travel agent or tour operator

Understanding the Difference Between Tour Operators and Travel Agents

By Cressida Sergeant

Tour operators and travel agents might seem similar at first glance, but they have distinct roles when it comes to planning a vacation. While they both offer some similar services, it’s helpful to know which one best fits certain needs.

What is a Tour Operator?

A tour operator handles the nitty-gritty of a holiday experience, from booking and packaging to organising accommodation, transport, meals, guides, and optional tours. They’re like the behind-the-scenes magicians who ensure everything runs smoothly once a customer steps off the plane at a destination

On the other hand, travel agents act as matchmakers, connecting customers with the perfect vacation package from various tour operators. They’re like personal travel advisors, helping navigate through different destinations, budgets, and travel preferences to find the ideal fit for a dream getaway. Once customers have made a choice, they liaise with the tour operator to ensure all requests are met, handling the paperwork and payments along the way.

In the past, travel agents were the go-to choice for booking tour packages. However, with the rise of the internet and travel technology over the last couple of decades, many people now opt to book directly with tour operators. The internet has made it easier than ever to access and book tour packages independently, reducing the need for an agent to identify available operators. Nowadays, most tour operators engage directly with clients and sell their packages, cutting out the middleman.

However, some people still prefer to rely on their trusted local or family travel agent, with whom they have built a long-standing relationship over the years.

Types of Travel Agency

In the travel industry, there’s a growing number of independent travel agents who operate without ties to a specific agency. This presents a fantastic opportunity for people looking for remote work in the travel sector.

These independent agents come in various forms. Some create bespoke itineraries tailored to each client’s preferences, while others partner with specific travel companies. Additionally, some act as resellers, offering pre-packaged tours through Host Agencies.

Regardless of their specific model, most travel agents excel at helping to plan a trip. They use their expertise to provide recommendations based on their customer’s interests, budgets, and travel requirements. The advantage of working with a travel agent lies in their insider knowledge and knack for navigating the complexities of holiday planning and booking. When it comes to travel agencies, there’s a varied range of options available to suit every preference. Here are some of the different types of travel agencies:

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): These are websites that allow users to search and book travel-related services online. OTAs offer a wide range of options, from flights and cruises to tours and activities, all in one convenient platform.

Brick-and-Mortar Travel Agencies: These are traditional travel agencies with physical offices where customers can visit and speak with travel agents face-to-face. They provide personalized service and assistance in planning and booking travel arrangements.

Corporate Travel Agencies: Specializing in business travel, corporate travel agencies cater to the needs of companies and organizations. They manage corporate travel policies, negotiate discounts with suppliers, and help with itinerary planning and expense management.

Specialist Travel Agencies: These agencies focus on specific types of travel, such as adventure travel, luxury travel, or niche markets like eco-tourism or culinary tours. They offer expertise and tailored recommendations for travellers with particular interests or preferences.

Overall, the travel agency landscape is diverse and caters to a wide range of travellers, each with unique needs and preferences.

The Roles of Tour Operators and Travel Agents

In conclusion, while tour operators and travel agents share some similarities, they play distinct roles in the holiday planning process. Tour operators handle the logistics of a vacation, from booking and packaging to on-the-ground arrangements, ensuring a hassle free experience for travellers. On the other hand, travel agents act as intermediaries, connecting customers with the perfect holiday package from various tour operators, and offering personalized advice and assistance throughout the planning process. Despite the rise of online booking platforms and websites , many travellers still rely on trusted travel agents for their expertise and insider knowledge. Additionally, the travel agency landscape continues to evolve, with independent agents offering bespoke services and various types of agencies catering to different travel needs and preferences. Ultimately, whether booking through a tour operator or a travel agent, travellers have access to a diverse range of options to suit their individual preferences and requirements thanks to the advancements in travel technology and products .

What is an Automated Travel System?

The future of travel agents explained.

Why Choose Us
Terms of Service
Cookie Policy

Travel Technology Products

AgentConnect
CruiseConnect
iBos – Administration
iSell – Search & Book

Travel Software Solutions

Data Warehouse Reporting
RPA – Automation
Dynamic Packaging
Travel Agent White Label Solutions
Tour Operator Software
Travel App Development
Travel Agency Web Design & Development

Travel API Provider

Travel API – 300+ Suppliers
Tour Operator API
Payment Gateway API
Flight Airline API
Meet the Team
CruiseConnect API
Travel Agency Web Design and Development Services
RPA – Automation

Travel agencies and tour operators both are necessary for the travel industry. But sometimes the question arises re their actual definition.

How are they different?

If you’re often confused by the difference between a travel agency and a tour operator, we’re going to discuss these two roles, and outline the significant differences between them.

They’re often connected, but are not the same.

The Difference Between a Travel Agency and a Tour Operator

Travel agency.

A travel agency is a company who plans, arranges, books, and makes the necessary arrangements for travellers. They sell flights, accommodation and tours, and package them together for travels who don’t wish to book themselves.

Worth noting that there are now many independent travel agents, who take on this role without being connected to an agency, and this can be a great travel industry job for people who want to work remotely.

There are several types of travel agents. Some put together itineraries from scratch for their clients while others work for specific travel companies, and some are mere resellers of pre-packaged tours on behalf of Host Agencies.

However most will help you plan your trip, and make suggestions based on your interests, your budget , and your travel requirements, the benefit here being that they’re experts in booking travel, and know the best tricks for planning and booking a holiday.

Pro tip: An MLM scheme can usually be identified when there is a set-up cost involved in working for the company as an agent. You shouldn’t have to pay to work for someone.

Travel agents are professionals – in many countries agencies need a travel agency license , meaning they are qualified and licensed to book trips on behalf of other people.

The way they make money is through access to industry discounts from companies they work with, which allows them to add a markup / commission to make money without charging more to the traveler.

