators: In such kinds of organisation, they sell tour packages directly to the
public. They attract many customers by providing some offers or schemes to them. Generally,
direct sell operators are mediators who sell these types of holiday package to people after buying
those from companies and they do not take any commission. It is easy for customers that they
can purchase tour packages from brokers at reasonable price (Allahyari, 2015). Trailfinders Ltd
also does the same as they design tour plans and sell these to different tour operators. It supports
in reaching at potential customers in the market and achieve competitive advantages.
Domestic operators: This method is traditional in the market as in this, company sells
various tour packages to operators and they reside the best places as well as destinations during
providing better facilities and services to people. It is an essential for finding latest trends or
market in the travel or tourism industry.
Task 2
2.1 Assessing various stages and timescale for developing holidays
This is the main purpose of any travel and tourism industry to plan a better tour package
for creating more customers and attracting them towards organisation. There are several stages
2