TOUR OPERATOR MANAGEMENT

Explore the world of tour operator management in the tourism industry, analyzing trends, developing holiday packages, brochure design, strategic decisions, and marketing strategies.

TOUR OPERATOR MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................2
TASK 1..............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 ANALYSE THE EFFECTS OF CURRENT AND RECENT TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS ON
THE TOUR OPERATORS INDUSTRY...............................................................................................3
TASK 2..............................................................................................................................................4
2.1- ASSESS THE STEPS AND TIMESCALES INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING HOLIDAYS......................4
2.2 EVALUATE THE SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF CONTRACTING FOR DIFFERENT
COMPONENTS OF THE HOLIDAY AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOUR OPERATOR.........................6
2.3 CALCULATE THE SELLING PRICE OF HOLIDAY PACKAGE..................................7
TASK 3..............................................................................................................................................8
3.1 EVALUATION OF PLANNING DECISIONS TAKEN FOR DESIGN OF A BROCHURE....................8
3.2 ASSESSMENT OF SUITABILITY OF SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS TO A TRADITIONAL BROCHURE
FOR DIFFERENT TOUR OPERATORS AND RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MOST APPROPRIATE
ONE FOR LUXURY HOLIDAYS.....................................................................................................10
3.3 EVALUATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION TO SELL A
HOLIDAY FOR DIFFERENT TOUR OPERATOR AND RECOMMEND THE MOST APPROPRIATE ONE
FOR LUXURY HOLIDAYS.............................................................................................................12
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................13
4.1 EVALUATION OF THE STRATEGIC DECISIONS MADE BY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOUR
OPERATOR.................................................................................................................................13
4.2 COMPARE THE TACTICAL DECISIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY A SELECTED TOUR
OPERATOR IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS......................................................................................15
CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................17
1

INTRODUCTION
The tour operation management can be defined as the travel or tourism industry in which the
tour operators are responsible to provide services and facilities to the customers according to
their requirements and demands on their entire journey. They prepare tour packages that
involve entire data and information about the holiday tour at a particular place so that the
people can make their plans accordingly by seeing it. As it is well known that the tourism
industry is a most comprehensive sector that also enhances the country's GDP rate and makes
the organization more profitable as well. In this assignment, the effects of current and recent
trends effects will describe regards to development and growth of the industry. Further, some
of the steps will explain that is significant in order to make the holiday tour package. Various
methodologies and the importance of brochure with the strategic decision making towards
marketing the tour package in an effective manner will also describe in manner.
2

TASK 1
1.1 ANALYSE THE EFFECTS OF CURRENT AND RECENT TRENDS AND
DEVELOPMENTS ON THE TOUR OPERATORS INDUSTRY
3

TASK 2
2.1- ASSESS THE STEPS AND TIMESCALES INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING
HOLIDAYS
There are various tour operators in the tourism industry and they all use various strategic
approaches and tactics in order to develop tour package for the visitors and provide them with
such required services effectively. Timescale frame is much more important for maintaining
stability and completing the project in successfully on proper time accordingly.
Several stages are involved in the planning of developing holiday tour packages that are as
follows-
Market research: it is the most prior or first step of planning and decision-making process
because by which the proper needs and trends can be analyzed (Bruni, et al. 2017). Destination
places researching is also the important factor in order to identify the impacting factors so that
the tour operator management can easily make the decision towards reducing the negative
consequences and arranges the facilities for visitors.
Cost assessment: deciding pricing for the entire tour is also the viable part. The pricing strategy
must be effective or affordable for the people so that they can easily make their plans and use it
successfully. Tour operators initially fixed the budget and then make the strategies accordingly.
Staff management: in order to provide services and facilities to the customers according to their
demands, it is important to manage staff members for them, so that the people can easily take
the benefit of it. Tour operator management also gives the chances to employment to other
people by which they can enhance the effectiveness as well.
Negotiation: the management department negotiates with the other service providers such as
transport companies, hotel industry, food and much more in order to provide facilities to the
visitors in a single package. They also give them some discounted price that attracts the people
and results from the large attentive audience.