Tour Operators

A tour operator is someone who organizes, prepares and runs a holiday tour. If you book a tour which includes accommodation, transport, breakfast, tour guides, and sightseeing etc, this is organized by the operator.

Essentially, they sell a product that they themselves create. They work with suppliers to create a packaged tour which they put their own price tag on, and can be booked by travel agents for their clients, or by the traveler directly.

They do not sell anybody else’s packages (which travel agents do), they only organize and sell their own tours.

Just as there are many different types of agents, there also are many different types of tour operators , including inbound tour operators, outbound tour operators, domestic tour operators, and ground tour operators.

Though even inbound and outbound tour operators, who bring tourists to a country and handle all the arrangements in that country, will hire local travel agents to book in things like airport transfers, and maybe even hire ground tour operators for the tour itself.

With advances in technology, many travelers now book their packages directly with the tour operators rather than going to a travel agent, where-as in the past travel agencies were often the only option for connecting with a tour.

Key Differences Between Travel Agencies and Tour Operators

➤ Travel agents sell the holiday package purchased from different tour operators. Tour operators take care of the clients according to the package description like airport pick up, meal facilities, sightseeing, offering other travel destinations, etc.

➤ Tour operators are often specialized in one, or very few countries. But travel agents can deal with most destinations.

➤ A travel agent earns less profit, usually a small mark up or commission based on the travel they’re booking. Tour operators have the potential to earn a huge profit, as they set their own price tag.

➤ Travel agents can’t work without the help of tour operators. But tour operators can work without a travel agency being that people are now more likely to contact tour operators directly for a holiday package.

➤ There are different kinds of training programs available to start a travel agency. In comparison, the tour operator requires proper business management skills.

If You Liked This Post You May Also Like:

Keep Your Passport Safe While Traveling

How to Plan a Trip to Europe – No Travel Agent Required

Things You’ll Need When Applying for a Visa

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild ; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.

Great information on Travel Agency and Tour Agent.

Glad the post was helpful for you Bella, thanks for reading :)

Thanks so much.it was helpful

You’re welcome! Thanks for reading :)

Thank you Megan,

We are a small family tour operator here in Tasmania. Specializing in small private experiences, with great guest focus, attention to interests and needs. Delivering balance of Tassie wild, depth in past and present with a side order of creative local produce.

We small and passioante operators need to support each other.

Great to connect with you Ben! Weve recently moved from Tasmania to Cairns, but Tassie will always be home :)

Post a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Search This Site

Discover the World; Discover Yourself. Mapping personal evolution through adventure travel. We are Megan and Mike and have been traveling & blogging since 2007 inspiring travel and change!

I am Megan Jerrard, professional travel blogger/journalist with a focus on adventure, discovery, immersion and inspiring you to explore!

The Difference Between Tour Operators & Travel Agents

28 Sep 2023 Quite a common question for anyone not working in the travel industry is about the difference between a tour operator and a travel agent. Both terms are, in effect, industry jargon and we expect the consumer to work out what the difference is. So let's clear that up. What Is a Tour Operator? A tour operator is a person or company that thinks up ideas for holidays, researches the ideas, designs the holiday itinerary and content, contracts the services needed for the holiday, accommodation, transport, guides, tour leaders or resort reps and then markets the resultant package. They sell the package either directly to the consumer or use the services of a travel agent to do so. A tour operator sells the product that they themselves create. They do not sell anybody else's packages, they sell only their own creations. A tour operator is what in law is referred to as a "principal", meaning they take responsibility for the package that they create and cover that liability with (usually) an ATOL licence and / or some form of bonding to ensure that the consumer gets their money back if the tour operator fails, or is flown home if they are abroad when a tour operator fails. It's worth mentioning that, with regard to bonding for financial protection, the law asks that certain items or services must be bonded; AITO demands that all its tour operators bond anything they sell to the consumer; this is in excess of what the law demands, to the benefit of the consumer. Who does a Travel Agent Differ? On the other hand, a travel agent offers the consumer a range of holiday packages that have been put together by a tour operator. They do not, in theory, put together any of their own packages; they sell lots of different holidays put together by lots of different tour operators. They do not usually design or create the holidays they sell, and they do not act as a Principal. The tour operator whose product they sell takes the responsibility for the holiday; the travel agent does not. Therefore the agent usually does not have an ATOL licence or any bonding in place, but relies on the tour operator to cover this. Nowadays it is fair to say, the difference between tour operator and travel agent is blurred. Some travel agents do create some packages, and therefore do act as a Principal and have the required licences, but they will also sell other product put together by tour operators. A good analogy goes like this: if you want to buy a dining room table and chairs, you have two choices. You can go directly to the factory where one particular company makes the table and chairs and buy from the creator of the product. But you will only, at that factory, see furniture made by that one manufacturer. If you go to a high street store and browse their furniture department, you can choose from a range of furniture made by several different furniture makers, but none of the furniture has been made by the high street retail store. In travel, the manufacturer, the factory, is the tour operator. The high street retail store is the travel agent. It's up to you whether you prefer to (a) talk to the creator or the product, or (b) have a wide range of product from different manufacturers to choose from. Why Book With a Tour Operator or Travel Agent? Another common question is why a potential traveller should book their holiday arrangements with a tour operator rather than doing it themselves. The answer to this question covers tour operators and travel agents - both are offering commercially assembled holidays. It is possible to spend hours researching a possible destination, pondering over the best itinerary, checking for the best hotels and so on. Or you can book with a tour operator who has done all that research and chosen wisely based on their experience and knowledge. If you design your own itinerary it can be fun, but if something goes wrong then you are on your own. A tour operator has a legal responsibility to look after you if things go awry. Strikes, natural disasters, personal illness and several other disasters can befall the traveller, better to have someone to take care of things at such critical times. If your overseas hotel ceases trading when you are there, or on your way there, you are on your own; whereas a tour operator will make alternative arrangements. When the Tsunami struck in Thailand some years ago, all the clients who had booked with a tour operator were helped by their tour operator; they were moved to alternative accommodation or flown home. Travellers who had booked their own arrangements were left to fend for themselves. "It's always the individual travellers who we can't locate and help", said someone at the Foreign Office Travel Unit, "since they don't tell us where they are going". If you want to assemble that dining room table and chairs yourself it's perfectly possible to buy some wood or other, practice a bit with a saw and then start creating your furniture masterpiece (have some bandages and some glue handy just in case). Or you can go to a furniture factory or retail shop and buy a carefully crafted piece of furniture. Most people do the latter when it comes to furniture - why be any less careful when it comes to making travel arrangements? Make it yourself or buy from a professional - it's your choice. What is the Role of AITO? A third question is why look at AITO for holiday ideas and help? Imagine if you could get over 100 tour operators all in one place, each with their own special holidays. Imagine if each operator had specialist knowledge about one particular destination or style of holiday. And imagine if each of the tour operators was independently owned. That is, each was run by the people who own it and who are passionate about what they sell. If you actually want all that, visit aito.com and it's all here in one place.

