Tour Operations Management: Lcb Tours

TOUR OPERATION
MANAGEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Effects of current and recent trends on tour operators industry.............................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Stages of developing a holiday..............................................................................................3
2.2 Suitability of different methods of contracting......................................................................3
2.3 calculation of selling price.....................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
3.1 Planning decision for designing brochure.............................................................................3
3.2 Suitability of alternative to traditional brochure....................................................................4
3.3 Suitability of various distribution methods used to sell holiday............................................5
4.1 strategic decision made by different tour operators...............................................................6
4.2 Compare tactical decision......................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is considered as most essential task of any company. Travel
companies have to manage trip of consumers, by preparing amazing holiday packages for them
(Filby, Stockin and Scarpaci, 2015). Present study is based on Lcb tours that organize trips for
visitors. It provides transportation, accommodation all kinds of services to its consumers in order
to raise their satisfaction level. Current assignment will analyses effects of current and recent
trends on tour operators industry. Furthermore, it will assess stages of developing a holiday.
Report will evaluate suitability of different methods of contracting with reference to Lcb tours.
At last, Study will describe planning decisions that are taken by tour operators for designing
brochure.
TASK 1
1.1 Effects of current and recent trends on tour operators industry
Effects of current and recent trends on tour operators industry
Tour operators are
responsible for managing
tours of travellers. There
are many consumers
those who make
connection with tour
operators for planning
their holiday (Shin and
Byun, 2015). Various
tour operators are
described as below:
Inbound tour operator
They are the
operators those which
arranges trip for foreign
tourists. Many
international clients
Specialist tour operators
They are another kind of operators
those who are specialized in promoting a
location. They generally arrange cultural,
adventurous tours for individual (Cetin and
Yarcan, 2017).
Outbound tour
operator
They are
another kind of
operators those who
offer travel packages to
travellers outside the
country. They are
specialized in
providing multinational
holiday tours. Lcb
tours works as
outbound tour operator
(Li and et.al., 2017).
Domestic tour
operator
They run their
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came to the own country
to visits attractive place.
Inbound operators can be
considered as host
representative. They
design travel packages to
consumers on the bases
of their requirements.
operators with country,
they promote culture,
diversity of own nation
amongst citizen of
same region. They
generally considers
needs of individual
client and accordingly
design travel packages.
Recent trends in industry
Technological
advancement
Development in
technologies have
supported companies in
offering amazing
services to consumers
and making direct
connection with them.
Now internet, pre-
booking etc. various
facilities is available for
consumers. Lcb tours
ensure giving all
information on its
website, it uploads detail
of its travel packages on
its website. Consumers
can look upon it and can
Environmental awareness and
responsible tourism
In recent time many tour operators
are now looking upon environmental
safety. Thus, they promote responsible
tourism so that natural resources can be
protected. This aids in managing traffic in
any location and controlling over pollution
(Chanin and et.al., 2015).
Economic changes
Economic
fluctuation creates
challenge of
organization to sustain
in market for longer
duration. Rising
inflation impacts on
spending of customers,
in such condition
demand of travel
packages can get
decreased. Whereas fall
in inflation encourage
travelling.
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select their travel
package as per their
needs. They can book
tickets in advanced and
can get all details on
their phone immediately.
This helps in boosting
tourism in nation and
improving profitability
of company (Mi and
et.al., 2014)
TASK 2
2.1 Stages of developing a holiday
Covered in PPT
2.2 Suitability of different methods of contracting
Covered in PPt
2.3 calculation of selling price
Covered in PPT
TASK 3
3.1 Planning decision for designing brochure
Brochure is the tool that helps in circulating information about holiday package of tour
operators to the consumers. Many companies design attractive brochure for gaining attention of
people and influencing their decision as well. In order to design attractive brochure Lcb tours
has to make several planning decisions (Chanin and et.al., 2015). These are explained as below:
 Cost: Company has to decide the amount that will be spend on brochure designing. In
order to calculate cost it has to look upon the distribution, quality of prints, number of
copies, wastage etc. If quality of prints is higher then it will increase the cost but if
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quality is low then it might create issue in achieving the goal. Entity has to make
decision to reduce the wastage so that overall cost can be controlled.
