The role of tour operators is to put together all the different components that make up a holiday and sell them as packages to the consumer. They make contracts with hoteliers, airlines and other transport companies to put the package together. All the holiday details are described in a brochure, which is distributed either to travel agents to travel agents or directly to costumers. Development in technology, however, have meant that growing numbers of people are using the internet to book their holidays themselves.
Mass-market tour operators
These tour operators dominated the outbound market for years. For example, Thomson, First Choice and Thomas Cook. Thomson and First Choice both belong to the parent company TUI. These major tour operators were considered to be mass-market tour operators as they sold similar holidays in packages that appealed to the majority of holidaymakers. TUI is the largest travel group in the world. It does not just include tour operators. First Choice has a major travel agent and its own branded airline. First Choice offers holidays in destinations such as Majorca, the Canaries, Spain, Turkey, Greece and the Caribbean. Winter sports destinations include France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, and there are some specialist brands such as Twentys aimed at young people and Sunstart aimed at budget holidaymakers.
These tour operators dominated the outbound market for years. For example, Thomson, First Choice and Thomas Cook. Thomson and First Choice both belong to the parent company TUI. These major tour operators were considered to be mass-market tour operators as they sold similar holidays in packages that appealed to the majority of holidaymakers. TUI is the largest travel group in the world. It does not just include tour operators. First Choice has a major travel agent and its own branded airline. First Choice offers holidays in destinations such as Majorca, the Canaries, Spain, Turkey, Greece and the Caribbean. Winter sports destinations include France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, and there are some specialist brands such as Twentys aimed at young people and Sunstart aimed at budget holidaymakers.
Specialist tour operators
Specialist tour operators are more prevalent as they respond well to the trend for tailor-made holidays with the specialist products and expertise in markets. Sometimes specialist tour operators focus on a particular destination, rather than a type of holiday. Inbound tour operators cater for the needs of overseas visitors to the UK. Specialist operators are becoming more popular as customers look for a more individual holiday type of experience than package holidays offer. An example, is British Tours Ltd, which claim to be the longest established inbound operator. It offers tours for different group sizes and has a wide variety of products.
Specialist tour operators are more prevalent as they respond well to the trend for tailor-made holidays with the specialist products and expertise in markets. Sometimes specialist tour operators focus on a particular destination, rather than a type of holiday. Inbound tour operators cater for the needs of overseas visitors to the UK. Specialist operators are becoming more popular as customers look for a more individual holiday type of experience than package holidays offer. An example, is British Tours Ltd, which claim to be the longest established inbound operator. It offers tours for different group sizes and has a wide variety of products.
Domestic tour operators
Domestic tour operators specialise in holidays within the UK for UK residents. They include coach companies which place advertisements in the local newspapers. Like outbound operators, they offer beach, city, touring and special-interest holidays. The packaging of UK short breaks has been a success in recent years. Companies such as Super break have led the development of city and countryside breaks offered for sale through travel agencies. Some local authorities, keen to boost their visitor numbers, have worked with tour operators to feature their particular destinations in brochures and tour programmes. Special interest groups are well catered for by domestic operators. Activity holidays are growing in popularity and operators are catering for the demand. Companies offering specialist services and facilities are becoming increasingly popular with people looking for something unusual and creative to do in their leisure time.
Domestic tour operators specialise in holidays within the UK for UK residents. They include coach companies which place advertisements in the local newspapers. Like outbound operators, they offer beach, city, touring and special-interest holidays. The packaging of UK short breaks has been a success in recent years. Companies such as Super break have led the development of city and countryside breaks offered for sale through travel agencies. Some local authorities, keen to boost their visitor numbers, have worked with tour operators to feature their particular destinations in brochures and tour programmes. Special interest groups are well catered for by domestic operators. Activity holidays are growing in popularity and operators are catering for the demand. Companies offering specialist services and facilities are becoming increasingly popular with people looking for something unusual and creative to do in their leisure time.