Destination Travel
Special Interest Travel
Travel Advice
Travel Tales

Accessible India: Where There’s Magic Around Every Corner

Lynne Kirby shares her experiences of exploring the Golden Triangle of India.

Walking Holidays: Free Your Mind

Steve Jack explains how a walking holiday can be good for body, mind, and soul.

Tips for Your First Trip to Vietnam

Are you thinking of going to Vietnam? If so, here are a few top tips, and FAQ's, answered. How do I get a Visa? What's the weather like? How do I behave and dress?

The Vistula District

The Vistula river has beaches, boulevards, and an active nightlife surrounding it.

What is Overlanding?

You might've heard of the term 'overlanding' on the television, in an article, or popping up on Facebook. But what exactly is it? We have the answer for you.

Please enter your username and password to logon to the member pages

By clicking the box above, you agree that a cookie will be placed in your browser to retain your login details Forgotten password?

Core Differences

We Provide Comparison for All Terms

10 Difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent (With Table)

Technological advancement has made traveling around the world easier. But a lot of people have lost thousands of dollars when trying to book holiday packages online.

Travel industries have tried to get rid of these misconceptions by introducing tour operators and travel agents. The purpose is to protect travelers from scammers in the online travel industry.

Many people usually find tour operator and travel agent terms quite confusing. This industry jargon may sound the same but that is not true in real life.

So, what is the main difference between tour operator and travel agent? The former is the company or an individual responsible for planning the trip while the latter is the broker or intermediary selling the tour package.

The relationship between the travel agent and tour operator can be confusing for first-time travelers. Understanding the definition of travel agent and tour operator is crucial in this case.

This article provides insight into the differences between tour operators and travel agencies in a tabular form. Take the time also to read the similarities between tour operators and travel agents.

You May Also Like: Difference between Washington and Washington DC

Difference Between Tour Operator and Travel Agent

Comparison Table (Tour Operator vs Travel Agent)

Who is a tour operator.

A tour operator is a person or company responsible for planning, arranging, advertising, and creating trips or tours packages for clients.

Tour operators are responsible for creating holiday packages such as accommodation, airport pick-ups, activities, and trips.

The trips usually take place through an intermediary or directly. These two channels are ways how the tour operators make sales in the travel industry.

Inbound tour operators are those companies that receive guests and handle all arrangements within the host country (responsible for community-based tourism experience).

Outbound tour operators promote foreign destinations while domestic tour operators offer travel services to domestic travelers (service may not be taking place entirely in the country).

Ground tour operators are locally based and usually work in close association with other travel businesses. The operators do not sell transportation and guidance services individually.

Who Is a Travel Agent?

A travel agent is a person who sells and administrates holiday packages to tourists. These individuals help tourists narrow down their searches and recommend the best travel packages.

Travel agency works with several tour operators and earns a commission after the tourist has made a booking with the desired tour operator.

Travel agents offer tourists different experiences depending on their needs. Travel agencies are responsible for promoting tourism in a particular country or destination.

The travel agency is responsible for processing and packaging all the attraction, amenities, and ancillary services.

Travel agents work directly with tour operators and they provide transportation, accommodations, and trip packages.

Main Difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent

Tour operators create holiday packages, sell, advertise and plan. Travel agents sell and administrate tour packages.
Tour operators deal with finer details such as accommodation, tickets, and meals. Travel agents help tourists to choose a suitable package.
Tour operators offer advice on legalities on the ground while travel agents offer advice on travel documents such as passports or visas
Tour operators’ job ends when the client returns home after vacation while travel agents job end when the client makes a booking for vacation.
Tour operators earn huge profits since they set trip fees while travel agents earn commission from the bookings made by the client.

Similarities between Tour Operator and Travel Agent

Both belong in the travel industry
Both help tourists fulfill their holiday experiences
Both have information about various destinations.
Both promote tourism in various destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Tour Operator an Agent?

Not really. An agent sells the holiday packages bought from a tour operator. The tour operator takes care of the tourist according to the holiday package description.

Difference between Travel Agency and Tour Operators

Travel agencies sell attractive tour packages to people interested in holiday vacations. Tour operators are responsible for creating holiday packages and broke them to travel agencies.

Difference between Wholesale Travel Agency and Tour Operator

A wholesale travel agency deals with one component of travel product whereas a tour operator deals with a variety of tour programs. Besides that, a wholesale travel agency does not sell directly to the public and a tour operator does sell directly to the client.

In Conclusion

The core difference between a tour operator and a travel agent is that a tour operator creates the holiday packages while a travel agent is responsible for selling and administering the holiday packages to clients interested in the vacation.

Do not allow the close relationship between travel agents and tour operators to confuse you. I hope this article was helpful in telling the difference between travel agency and tour operator.

What Is The Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

Ceo/founder.