 Format deciding: This is next planning decision in which Lcb tours has to look upon the
matter whether it requires one fold, two folds brochure. If it prints booklet type of
brochure then it might increase cost (Mi and et.al., 2014). Thus, entity has to make
planning for the format so that content can be placed accordingly.
 Target market and budget: This is another major element includes in planning decision, it
has to decide to which firm wants to target. If it arranges adventurous travel then young
people will be target, if it offers culture tour package then families, old people will be
targeted thus, it is essential to decide the target market so that brochure can be colored
accordingly. Then entity has to look upon entire budget. This will help in taking decision
related to quality, volume etc (Xia and et.al., 2015).
 Print specification: It is another phase in which Lcb Tours has to determine nature of
destination, style of font, size etc. If print specification is not correct then company will
get failed to attract more people towards the brand.
 Timescale and stage of production: Lcb has to take decision related to deadline of
launch, season ability etc. This helps in increasing or decreasing demand for that holiday
package in market (Ndope, 2015).
3.2 Suitability of alternative to traditional brochure
In earlier times when technologies were limited, at that time tour operators have to design
brochures to make people aware with the travel packages. Now in technological era it is not
essential to print hard copy of such traditional brochure. There are several other suitable options
that may help in attracting more people towards this new holiday package of Lcb tours:
E-brochure
Lcb tours can send soft copy of brochure to the email Id of consumers. This will help in
gaining attention of people. Potential buyers those who are interested in this package will revert
on mail. This is best and cost-effective option. This helps in minimizing printing cost of
company and increasing demand as well (Filby, Stockin and Scarpaci, 2015). In this option,
entity will not have to look upon quality of paper, etc. because this would be soft copy so
attractive images, fonts can be used that can gain attention of potential buyers. E- brochure are
able to increase demand because tour operators need not to directly contact with consumers.
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Social media
This is another suitable option for Lcb tours, in recent time many people use Facebook,
Twitter etc. many social sites. It can upload this brochure on these sites. The main advantage of
these sites are that videos, animated posts can be uploaded. By this way company can give many
information consumers. If one person is reverting on these social platforms then it will influence
decision of others as well (Shin and Byun, 2015). Outbound tour operators are generally taking
support of This type of alternative option because this may help them in attracting foreign
visitors and gaining attention of mass audience as well.
Internet
This is another suitable option in which company can give detail on internet. Whenever
customer search for travel packages then they may find this brochure on internet. This will help
in making direct contract with potential buyers and influencing their mind as well (Cetin and
Yarcan, 2017).
3.3 Suitability of various distribution methods used to sell holiday
Distribution is the method through which tour operators distribute the information of
particular products to end user. There are several methods of distribution:
Indirect or two level distribution
Travel agents are the people those who works as intermediately between consumer and
travel companies. They make contact with travellers and make them aware with the new holiday
package of company (Yadav and et.al., 2017).
Direct distribution
It is most suitable channel through which entity can make direct contract with consumers.
Internet, social media sites etc. are various platform through which enterprise can deal with
consumers. This helps in offering cost effective products to travellers because no intermediary
fees are included thus, it reduces cost of the holiday package.
Government websites
There are many tour operators generally outbound operators those who arranges travel in
international countries for consumers. They have connection with regulatory bodies, they request
to upload the information of holiday on government sites so that many people take interest (Xia
and et.al., 2015). Government give details of attractive places in location and available travel
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offers on its website in order to gain attention of buyers. This is the suitable way to sell holiday
to customers.
4.1 strategic decision made by different tour operators
Organization aims to increase their profit and sustain in market for longer duration. For
accomplishing these objective firms have to make several strategic decisions. These judgements
are able to attract more people towards brand and improving its brand image as well.
