Tour Operations Management Report: Trends, Strategies, and Analysis

This report delves into the intricacies of tour operations management, examining the current and recent trends shaping the tourism industry, with a specific focus on their impact on tour operators like Trailfinders. It explores the timescales and stages involved in holiday development, evaluating the suitability of different contracting methods for various holiday components and tour operator types. The report also analyzes planning decisions for brochure design, alternative distribution methods, and strategic and tactical decisions made by tour operators in diverse situations. The report emphasizes flexible booking options, increasing consumer spending, attractive tour packages, marketing strategies, and sustainable tourism development. It also discusses PESTLE factors affecting tour operators, transportation, and hotel accommodations, providing insights into the industry's dynamics and strategic approaches.

Tour operations
management

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Impacts of current and recent trends and developments on tour operators industry.............1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Timescales and stages involved in developing holidays........................................................4
2.2 Suitability of altered methods of contracting for various components of holiday and
different types of tour operator....................................................................................................6
2.3 Selling price of a holiday.......................................................................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Planning decisions taken for design a brochure.....................................................................9
3.2 Suitability of alternatives for different types of tour operator.............................................10
3.3 Suitability of different methods of distribution ..................................................................10
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................12
4.1 Strategic decisions made by different type of tour operator................................................12
4.2 Tactical decisions by a tour operator in different situations................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
The tour operation management sector is an integrated approach regarding the travel and
tourism sector. The tourism industry is the fastest developing country among all the different
sectors (Allahyari, Salari and Vigo, 2015). The travel and tourism includes many recent trends
as well as growth in the travel and tourism sector. Trailfinders Ltd. is a travel organisation in
United Kingdom. It is the biggest independently owned travel organisation. This firm provides
the foreign exchange, travel insurance, travel essentials, airport parking etc. In this given report
mentions about the impacts of present and recent trends and also developments in this travel and
tourism industry. There are many different times scales as well as stages are included in
developing some holidays. This company provides the effective tools and techniques in order to
developing the travel and tourism sector. The sustainability of various methods of contacting for
the various components of holiday and the different kinds of tour operator are going to discuss
under this given report. There is also a discussion regarding the sustainability of alternative to
traditional brochures of various types of tour operator. It is the duty of manager or tour operator
to take care the needs and responsibilities of tourists by providing better and effective services.
TASK 1
This task cover information about the current and recent trends take place in tourism
industry. Further impact of those trends on tour operators and their operations is also include in
this.
1.1 Impacts of current and recent trends and developments on tour operators industry
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On the basis of survey report it is determined that the travel and tourism industry developed
rapidly. Trailfinders business firm is an organisation which provide the effective and also
attractive tour packages provided to consumers or visitors. The main motive of this company
is to increase its business firm by making effective and beneficial strategies. There are some
current as well as recent trends in the industry of tour management given below as above:
Flexible Booking options- Due to advancement in the technology, people book their tickets of
flights, hotels, buses in advance with the help of technology. It is helpful in cost as well as
time saving. It will be impact on the industry of tour operator positively. Under this
technology plays an important role in today's time period because thorough this visitor can
book their tickets fast and also check the availability of vacant seats.
Increase spending power of consumers- Because of the modern world, consumer’s income
level increased in a very fast way. In context to this, they can afford the expensive things
and their spending power will also be increased. Generally, from increasing the tourism
organisation, there will be many opportunities arise for the unemployed people. Trailfinders
business organisation provides the effective services to people or consumers which can
satisfy their needs and demands in a satisfactory manner.
Tour packages- In this present time period, many of the travel and tourism companies come up
with the attractive tour packages for visitors on the basis of consumers demands and needs.
It is helpful in enhancing the flexibility in travelling packages. Trailfinders organisation
provide the tour packages to its visitors at reasonable cost.
Marketing in travel- Merchandising is develop itself in the travel and tourism business
organisation. Marketing is helpful in attracting the more consumers towards itself through the
effective promotional schemes. Trailfinders business firm give the update to its customers or
visitors about the new attraction places.