Chloe Harris

Writer | Blogger

Latest Posts

Choosing the Right Acoustic Guitar Strings and Set Up

Maximizing Residential Solar Energy Income with Sungrow Inversor Para Energia Solar RS Line

How Can I Hire an Experienced Web Designer in 2024?

Empowering Your Fishing Adventures: Portable Power Stations in Australia

GeneMind’s DNA Sequencing Technology: Pioneering Innovations in Healthcare

Contact info.

[email protected]

123 Demo Street New York, NY 12345

Follow us on

What Is The Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator?

When it comes to planning a vacation or an adventure, two essential roles in the travel industry often come into play: travel agents and tour operators. While both contribute to making your travel dreams come true, they serve distinct purposes. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the differences between these two professionals and help you understand their unique roles and responsibilities.

Travel Agent

Travel agents are your go-to advisors when it comes to booking individual or group travel arrangements. They act as intermediaries between travelers and travel service providers, helping you find the best deals on flights, accommodations, and transportation. Here are some key points to consider when working with a travel agent:

Personalized Travel Planning

One of the primary benefits of using a travel agent is their ability to customize your travel experience. They take your preferences, budget, and desired destinations into account to create a personalized itinerary that suits your needs.

Expert Advice and Recommendations

Travel agents are well-versed in the travel industry and can provide expert advice on various destinations, travel insurance, and visa requirements. They can also recommend the best travel options based on your interests.

Booking and Reservations

Travel agents handle all the logistics of your trip, including booking flights, hotels, tours, and other activities. They take care of the paperwork and ensure that everything is in order for your journey.

Problem Resolution

Should any issues arise during your trip, such as flight delays or hotel overbooking, travel agents can assist you in resolving these problems, making your travel experience smoother.

Tour Operator

Tour operators, on the other hand, specialize in creating and organizing group tours and travel packages. They work closely with various service providers to offer comprehensive tour experiences. Here’s what you need to know about tour operators:

Pre-Packaged Tours

Tour operators design pre-packaged tours with specific itineraries, activities, and inclusions. These tours are often themed and cater to different interests, such as cultural, adventure, or culinary experiences.

Group Travel

Tour operators excel in coordinating group travel experiences, making them ideal for travelers who want to explore new destinations with a guided group of like-minded individuals.

Inclusive Services

Tour operators typically include all essential services in their packages, such as accommodations, meals, transportation, and guided tours. This simplifies the planning process for travelers.

Expert Guides

Tour operators provide knowledgeable tour guides who accompany groups and provide insights into the destinations, enhancing the overall travel experience.

Choosing the Right Option for You

The decision to work with a travel agent or a tour operator depends on your travel preferences and needs. If you prefer a personalized, flexible trip and enjoy making individual choices, a travel agent is the way to go. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a hassle-free, group travel experience with a pre-planned itinerary, a tour operator can offer you a convenient solution.

In the world of travel, both travel agents and tour operators play crucial roles in helping you explore new horizons. Understanding their differences can assist you in making informed decisions and ensure that your next adventure is tailored to your preferences.

New Shukriya Travels LLC Ajman:

New Shukriya Travels LLC Ajman is a prominent travel agency located in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. With a reputation for excellence in travel services, they offer a wide range of travel solutions, including flight bookings, hotel reservations, tour packages, and visa assistance. Whether you’re planning a business trip or a leisurely vacation, New Shukriya Travels LLC Ajman strives to provide top-notch customer service and ensure a seamless travel experience for their clients. Their dedication to customer satisfaction and expertise in the travel industry have earned them a loyal clientele and a strong presence in the travel market.

October 8, 2023
No Comments

Share this Post

7 Differences Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

Post author By varun
Post date November 16, 2022

The travel industry is vast and expansive in nature. There exist multiple avenues through which a person can contribute to this ever-growing industry and consequently make a good amount of money. Due to the diversity of the platform, it can get confusing to comprehend who is engaged in what task.

One of the most common mix-ups takes place between what is known as a ‘travel operator’ and a ‘travel agent’. This blog will explain the significant difference between travel agent and tour operator. These two designations are different, but confusion arises because of the similarity in the terminology.

These two professions have characteristics that overlap each other, and in that sense, a travel agent can do specific tasks that are more likely to be done by a tour operator and the other way around.

In other words, travel agents and tour operators tackle the objectives of the travel and tourism sector. However, legitimate differences broadly divide the nature of both job descriptions.

Once you are aware of the difference between travel agent and tour operator, you will find it easier to avail services from each one of them in a more seamless manner.

What is a Travel Agent?

In the simplest terms, a travel agent is a representative of the travel and tourism industry who sells travel services directly to the end consumer. In this case, the end-consumer could be an individual, a group, or a corporation.

A travel agent is not in charge of creating the various travel services that customers look forward to buying, and their principal task is to act as a middleman between the tour travel companies and the clients. A travel agent makes it easier for the customer to find and avail of the right services at any time.

Becoming a travel agent takes more than knowing about the available travel services available in the market. In order to become a successful travel agent, one needs to imbibe excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Since the travel agent handles people, their overall people-handling skills take precedence over everything else.

Among other things, travel agents make customers aware of the different individual or compact packages that travel companies sell. When they are able to sell one or more of these services, they get a share of the profit.

What is a Tour Operator?

Tour operators are generally entities who are the real brains behind a particular travel service compilation. It could be an individual or a group of individuals who come together to build travel packages for interested travellers.

Tour operators work closely with various service providers, such as airlines and hotel chains, to coordinate a travel itinerary. A tour operator will work under the strict guidelines of travel regulations of the country where the operations will take place.

While plying their trade, tour operators could sell their services directly to the client or do it via a travel agent. A tour operator works in tandem with the latest offerings of the airline, hotel, and other allied industries to squeeze out the best deals for their prospective clients.