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Evaluation: after developing the plan; in the end, proper analysis and evaluation take place in
which the company ensures the stability or efficiency of the project management. The
evaluation can be figured out with the several tactics regards attainment of the perspective
goals and objectives (Byrnes, et al. 2016).
Timescale frame is described below with the help of Gantt chart that requires at least 5 months
to complete for developing the holiday tour package.
TIME FRAME 1st MONTH 2nd MONTH 3rd MONTH 4th MONTH 5th MONTH
MARKET
RESEARCH
COST
ASSESSMENT
STAFF
MANAGEMEN
T
NEGOTIATION
EVALUATION
Figure: Gantt chart
5

2.2 EVALUATE THE SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF CONTRACTING
FOR DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE HOLIDAY AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF
TOUR OPERATOR
Holiday tour package can be defined as the document or a type of leaflet in which the entire
details of the tour with the several facilities and services are included. Trailfinders makes
various strategic approaches and plans for the tour of students and several methods are used
for contracting the different components while developing tour package as well.
Following methodologies are described below-
Fixed contract: it is defined as that the costs for the administrations like travel, lodging is settled
and regardless of whether the administrations are not benefited, the specialist co-ops will get
the cost of booking (Glover, et al. 2016). This kind of agreement isn't reasonable for the present
visit design of instructive excursion for understudies on the grounds that toward the end
minute if a few understudies neglect to join the trek then it will cost enormous sums and create
misfortune for the understudies and also visit administrator in light of the fact that the
specialist organizations won't be in charge of the cancelation.
Sales only contract: in this type of contract, the pricing strategy is relatively higher than the
fixed contracting method because, in offseason, the pricing is less but in peak season, when the
customer rate hi high; the pricing is also doubled in order to make the profit and generate more
revenue as well.
These both the techniques are mostly used by the tour operator management towards
developing the tour package but the fixed contracting method is relatively more efficient and
affordable for the people (Khairat and Maher, 2017). Fixed contract service is the best method
and Trailfinders also used this method that helps in the enhancement of profitability and the
establishment of brand value as well.
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2.3 CALCULATE THE SELLING PRICE OF HOLIDAY PACKAGE
The Grand Casselbergh in Burges gives administrations and the merchandise to the
understudies at an extremely extraordinary value that incorporates whole offices for their visit
bundles. There are add up to 42 understudies and it charges 96 euros for each head in a solitary
room where two understudies can share the room that likewise incorporates breakfast in it.
The transportation benefit cost is around of 11,200 euros, which is 48-seater extravagance
transport mentor and there are two drivers in this administrations. This charge additionally
incorporates the toll, fuel, ship expenses and visit director cost. Further, the cost of visit direct
is 945 euros for the whole visit timeframe. The organization called Trailfinders likewise adds the
33 percent markup to the general cost.
COST CALCULATION TOTAL AMOUNT
Cost of single room including
breakfast
96*42*5 € 20,160.00
Total variable cost € 20,160.00
1 euro = 0.89 pounds
Variable cost in pounds 20,160.00*0.89 £ 17942.40
Cost of bus £ 11200.00
Cost of guide £ 945.00
Total costing of tour = £ 30, 087.40
33 percent markup = 9928.84
Total price of tour = £ 40,016.24
Total students = 42
Price of a single student for the tour = £ 952.76
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TASK 3
3.1 EVALUATION OF PLANNING DECISIONS TAKEN FOR DESIGN OF A
BROCHURE
The plan and decision making for the leaflet and effective brochure is an essential component in
the showcasing system for the tour operators to offer occasions. The successful making
arrangements for the proposition of a pamphlet and attractive brochures of extravagance
occasion is finished with the assistance of promoting group at KUONI in a way that gives
interesting holiday tour packages to the consumers. The arranging choices which are made are
inspected as takes after-
Research of market: The important data and information about the outlining of the brochures
are gathered which incorporates understanding the prerequisite of customers, investigation of
existing issues in occasion arranging, an organization of brochure and time taken for sending of
the flyer and so forth.
Target market selection: This progression incorporates the thoughts and ideas for the planning
of the leaflet. The elements considered while planning is the shading contrasts, catchphrases,
design and the realistic styles (Ling, et al. 2015). The objective clients are chosen which will
assume a noteworthy part being developed of the plan of the handout. It will incorporate the
pictures and infectious lines for the extravagance occasions which will pull in the intended
interest group.
