The contact line between tour operators, travel agents and online platforms
Sometimes travel plans screech to a halt, or are organized at one stroke. Anyway prior to applying to any agency in charge of trips or to any agent, handling suchlike requests, it’s worth to take the time and to weigh all privileges and flaws.
Nowadays there is a rich basket of choice for all kinds of travelling and for embodiment of the bravest plans. Be it a seaside resort stay (https://www.inlobby.com/r/rimini.html), yachting (https://www.inlobby.com/r/crete_greece.html), travelling in scope of average travel budget, choice for best hotels and resorts, even skiing (https://www.inlobby.com/r/saint moritz.html), or trip with an aim to watch national team’s achievements – customers just need to pick the one which suits them best, the international sources claim.
As per studies, in hand with online booking agencies, holidaymakers still keep on applying to tour operators or travel agents in quest for travelling solutions. Trip organizers and analytics, however, advise to track the difference line between the travel agents and tour operators. The travel market is enriched with offers from both ones, and here the main difference is that tour operators organize tour packages, make arrangements with different companies in concern with the hotel, flight, airport shuttle service and thus provide already fully-packed offers, purchased in advance.
Travel agents, in fact, sell those packages and act as tour package resellers. As for the pros and cons, tour operators are often more privileged among the customers, as they’re first hand buyers, studies showcase. Besides, the studies also highlight that in most cases tour operators distribute their offers in a more affordable price-scale as they need to encash the packages. Travel agents in turn may filter through all the offers of the purchased packages and offer you the one with best requirements. Their goal is a bit different, as they operate without any commitments to product realization.
The surveys, conducted by the tourism industry, state that the majority of travelers prefer to deal with tour operators without any intermediaries. Meanwhile those who prefer to skip additional researches simply trust their own travel agent or relevant travel agencies in the organization of their trip.
The role of online booking platforms
As for the role of online reservation platforms (https://www.inlobby.com), selling hotel/air ticket segments or excursion offers, it is merely neutral. They simply compile, let’s say, accommodation offers, negotiate for the best rates and display it for the attention of the customers.
As per studies, the advantage of suchlike systems is, first of all, the rich choice of offers at one place. Customers are enabled to select, compare and book in no time. The absence of the mediators, advanced reservation system, booking engine and instant confirmation – serve alluring tools for travelers.
The participants of the survey also give importance to travel reviews (https://www.inlobby.com/r/lamai-inn.html), posted by guests of lodgings.
As for the respondents’ preferences, the survey emphasized that many travelers apply to tour operators and travel agents especially in case of group booking requests or visa-related inquiries. The adults over 40 y.o. spoke in favor of the travel agents, by saying that they mostly try to avoid electronic commerce solutions, as are a newbie to Internet and feel more confident by working with travel agents.