Be it transport and accommodations services, flights and airline tickets, hotel bookings, sightseeing, food, and lodging, it is the job of the tour operator to get everything sorted in the first place.

Once the entire structure of the services is compiled and adjusted per the end-user’s needs, they launch their travel services via online or offline means. In a way, the travel agent is dependent on the tour operator for success at both ends.

Seven Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

The main difference between a travel agent and a tour operator is that the latter is the architect of travel ideas and packages, which they then sell to either the travel agents linked to them or directly to the customers.

On the other hand, a travel agent will not develop travel plans from scratch but sell the same generated by tour operators they are working for or attached to.

Since travel agents are wholly dependent on tour operators for giving them the opportunity to sell services to clients, they make it a point to maintain camaraderie with a host of tour operators.

A travel agent will have close connections with several travel companies/tour operators as it increases their chances of getting hold of better deals and offers. They then bring those deals in front of the customer. Travel agents could maintain these links via the online mode or offline mode , or both.

This bond between a travel agent and a tour operator is based on mutual trust. Tour operators only allow specific travel agents to advertise and sell their services. Likewise, there will be travel agents who will work for only a chosen set of tour operators.

There will be instances when a tour operator would be more likely to sell its services to the clients via a travel agent. This happens when the tour operator is dealing with cases like international packages and targeted niche packages.

In some countries, such as the UK, the government has mandated that tour operators are required to engage travel agents to sell some specific services. This has been done with an eye to providing more employment opportunities to the local populace.

Importance of Knowing the Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

From the standpoint of the consumer, it becomes crucial to understand the difference between the travel agent and the tour operator. This is because as the end-user, you are supposed to know where you will find the correct information when trying to connect with either one of them.

There are often moments when customers blame travel agents for anomalies in services, which are the tour operators’ responsibility. The reverse is also true in other cases. When an instance like this occurs, it culminates in customers fighting with the travel agents and the tour operators.

The end user must also understand that a travel agent will not have total control over tour operators’ services. The travel agents go to great lengths to ensure that the customers are happy and satisfied with their travel experience.

However, in case there emerge untoward incidents, the customer should also fully cooperate with all the parties to come to an amicable solution.

At the end of the day, it is up to the consumer to determine which travel operators are rated highly in the public domain. Once they are confident of their choice, their next task would be to opt for a well-known travel agent who is diligent in their work and customer-friendly.

Once these two aspects are taken care of, the consumer can simply relax and interact with only the travel agent or both. Since travel is generally an expensive affair, you as a consumer must dedicate enough time to select only high-value tour operators and travel agents.

People mostly go on travels to recharge their exhausted minds after many days of hard work. Ergo, the right choice before the journey will go a long way in ensuring you have a memorable trip with your loved ones.

Now that we discussed the difference between travel agent and tour operator, we would like you to check out our other Pathfndr blogs. They will surely give you valuable insights into the travel and tourism industry.

Explore Jobs

Jobs Near Me
Remote Jobs
Full Time Jobs
Part Time Jobs
Entry Level Jobs
Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

$15 Per Hour Jobs
$20 Per Hour Jobs
Hiring Immediately Jobs
High School Jobs
H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

Business And Financial
Architecture And Engineering
Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

What They Do
Certifications
Demographics

Best Companies

Health Care
Fortune 500

Explore Companies

CEO And Executies
Resume Builder
Career Advice
Explore Majors
Questions And Answers
Interview Questions

Travel Agent Vs Tour Operator

The differences between travel agents and tour operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a travel agent and a tour operator. Additionally, a tour operator has an average salary of $47,294, which is higher than the $33,128 average annual salary of a travel agent.

The top three skills for a travel agent include reservations, booking and AAA. The most important skills for a tour operator are reservations, customer service, and customer feedback.

Travel agent vs tour operator overview

Travel agent vs tour operator salary.

Travel agents and tour operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Differences between travel agent and tour operator education

There are a few differences between a travel agent and a tour operator in terms of educational background:

Travel agent vs tour operator demographics

Here are the differences between travel agents' and tour operators' demographics:

Differences between travel agent and tour operator duties and responsibilities

Travel agent example responsibilities..

Manage corporate travel arrangements for business accounts, including passport and visa documents.
Book hotel reservations; recommend and cross sell hotel rooms for availability within the Marriott brand of hotels and resorts.
Service inbound calls using Sabre system by setting itineraries and booking new reservations, also including billing reversals or accommodations.
Create PDFs prior to being send to print vendors and edit sell sheets for product introduction mailings.
Assist all travelers with acquiring passport, passport renewals, and visa requirements on any international travel itineraries.
Create scripts to help agents process long driven formats in Worldspan, Sabre, and Amadeus for quickness and accuracy.

Tour Operator Example Responsibilities.

Plan itineraries, make reservations, lead tours, obtain licenses for foreign pilots, manage a fleet of light aircraft.
Manage VIP guest calendar to ensure these guests are given quality service from staff.
Process and issue airlines, transfers, hotels, and city tours reservations for groups.
Train customers in operating Segway personal transport devices and hold entertaining tours.
Film all selection tour events and act as intermediary between AAG and hundreds of Midwestern media outlets.

