L4 Tourism Distribution Channels
L4 Tourism Distribution Channels
L4 Tourism Distribution Channels
*Mediators between the tourist & suppliers Middlemen. *Also synonymous with Travel Intermediaries & Travel Trade Sector
* A person or organization selling travel services on behalf of principals for commission ( Libosada, et al.2007) *Ancillary services
*Packager, Wholesale Tour Operator, Tour Wholesaler & Wholesaler (Cook, et al. 1999) * Tour Package
1838
Event & Tourism Significance Height of Grand tour Resorts around the English coast were established. Establishment of Cox & Kings as the 1st travel agency in the world Steamboat services were introduced to London to Gravesend Peninsular & Oriental ( P & O ) company introduced steamship services to India & Far East
Date 1840
1841
1845 1845
Event & Tourism Significance Sir Rowland Hill introduced excursion trains Thomas Cook organized a trip by a train of 570 pax to a distance of 22 miles. Henry Wells American Express company Cook established the Worlds 1st Travel Agency Thomas Bennett introduced first FIT & VIPs
Date 1855
1870
1878
Event & Tourism & Significance Cook started operating package tour, from England to Paris. This was an inclusive tour. Cook introduced traveler cheque & hotel voucher , while American Express used traveler cheques & credit cards Mr. Cook brought the first British Group of tourist at India via P & O steamship company.
Date 1880
1887
Up to 1920
Event & Tourism & Significance Thomas Cook & Sons, established offices at Mumbai & Calculta The company arranged the visit of Indian Princess to Queen Victorias Jubilee Celebration Thomas Cook & Sons & American Express were the only big names in travel trade business
Travel Management Company or Travel Agency A commercial enterprise where a traveler may secure information, receive travel advice, and make arrangements to travel by air, sea or land, to any point in the world for a professional fee.
Consumer
Supplier
TMC
Functions of a TMC
Provides information and expertise. Recommends destinations, products and services best suited to the needs of the client.
Functions of a TMC
Functions of a TMC
Processes travel arrangements.
Functions of a TMC
Assists in cases of refunds and cancellations.
Organizational Structure
Small-sized TMC/TA
MANAGER
Secretary
Administration
Operations
Sales
Organizational Set-Up
Medium-sized TMC/TA
General Manager
EDP/MIS Secretary Asst. General Manager
Administration
Operations
Sales
Organizational Set-Up
Large-sized TMC/TA
General Manager
Comptroller EDP/MIS Secretary Asst. General Manager
Administration
Operations (Tours)
Operations (Travel)
Tour Operator
travel entity or company that
assembles & operates tour packages, made up of transportation services, accommodations, meal & tour guide.
(Claravall, 2007)
3. Extreme Tourist observant, participative in the traditions, celebrations & customs of the local community
A. Counter Counseling
*Counter counseling aims to conclude counter sales, which are transactions captured by the travel counselors or counter staff.
Flight itinerary planning is the process by which cities to be visited are arranged in the desired sequence to conform with the passengers desired travel plans, starting from the point of origin to the destinations to be visited in the desired sequence. This way north is 12 oclock, east is 3 oclock, south is 6 oclock and west 9 oclock. When planning a flight itinerary there are three (3) basic rules to follow, namely: 1) avoid crisscrossing, 2) avoid backtracking, and 3) remember that the less carries used, the better.
B. Flight Reservations
Manual Reservations
* the traditional way of placing reservation before the advent of e-commerce and the Internet. This method involves direct contact with the suppliers staff by mobile or regular phone.
Electronic Reservations
Electronic reservations were introduced by the use of email correspondence and involve writing to the email address of the supplier and receiving a reply from a department or individual. Another way to place an electronic reservation is through an interactive website where no human contact is involved.
Automated Reservations
Automated reservations are made through a global distribution system where in the supplier is a member. Unlike electronic reservations where fields or boxes in the screen first, allowing the client to make a choice.
C. Fare Calculation
A fare is the amount charged by a carrier of a passenger and his allowable free baggage, and his the current fare which a carrier in the publication it normally uses to publish fares, holds out to the public as being applicable to the class of service to be furnished.
D. Airline Ticketing
Only after the reservations have been processed and confirmed and the applicable airfares calculated, can the Ticketing Officer issue an air ticket. The issuance of air ticket is the final step in processing a passengers air travel requirements, It represents a contract between a passenger and a carrier and represents a passengers payment to the travel agent.
E. Documentation
*Documentation refers to the process of legally securing the necessary travel papers for prospective passengers. Documentation includes the review of travel documents presented by the prospective passengers to ascertain that the period of validity of these documents has not expired, and that they meet the requirements of the country in transit or destination.
Dis intermediariezation
Tour Guides