Sustainable Tourism Development- In the travel and tourism industry it is a necessary key
aspect. This type of development is also referred as a healthy as well as ethical tourism in order
to increasing the business, it is necessary for an organisation to do its business activities in an
ethical manner. The Sustainable Tourism Development can be accomplishing in more than single
method. The first to maintain the sustainability is through giving the employment opportunities
to unemployed people. The second way is that through preserving heritage as well as regional
culture.
PESTLE factors-On the tour operators, macro factors develop more impact due to the social,
governing bodies, technological, environmental and some of the different elements decided
upliftment of some travelling companies
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TASK 2
This task cover information about the time involved in develop holidays. Different type
of tour operators and suitability of various altered methods is all given in this task.
2.1 Timescales and stages involved in developing holidays
The holidays are necessary for the enjoyment of people. at the time of holidays people go
for travelling in the different cities and countries with friends, family, colleagues etc. planning is
an initial stage before doing each and every activity (Baddeley and Font, 2011). With the help of
planning, people can do any activity in an effective or proper manner. At the time of making
some holidays different stages as well as factors that it helps in enhancing an effectiveness as
well as efficiency. Planning is helpful in taking some decisions through including the various
available and necessary options. In order to preparing holiday, there are some timelines are given
below as above:
Steps/ Activities Description Time taken
Detailed and relevant
information or destination
research and also planning
for the preparation of the
holiday tour.
Under this case, there is a
need of detailed and
appropriate investigation as
well as research which will
be done for the Trailfinders
firm in context to making its
environment, cost, facilities,
attraction places,
accommodation any many
other things better and also
effective. Customers or
visitors check all these things
with the online website in
which consists the real
feedbacks and past
experience of the real
visitors.
It will take almost 3 months
to 5 months for investigate
about the accommodations
and also facilities in other
visiting countries.
Negotiation In this the two different It will take at least 2 months
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parties come to result with
the help of mutual
consent(Bititci and et. al.,
2011). Both the parties
choose a common solution.
Under this negotiation can be
among the various owners,
vendors, travelling
organisation and also hotel
management in order to
proving the effective and
quality services at the
minimum cost.
for the purpose of contracting
each service provider and in
this the more time is
consumed in the consulting
on the prices which are good
for both the different parties.
Trailfinders company set the
minimum cost of travelling.
Development of tour In this after choosing the
travel destinations or
attraction places on order to
development of tout at
various cities as well as
countries. In the tour consists
the all attraction places,
accommodations, travelling
routes, transportation
facilities and many other
things related with travel and
tourism. It is very systematic
and effective process in order
to completing or enjoying
holidays without any kind of
difficulty.
This process can be
completed in around 3
months.
Price Determination In this, the cited travel
company include all the
This process of pricing will
take the maximum 2 months.
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pricing strategies in order to
attracting more tourists.
There are some factors which
can impact on the pricing
strategies in travel sector and
these are fuel price, foreign
exchange rates and also
taxation of United Kingdom
country. In order to fulfil the
needs of people then
Trailfinders firm develop the
different holiday packages.
Marketing of tour packages After making the effective
pricing strategies then it is
necessary for doing
marketing of different tour
packages with the help of
online services, banners,
holders etc.
The marketing process can
take the 1 month in
advertisement.
After tour management After providing the services,
it is necessary for the
company to feedbacks from
customers or visitors about
their experience. In this
Trailfinders company collect
the reviews of visitors with
the help of questionnaires.
This process will take around
1 month in distribute the
questionnaires in order to
collect feedbacks.
2.2 Suitability of altered methods of contracting for various components of holiday and different
types of tour operator
Trailfinders is a very popular company in the travel and tourism sector in United Kingdom. It
provides the effective and beneficial services to visitors with reasonable packages in order to
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attracting the large number of people. The main aim of this company serve better services
and products to consumers in an effective manner (Bonilla Priego, Najera and Font, 2011).
On the basis of mention scenario the team of product development of Trailfinders designed
a educational travelling packages for around 42 students by including all the relevant or
necessary facilities. The sustainability of various methods of contracting for the various
components related to holiday are given below as above:
Transportation- It plays a necessary role in the holidays. For travelling there will be the need of
transportation to visitors. Without transportation they can not travel ion a proper manner and
they face many difficulties. In context to transportation, it is necessary for an organisation to
provide better transportation facilities to its visitors and consumers. From this positive
impact will be developed in the customers mind. The transportation regarded as a necessary
component in the sector of travel and tourism because it is helpful in expansion of travel
sector. The policies regarded or connected with the transportation along with the government
decisions can be develop the availability of attraction places in an effective manner.