Travel agent vs tour operator skills

Reservations, 30%
Booking, 12%
Credit Card, 7%
Travel Itineraries, 4%
Reservation System, 3%
Reservations, 32%
Customer Service, 22%
Customer Feedback, 4%
Travel Arrangements, 3%
Tour Guides, 3%

Travel Agent vs. Similar Jobs

Travel Agent vs Travel Consultant
Travel Agent vs Real Estate Agent
Travel Agent vs Tour Operator
Travel Agent vs Information Technology Technician
Travel Agent vs Insurance Agent
Travel Agent vs Booker
Travel Agent vs Certified Medical Technician
Travel Agent vs Travel Coordinator
Travel Agent vs Travel Counselor
Travel Agent vs Agent
Travel Agent vs Travel Manager
Travel Agent vs Corporate Travel Agent
Travel Agent vs Corporate Travel Consultant
Travel Agent vs Senior Travel Consultant
Travel Agent vs Corporate Travel Counselor

Travel Agent Related Careers

Auto Travel Counselor
Corporate Travel Agent
Corporate Travel Consultant
Corporate Travel Counselor
Corporate Travel Expert
Cruise Counselor
Senior Travel Consultant
Travel Consultant
Travel Coordinator
Travel Counselor
Travel Manager
Travel Service Consultant
Travel Specialist

Travel Agent Related Jobs

Agent Employment Near Me
Auto Travel Counselor Employment Near Me
Corporate Travel Agent Employment Near Me
Corporate Travel Consultant Employment Near Me
Corporate Travel Counselor Employment Near Me
Corporate Travel Expert Employment Near Me
Cruise Counselor Employment Near Me
Senior Travel Consultant Employment Near Me
Tour Agent Employment Near Me
Travel Consultant Employment Near Me
Travel Coordinator Employment Near Me
Travel Counselor Employment Near Me
Travel Manager Employment Near Me
Travel Service Consultant Employment Near Me
Travel Specialist Employment Near Me

What Similar Roles Do

Agent Responsibilities
Travel Consultant Responsibilities
Travel Coordinator Responsibilities
Travel Manager Responsibilities
Travel Specialist Responsibilities
Zippia Careers
Sales Industry
Travel Agent

Browse sales jobs

What does a travel agent do?

Would you make a good travel agent? Take our career test and find your match with over 800 careers.

What is a Travel Agent?

A travel agent assists individuals or groups in planning, organizing, and booking various aspects of their travel arrangements. They act as intermediaries between travelers and travel suppliers, such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and tour operators. Travel agents have in-depth knowledge of different destinations, travel options, and industry trends, which they leverage to provide personalized recommendations and advice to their clients.

One of the primary roles of a travel agent is to help clients navigate the complex world of travel. They listen to their clients' preferences, budget constraints, and desired experiences, and then work towards creating a tailored itinerary that meets their needs. Travel agents handle tasks such as booking flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and excursions, ensuring that all the necessary arrangements are made smoothly. They can also provide valuable insights on visa requirements, travel insurance, and local customs, helping travelers make informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.

What does a Travel Agent do?

Travel agents possess extensive knowledge and expertise in the travel industry, including destinations, transportation options, accommodations, and activities. This expertise allows them to provide valuable advice and guidance to travelers, helping them make informed decisions and create well-planned itineraries that meet their specific needs and preferences. They also have access to a wide range of resources and tools that enable them to efficiently search for the best deals, discounts, and promotions available. They can often secure exclusive rates and packages, saving their clients both time and money.

Duties and Responsibilities Here are some common tasks and responsibilities associated with being a travel agent:

Client Consultation: Travel agents engage in thorough consultations with clients to understand their travel preferences, requirements, and budget. They ask relevant questions to gather necessary information and provide personalized recommendations based on the client's needs.
Itinerary Planning: Based on client preferences, travel agents create detailed travel itineraries that include destinations, transportation options, accommodations, and activities. They consider factors like travel dates, budget constraints, and any specific requests from clients.
Reservation and Booking: Travel agents handle the booking process for flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel-related services. They ensure that all bookings are made accurately and efficiently, securing the best available rates and deals for their clients.
Travel Documentation and Logistics: Travel agents assist clients in obtaining necessary travel documents such as passports, visas, and travel insurance. They provide guidance on the documentation process and ensure that clients have all the required paperwork in order. Agents also handle logistical aspects like seat assignments, baggage allowances, and transportation arrangements.
Knowledge of Destinations: Travel agents possess extensive knowledge about various destinations, including popular attractions, local customs, weather conditions, and safety considerations. They provide valuable information and recommendations to clients, enabling them to make well-informed decisions about their travel plans.
Customer Service: Travel agents offer exceptional customer service throughout the entire travel process. They address client inquiries, resolve any issues or concerns that may arise, and provide support during the trip. Agents act as a point of contact for emergencies and assist clients in making alternative arrangements if necessary.
Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends: To provide the best service to clients, travel agents stay updated with the latest industry trends, travel regulations, and changes in travel technology. They attend industry conferences, participate in training programs, and conduct research to ensure their knowledge is current.
Sales and Marketing: Some travel agents engage in sales and marketing activities to attract new clients and promote travel packages and services. They may participate in trade shows, develop promotional materials, and utilize online platforms to reach a wider audience.
Financial Management: Travel agents handle financial transactions related to travel bookings, including processing payments, issuing refunds, and managing invoices. They maintain accurate records of financial transactions and ensure compliance with accounting procedures.
Continuous Learning: Travel agents continuously enhance their skills and knowledge by staying updated on travel industry trends, new destinations, and emerging technologies. They actively seek opportunities for professional development to provide the best possible service to their clients.

Types of Travel Agents There are various types of travel agents, each specializing in different aspects of travel and catering to specific clientele. Here are some common types of travel agents and what they do:

