The tour operator

 

The tour operator works in a tourist company. He develops tours also known as tour packages. Tour packages include transportation, accommodation, catering, transfers and other services.

To develop a tour package the tour operator works with transportation companies or carriers, hotels, restaurants, museums and other suppliers.

The tour operator usually markets the tours. He advertises them in mass media or in brochures.

The tour operator is a wholesaler.  He sells tour packages to travel agents wholesale and pays commission to them. Sometimes he sells tour packages direct to the public.

Tour operators organize tours, so they are the main producers in tourist industry.

 

Comprehension questions

 1. Where does the tour operator work?

2. What does he do?

3. What do tour packages include?                               

4. What kind of companies does the tour operator work with?

5. How does the tour operator market the tours?

6. How does the tour operator sell tours? What does     “a wholesaler” mean?

 

The travel agent

 

The travel agent works in a travel company. The travel agent like the shop-assistant sells goods to customers. The goods he offers are tour operator’s packages.

The travel agent is a retailer. He sells tour packages retail to the consumers.  He gets a commision from the tour operator. The commission is from 5 to 10 per cent of the tour cost.

The travel agent also sells separate services. They are flights, hotel rooms, sightseeing tours, car rentals, travel insurances and so on. The travel agent works directly with the public.

Travel agents sell tours, so they are the main sellers in tourist industry.

 

 

Comprehension questions

 

1. Where does the travel agent work?

2. What does the travel agent do?

3. What kind of goods does the travel agent sell?

4. How does the travel agent sell tour packages? What does     “a retailer” mean?

5. How high is the travel agent’s commission?

6. What kind of separate services does the travel agent sell?

  

The tourism manager

 

The tourism manager works in a tourist company. He runs some tourist business. He supervises all kind of operations in a tourist company. He also supervises the tourist company staff.

Sometimes the tourism manager is just the head of some department in a large tourist company: a sales department or a public relations department. Then he reports to the general manager.

The tourism manager plans tourist business: operations, new products, profits. He controls the results.

In a travel company - a tour operator or a travel agency - the tourism manager decides on development and promotion of new tour packages, advertising and sales. He also decides on prices and discounts.

The tourism manager hires employees. He selects them and provides their training.

  

Comprehension questions

 

1. Where does the tourism manager work?

2. What does he supervise?

3. When does the tourism manager report to the general manager?

4. What does the tourism manager plan and control?

5. What does the tourism manager decide on in a travel company?

6. How does the tourism manager hire employees?