Development: The planning of handout in a joint effort with advertising group at KUONI for
extravagance bundle occasion visit will incorporate the improvement of taunt ups and varieties
to evaluate the input of clients. The leaflet incorporates the data about the extravagance
bundle which additionally comprises of the occasion goal, costs for convenience, travel, guide
and nourishment per individual and other important points of interest, for example, contact
number, an address of the visit administrator organization and so on.
Organization and supervision: after developing brochures and leaflets, this incorporates an
official conclusion making with respect to the print and material utilized for the leaflet. The
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outline is produced and printed by innovative specialists to accomplish the target of drawing in
a substantial gathering of people. The supervision of the pamphlet creation is extremely basic
post the arrangement procedure which incorporates quality control and quality affirmation. In
this day and age of evolving innovation, it is essential to adjust to the site design improvement
strategies for the online handouts which build the possibility of the site visit at a fast rate
(Mason, 2015).
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3.2 ASSESSMENT OF SUITABILITY OF SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS TO A
TRADITIONAL BROCHURE FOR DIFFERENT TOUR OPERATORS AND
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MOST APPROPRIATE ONE FOR LUXURY
HOLIDAYS
The conventional design of brochures and the effective promoting leaflets are utilized by
various tour operators like inbound, outbound and different kinds of operators. Creating an
antiquated brochure has been resisted by the development of replacements to leaflets which
are able to contact a bigger number of individuals in the entire tour. The fundamental target of
the tour operator industry is to advance their tour packages in the ideal way that impacts a
gigantic piece of the populace.
The other options to old handouts which are accessible today are tour operator industry site
which is easy to use and responsive, E-brochures, magazines and daily papers, online pictures
and recordings via web-based networking media advancing the assortment of holiday tour
packages offered by the organization. The sites and E handouts are fruitful in neither achieving
countless yet nor much full of feeling in speaking with the general population who don't utilize
devices for relaxation exercises (Needham, et al. 2017). The outbound tour operators inbound
and the ground administrators need to adjust to choices of old brochures as they will likely
achieve the national and worldwide gathering of people and substantial organizations if there
should be an occurrence of gathering administrators which must be accomplished through sites
and online networking. The conventional handout is appropriate for the residential
administrators as they expect to contact the household group of onlookers and they can be
educated through daily paper, print media, social sites and the magazines etc.
moreover, the most reasonable and compelling substitute for customary handouts to advance
the extravagance occasions will be through online networking and site on the grounds that the
extravagance trips are focused for the fiscally stable group of onlookers and they have simple
access to the web. The site of KUONI is intended to be responsive which fits the measure of the
device and it can be gotten to from any gadget, for example, PC, versatile or tablets. These
likewise cut the costs of printing and add to the earth by the decrease of paper squander. The
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site of KUONI has the office to see the pamphlet for various extravagance occasion bundles,
arrange by post or get in store and demand for an online handout (Romero and Tejada, 2011).
Additionally, it gives the office to find the adjacent store and visit the place to get definite data
with respect to the visit.
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3.3 EVALUATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF
DISTRIBUTION TO SELL A HOLIDAY FOR DIFFERENT TOUR OPERATOR AND
RECOMMEND THE MOST APPROPRIATE ONE FOR LUXURY HOLIDAYS
In order to promote and marketing the tour holiday packages, the tour operator industries
make various strategic approaches and decision regarding it, which attracts a number of
customers and helps them to achieve the goals respectively. The tour operator Kuoni
organization has been developed the tour package for the luxurious tours and also provides
various services and the facilities accordingly.
Different methods of promoting and selling the brochures are as follows-
Direct distribution method: it is the method to sell the brochures and leaflets to the customers
directly and provide the entire information and the data about the entire tour and certain
place. As the brochure contains each and every detail of the tour with the offered services and
pricing as well and it can be sold through the direct mail, by the travel agents, online and offline
services and many other tactics (Scheepens, et al. 2016).