Leisure Travel Agents: Leisure travel agents focus on organizing vacations and leisure trips for individuals, families, or groups. They assist clients in planning and booking all aspects of their leisure travel, including flights, accommodations, tours, and activities. Leisure travel agents may specialize in specific types of travel, such as beach vacations, cruises, adventure travel, or luxury travel.
Corporate Travel Agents: Corporate travel agents primarily cater to business travelers and companies. They handle the complex travel needs of corporate clients, including booking flights, arranging accommodations, managing itineraries, and coordinating travel logistics. Corporate travel agents are familiar with business travel policies, negotiated rates, and preferred vendors to ensure cost-effective and efficient travel arrangements for their clients.
Group Travel Agents: Group travel agents specialize in organizing travel for large groups, such as family reunions, weddings, school trips, or corporate retreats. They handle group bookings for flights, accommodations, transportation, and activities, negotiating group rates and coordinating logistics to accommodate the specific needs and preferences of the group.
Tour Operators: Tour operators design and operate pre-packaged tours and travel itineraries. They create comprehensive tour packages that include transportation, accommodations, guided tours, and activities. Tour operators often work with travel agents to sell their tour packages, providing them with a ready-made product to offer their clients.
Destination Specialists: Destination specialists focus on specific regions, countries, or cities. They have in-depth knowledge of the destination's culture, attractions, local experiences, and logistical considerations. Destination specialists provide expert advice and create customized itineraries for travelers seeking in-depth exploration of a particular destination.
Online Travel Agents (OTAs): Online travel agents operate through internet platforms and websites, offering a wide range of travel services. They allow customers to search, compare, and book flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel services online. Online travel agents may also provide customer support and assistance through online chat or call centers.
Niche Travel Agents: Niche travel agents specialize in specific types of travel, catering to niche markets or specialized interests. Examples include adventure travel agents, luxury travel agents, honeymoon specialists, culinary travel agents, or eco-tourism experts. These agents have extensive knowledge and expertise in their niche area, curating unique experiences and tailored itineraries for clients with specific interests.

Are you suited to be a travel agent?

Travel agents have distinct personalities . They tend to be enterprising individuals, which means they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic. They are dominant, persuasive, and motivational. Some of them are also conventional, meaning they’re conscientious and conservative.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if travel agent is one of your top career matches.

What is the workplace of a Travel Agent like?

The workplace of a travel agent can vary depending on their specific employment arrangement. Some travel agents work in traditional brick-and-mortar travel agencies, which may be part of a larger travel company or operate independently. In these settings, travel agents typically have a physical office space with workstations, computers, and travel industry resources such as brochures, destination guides, and reservation systems. They may have a reception area to welcome clients and conduct in-person consultations.

With the increasing prevalence of remote work and online booking platforms, many travel agents now have the flexibility to work from home or in virtual offices. They utilize technology, such as laptops, smartphones, and high-speed internet, to communicate with clients, access travel resources, and make online bookings. Virtual travel agents often communicate with clients via phone, email, or video conferencing, offering the convenience of remote consultations.

Travel agents also frequently visit destinations, attend industry conferences, and participate in familiarization trips organized by travel suppliers. These opportunities allow them to gain firsthand experience, build relationships with suppliers, and stay updated on the latest travel trends. While travel agents spend a significant amount of time working at their desks, they also have the chance to explore and experience the destinations they recommend to their clients.

In terms of work hours, travel agents may have a standard office schedule, working weekdays during regular business hours. However, they may also need to be flexible, accommodating clients in different time zones or assisting with emergency situations outside of regular office hours. The workload of travel agents can vary throughout the year, with peak periods during holiday seasons or when there are significant events or festivals happening in popular destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pros and cons of being a travel agent.

Being a travel agent can be an exciting and rewarding career for individuals who are passionate about travel and enjoy helping others create memorable experiences. However, like any profession, there are pros and cons to consider.

Travel Opportunities: One of the major advantages of being a travel agent is the exposure to diverse travel opportunities. Travel agents often have the chance to visit destinations, experience different cultures, and explore new places as part of their job. This firsthand experience not only enhances their knowledge but also allows them to provide valuable insights and recommendations to clients.
Personal Satisfaction: For individuals who are passionate about travel and helping others, being a travel agent can be personally fulfilling. The ability to create personalized itineraries and witness the joy and excitement of clients as they embark on their dream trips can be highly rewarding.
Knowledge and Expertise: Travel agents develop a deep understanding of destinations, travel products, and industry trends. They stay up-to-date with the latest information, including visa requirements, safety advisories, and emerging travel destinations. This expertise allows them to provide valuable advice and recommendations to clients, ensuring they have well-planned and memorable travel experiences.
Building Relationships: Travel agents have the opportunity to build strong relationships with clients, travel suppliers, and industry professionals. They can establish a network of contacts that can enhance their business and open doors for collaboration and future opportunities.
Industry Changes and Competition: The travel industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies, online booking platforms, and dynamic pricing models. Travel agents must stay updated with these changes and adapt their business practices accordingly. The rise of online travel agencies and self-booking options has increased competition, requiring travel agents to differentiate themselves and provide added value to their clients.
Workload and Time Management: The travel industry can be demanding, especially during peak travel seasons. Travel agents may need to work long hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate client needs and handle emergencies. Proper time management skills are essential to balance the workload and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Pressure for Exceptional Customer Service: Travel agents are expected to deliver outstanding customer service consistently. They must handle client inquiries, resolve issues, and manage expectations throughout the travel process. This level of customer service can be challenging, particularly when dealing with unforeseen circumstances or dissatisfied clients.
Commission-Based Income: While some travel agents receive a salary or hourly wage, others rely on commission-based income. This means their earnings are directly tied to the bookings they secure for clients. It can take time to build a client base and establish a steady income stream, especially in the early stages of a travel agent's career.

Travel Agents are also known as: Travel Consultant

How is a Travel Agent Different to a Tour Operator?

There are many ways someone can sell services in the travel industry. Sometimes it can get a little confusing to distinguish who is doing what. A very common mix up to make is between a travel agent and a tour operator, both of whom operate very differently. However, it’s not unusual for a travel agent to be queried on issues that are actually the tour operator’s job and vice versa.

In short, travel agents and tour operators are both travel service providers. This is where the similarities end. It’s important to know the difference in order to make communication with your service providers more efficient.

What is a Travel Agent?

Put simply, a travel agent is the person that sells travel services to a consumer (individual, group, corporation) on behalf of the supplier, namely the tour operator.

A travel agent doesn’t create the elements of travel services, nor do they create the pre-made packages that they sell. They are there to make the booking of travel services easier for consumers, and communicate financially and legally with both the tour operator and the traveller.

