Categories of tour operators

1
Categories of tour operators

• Joanne Thirlaway
• 9th January 2006

2
Learning Objectives

• By the end of today's sessions you should be able
  to
• Describe the categories of tour operators
• Give examples of the each category of tour
  operator including the destinations featured

3
Mass Market

• Some of the best known names TUI(Thomson),
  First Choice, MyTravel Group (Airtours), Thomas
  Cook
• Organise air inclusive tours, often referred to
  as a package holiday
• According to Mori report highest number of
  holidays sold- summer sun followed by winter sun
• Linked to their own airlines and often own a
  travel agent

4
Integrated

• Own an airline and or travel agency
• Main 4 dominating the market TUI (Thomson),
  First Choice, My Travel, Thomson Cook
• Organise air inclusive tours (AITs) and often
  referred to as a package holiday
• Carries approximately 13 million people each
  year dominates the outbound market

5
Specialist

• Less well known
• Niche operators
• Offer wide variety of holidays to different
  market segments
• Offer different activities
• Some of the best known are members of AITO
• Fastest growing area of tourism worldwide

6
Independent

• Mainly members of AITO Association of
  Independent Tour Operators
• Many specialist operators
• Not tied with other organisations

7
Domestic

• Domestic holiday within ones own country
• Tend to sell direct using magazine and newspaper
  advertising e.g. Radio Times and Sunday
  supplement offers
• Usually short breaks
• Work with Tourist Councils to develop products
  and support national marketing campaigns
• Use variety of accommodation and transport
• Holiday centres e.g.Butlins

8
Outbound

• Selling holidays to depart from the UK to
  overseas
• Covers different categories of tour operators
  e.g. mass market, integrated, specialist

9
In bound or incoming

• Selling holidays overseas for people visiting
  Britain
• Over 300 incoming tour operators
• BA Holidays is one of the biggest operators
• Range of services from meet and greet to full
  guided tours
• Often cater for special groups e.g. Japanese,
  antique lovers, etc
• Packages sold abroad through overseas agents and
  airline offices
• Tours often based around a theme using
  Britains main attractions castles, heritage,
  gardens, royalty, etc

10
Short-haul

• Generally classed as destinations with flights of
  5 hours or less
• Usually within Europe
• Covers different categories of tour operators
  e.g. mass market, integrated, specialist

11
Long-haul

• Generally classed as destinations with flights of
  7 hours plus
• Usually another continent
• Covers different categories of tour operators
  e.g. mass market, integrated, specialist

12
Activity

• Complete the activity that looks at categories of
  tour operators

13
Learning objectives

• Am I able to
• Describe the categories of tour operators
• Give examples of the each category of tour
  operator including the destinations featured