Pricing strategy is the most common and essential decision. Lcb tours provide outbound
travel services to consumers (Szeto, 2014). But it offers holiday packages to consumers at
competitive price. It looks upon the pricing strategy of other competitors and accordingly
decides its own prices. This helps the organization in maintaining competition and generating
demand as well. If pricing strategy is not correct then it might create issue for entity to sustain in
market for longer duration (Ndope, 2015).
Furthermore, Lcb tours have to take strategic decision related to positioning and
branding. Company has to promote its brand effectively by taking support of social media. This
helps in making direct connection with potential buyers and identifying their needs. By this way
it can design its holiday packages accordingly to their requirements. This helps in promoting
brand and raising its brand image as well (Xia and et.al., 2015).
4.2 Compare tactical decision
Lcb tours has to make correct tactical decisions that it can enhance demand in market. It has
to give immediate response to its consumers. It takes support of social networking site for
making connection with travellers. Consumers ask their quarries on these sites, company has to
give immediate response to the quarries of potential buyers so that it can influence their decision
and can make them positive towards brand. Furthermore, an Lcb tour has to take correct tactical
pricing decision as well (Cetin and Yarcan, 2017). It has to offer holiday packages to customers
at lower rates This will make the product affordable and will raise interest of many people. This
is the way through which profit can be increased and entity can achieve its goal as well. For
marketing the product and services of company, Lcb can take assistance of social networking
sites. This is bets way of making direct connection with potential buyers and offering them goods
and services according to their requirements.
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CONCLUSION
From the above study it can be concluded that tourism industry is fastest growing sector
and has high contribution in economic development of nation. Tour operators have to design
their brochure in attractive manner and have to take direct distribution method to reach to mass
audience. Use of social networking sites help organization in identifying needs of consumers
and designing travel packages as per their requirements. This is the best way through which
demand can be increased and brand can be promoted well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cetin, G. and Yarcan, S., 2017. The professional relationship between tour guides and tour
operators. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism. 17(4). pp.345-357.
Chanin, O. and et.al., 2015. Guidelines on Halal tourism management in the Andaman Sea coast
of Thailand. Journal of Economics, Business and Management. 3(8). pp.791-794.
Filby, N. E., Stockin, K. A. and Scarpaci, C., 2015. Social science as a vehicle to improve
dolphin-swim tour operation compliance?. Marine Policy. 51. pp.40-47.
Li, Y. and et.al., 2017. The concept of smart tourism in the context of tourism information
services. Tourism Management. 58. pp.293-300.
Mi, C. and et.al., 2014. A new method for evaluating tour online review based on grey 2-tuple
linguistic. Kybernetes. 43(3/4). pp.601-613.
Ndope, K., 2015. The Effect of Global Environmental Turbulence on the Performance of Firms
in the Tourism Sector in Kenya: A Case Study of Tour Operators (Doctoral dissertation,
United States International University-Africa).
Shin, S. and Byun, B., 2015. Evaluation of Trail Facility and Operation-Management for
Walking Tour Revitalization-focus on Ganghwa Nadeul-gil. Journal of Wetlands
Research. 17(2). pp.176-183.
Szeto, W. Y., 2014. Dynamic modeling for intelligent transportation system applications.
Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems. 18(4). pp.323-326.
Xia, B. and et.al., 2015. Sustainable retirement village for older people: a case study in Brisbane,
Australia. International Journal of Strategic Property Management. 19(2). pp.149-158.
Yadav, A. S. and et.al., 2017. Analysis of seven stages supply chain management in electronic
component inventory optimization for warehouse with economic load dispatch using
genetic algorithm. Selforganizology. 4(2). pp.18-29.
Online
Types of tour operators. 2018. [Online]. Available through <
http://www.iibmindialms.com/library/operation-management/supply-chain-management/
tour-operators-types/>
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