Hotels- In the given scenario, mentions that the students spend money in travelling for the
education purpose. But other than this the people go for travelling with their families to
spend the quality time with them. The accommodation as well as hotels facilities play a
necessary role in this. It is necessary for the hotels to provide the comfortable facilities to
them at reasonable cost so that they can take rest in an effective way. In order to develop the
positive impact in the mind of consumers as well as customers, it is necessary for the staff of
hotels to provide a effective and satisfactory services and products to them according to their
demands and preferences.
Attractions- In the travel and tourism sector attraction plays a necessary role (Buckley, 2010).
The destination attracts the people and give their contribution in an economy of United
Kingdom. The government of United Kingdom country develop the attraction plays. It is the
responsibility of Trailfinders company to provide the better attraction plays to visitors on the
basis of their interests. All the attraction places of United Kingdom company contributing
towards the government revenues, give their contribution in increasing local economy,
giving the employment facilities etc.
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So, it is necessary for the company to provide better transportation, hotels and attraction
places so that the productivity and development of travel and tourism sector will be
increased.
2.3 Selling price of a holiday
On the basis of mention case study that the students of Europe make a plan regarding
travelling from the London to Brugge and also Brussels for education purpose and gain some
knowledge about various or new things. So, in context to this that need to prepare a budget
regarding trip of 5 nights through including all the necessary factors. In context to this,
Trailfinders company is a travelling firm and it has a good and strong contact with the firms and
hotels of Belgium. The team of product management of this company is very effective and it
works on developing a trip with providing special offers or discounts to people. So in order to
this, it is necessary for students to calculate actual cost of trio by including all essential cost
which can be incurred at the time of journey.
Accommodation cost: 96*21=2016
96/1.12= 85.7
85.7*21= 1800(For One night)
1800*5= 9000(For 5days)
Details Price(in £)
Accommodation cost 9000
Transportation cost 11200
Charges of tour guide 945
Total cost 21145
Add: Profit margin @ 33% 6977.8
Sale price 28122.5
From the above calculation it has beencalculated that in this the cost of food is not
included in calculating the selling cost. So, in regards to this, the selling price will be £28122.5.
For Per person:
=28122.5/21= £1339.18
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TASK 3
This task contain information about the different planning decisions involve in design a
brochure. Further, different methods of distribution with different type of tour operators is all
given under this task.
3.1 Planning decisions taken for design a brochure
Main planning decisions require to design a brochure for a holiday package should
consists the data to be include in the brochure which must be able to influence the customers to
undertake tour programme as per their needs and requirements for experience the holiday trip
(White, 2016). Basic information which must be include in brochure is name of travel and tour
agency which is based in UK, details of destination, modes of transport use for tour, prices,
duration of tour, conditions of booking, facilities and services to be offer, documentation
require, insurance cover, extra charges, type of food product, risk involve in adventure,
equipments which must be carry by the individual during trip (Chand, and Katou, 2012). Along
with this, the cost involved in design the brochure, selection of vendor doe design the brochure,
final format of brochure that will be helpful in attract more number of individuals also must be
consider during formulation of plan for tour brochure.
Basically brochure is something which is formulate by enterprise to information about its
products and services which they have to offer them. This help individuals in take take decision
related with their travelling. It is very essential for Kuoni travels to formulate a effective and
attractive brochure so they can attract more number of customers. Various methods are there
which can be use by managers of Kuoni travels in order to get attention of large number of
travellers. Different components which can be consider by enterprise during design handouts is
include under the following point:
 Format of brochure: basically this is a document which contain relevant information
related with products and services offer by company (Chon and Yu, 2012). This consists
section and various sub parts under which data is classifies into different parts which help
in make it more attractive and impressive.
 Budgeting and select target market: After that, it is important to formulate a budget of
tour package which can be done by conduct research related with needs and demands of
customers. This help tour operators to know about the spending power of customers and
help in decide price of service.
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