Travel agents: they are the mediators among the customers and the tour operators, who are
responsible to sell the brochure and give the detail of tour packages to the people accordingly.
They work according to target the market and then provide them full information about the
tour packages. They sell the brochures and leaflets based on the commission that is given by
the tour operators.
There are some of the other methods also that is used by the tour operator industry in order to
promote and sell their services and packages, so that the people can get attracted and make
their plans to use of it accordingly. As direct distribution is the most feasible method for selling
because it conveyed the information and data effectively and helps to gain the success as well.
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TASK 4
4.1 EVALUATION OF THE STRATEGIC DECISIONS MADE BY DIFFERENT TYPES
OF TOUR OPERATOR
There are different strategies and approaches are used by the tour operators in order to
provide services and the facilities to the people according to their needs and the demands. The
strategic decision making made by the tour operators that includes each and every desirable
thing by which the demands of a person can be fulfilled in manner, that helps in the
enhancement of profitability and the brand value as well. Segmentation, targeting and
positioning is also the major concern of the tour management department by which they can
easily make the decision for setting up the pricing range, strategies, positioning, branding and
the marketing decisions accordingly.
STP: segmentation, targeting and positioning is the major concern of the tour operators that
helps in the decision making the process of the company accordingly. It is the significant part of
the company to segment their market according to the belief, gender, age group, status etc.
which helps to maintain the sustainability and company easily targets their market accordingly
and helps them to satisfy their needs as well (Sigala, 2010).
Pricing strategy: it is the most imperative part of the tour management operations. Deciding the
price for the certain tour package is the major factor and the tour operators make decision
accordingly by which they can also attract the customers. The pricing strategy can be affected
by the social background, off-season market, economic situations and many others. In the peak
season, pricing of the tour relatively high while in the off-season market, the pricing of the tour
package is less than this.
Marketing strategy: after deciding the price, the most important factor is to promote the
products and services of the company that would be offered to the people for their entire
journey. Effective marketing and promotional strategies can attract the people most and
enhances the brand value of the company, which helps to generate more revenues and make
the organization profitable as well (Thomas, et al. 2011).
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Branding and positioning: the developed strategies for branding and the positioning of the
market is also the viable factor that establishes brand image through various attractive
company lines and logos that also helps in build the faith among people and assist better
reputation towards governance of the required services and facilities.
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4.2 COMPARE THE TACTICAL DECISIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY A SELECTED
TOUR OPERATOR IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
As mentioned above that the tour operators utilized various strategies and approaches
according to maintain sustainability and providing such required services and the facilities to
the visitors accordingly. The tactical decisions are made by the mass market that is based on
the short-term approach according to the situations and different seasons respectively. As the
Thomas cook, the famous tour operator of UK has been also categorized several factors
according to the situations and the conditions then work in order to provide services and make
a profit as well.
Comparisons of strategic and tactical decision based on the situations are as follows-
Competition analysis: there are different tour operators are present in the marketplace and
high competition in this field takes places nowadays. For reducing the impact of competition
among the different tour operators, the tactical decisions have been made towards enhancing
the quality and the gain the competitive advantages accordingly (Toh, et al. 2011).
Analysis of visitors experience: it is important to analyse the experience of customers and takes
the feedback from them in order to identify the personal opinions and views of them so that
the further development and growth of the company can also take place as well. A suggestion
for the improvement also helps the company in order to enhance the profitability and also
builds the customer loyalty as well.
Moreover, the strategic and tactic decision made by the Thomas Cook is in the festive season
when some events and shows conduct in the particular cities, so the management department
of the tour industry develops new tour packages and promotes it ineffective way that attracts
the customers and helps in the enhancement of profitability accordingly (Mason, 2015).
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CONCLUSION
The aforementioned assignment depicted the study of tour operator management that is the
part of the tourism industry and they are the service providers that work according to develop
the tour packages and provides facilities to the visitors according to their demands and
requirements. The recent and current trend of the tourism industry has been described.
Further, different methodologies and significance of brochures have been also described in
manner, which is the major concern in order to attract the customers and helps them to gain
the experiences accordingly. As there is the different purpose of every visitor, so that tour
operator makes the plans according to it that also enhances the profitability rate as well.
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