A travel agent might sell a package, individual services separately, or negotiate with different suppliers for a custom package they sell. The final protection will inevitably be covered by the tour operator.

An example of this would be as follows:

You speak to your local travel agent and you explain your budget and what type of holiday you are looking for.
Your travel agent then sources a range of different packages that will suit you and offer a collection of different options.

Each of these packages will have been sourced from a tour operator. So, when you book your holiday your ATOL protection will inevitably be protected with the tour operator.

A travel agent is a consumer’s best friend when booking a holiday. The travel agent knows which tour operators will be more suitable and which will offer you the best services.

A travel agent is your agent. They work for you to source the best holiday they can to suit you. Finding the right one is important, if you need some suggestions to get your started, you can visit out page on choosing the right travel agent for you.

What is a Tour Operator?

By definition, a tour operator is the person/company that works with suppliers and other service providers to put together holiday packages under the terms of the Package Travel Regulations that you can find on the government site .

A tour operator might arrange with hotel and air travel providers for specific flights and accommodation to be in a package that they can then sell to consumers through the travel agent or directly to the consumer.

A tour operator works with all travel elements, including:

Accommodation
Tourist services

What’s the Difference Between Them?

The difference is that the tour operator creates packages and sells them either to the consumer or the travel agent. Whereas, the travel agent only sells the packages on behalf of the tour operator and does not create packages.

For this reason, travel agents tend to have good relationships with many different tour operators for different destinations or specialities. They will supply a lot of their holidays from those trusted tour operators.

Equally, a tour operator will also work with specific travel agents they trust to sell their packages to consumers, or directly to the consumer. They are, however, more likely to go through a travel agent for a few reasons:

They’re selling international travel
Someone else is dealing with consumer money directly
They’re selling more niche packages

They could do this for a variety of reasons including convenience or focusing on specific elements of their business. It is also useful with international travel for currency exchange and selling travel to people. For example, in the UK through a UK travel agent if the tour operator organises local packages elsewhere.

Why is This Important?

It’s very important to know this difference when you’re trying to communicate effectively with your travel agent as the consumer.

Often travel agents will get the brunt for a mistake that is actually the tour operator’s responsibility, and vice versa. This can cause a lot of unnecessary conflict for the consumer and the providers. Your travel agent is there to support you and will inevitably find a suitable answer but do always remember that an agent is an intermediary between you and the principle tour operator.

This issue is much simpler with travel agents that are a Protected Trust Services Member as the PTS protection offers complete financial track and trace. Travel agents and tour operators that are PTS members can only use your monies to book your holiday unlike many others in the UK that use consumer money as working capital.

If something goes wrong with any of the elements of the package you can always speak to your travel agent. This is why we state it is so imperative you pick a travel agent that you know and trust. Holidays are a high ticket item, they are expensive, and they should be free of stress. A great travel agent, especially a PTS travel agent, offers excellent service, incredible knowledge, and supports you every step of the way.

If you are still uncertain when something happens with your holiday, or you need to know where your money is for whatever reason and you are working with a PTS Member please check out our protection of consumers page , or you can contact PTS directly by calling 0207 190 9988 or emailing us at [email protected] .

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

September 14, 2023

Extreme Weather Conditions: How Is Your Holiday Affected?

Over the summer months, there has been a noticeable number of situations related to extreme weather conditions around the world. [...]

August 16, 2023

Industry Powers: Who Should I Contact First With Issues?

The industry powers for consumer law in the travel industry are changing and the proposed bill will be giving consumers [...]

June 5, 2023

Call For Package Regulations Changes To Aid Consumers

Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, many factors of the travel industry have been called forward [...]

Want to know more about how PTS protect your holiday?

307-315 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 8BX

Contact No.

020 7190 9988

Email address

[email protected]

Sitemap | Privacy Policy

Can’t find the PTS member you are looking for?

That's not a problem, click the link below to get in touch.

Do contact the PTS office directly and the team will be happy to assist you.

Tracking Cookies

Functional Cookies

Google Maps

Necessary Cookies

Share full article

Supported by

4 Things to Know When Choosing a Travel Agent

Even the most D.I.Y.-inclined travelers are considering working with a professional adviser these days. Here’s how.

By Lauren Sloss

So, you’re thinking about traveling again? You’re not alone. The pandemic may not be over, but the expansion of vaccine eligibility in the United States — hiccups, delays and pauses aside — plus the news that the European Union will be opening up to vaccinated travelers is inspiring many to plan a real-deal summer vacation, or even take the leap on booking bucket-list adventures.

Travel remains far from simple, however. The virus is finding new footholds around the world, leaving an ever-changing set of rules and restrictions in its wake (and all of this is compounded by a run on home rentals , rental cars and more). It’s a reality that’s inspired many D.I.Y.-inclined travelers to consider working with a travel agent , or travel adviser, for the first time, in the hopes of skipping the travel-planning stress and focusing on actually relaxing on vacation instead.

Most travel advisers provide their services free of charge to clients (though some charge a booking fee, which can range from $25 to $100, depending on how complicated a trip you’re after) and instead make their money through commissions from hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines and other travel companies.

Finding the right adviser for you is “like finding a hairdresser,” said Erika Richter, the senior communications director of ASTA , the American Society of Travel Advisors. “You want someone who understands your personal style.”

Ms. Richter, along with Misty Belles, the managing director of global public relations for Virtuoso , an international travel agency network specializing in luxury travel, shared their tips on how you can find an adviser who will understand you and your dream trip.

Begin your search close to home

Start by asking trusted friends and family members for recommendations. “The same holds true for any professional service in your life,” Ms. Belles said. “If you know someone who is working with a travel adviser and was pleased with the experience, that’s a great place to start.”

If that’s a no-go (or if your friends and family, while beloved, don’t have the same travel style as you do), Ms. Richter strongly suggested seeking out local businesses where you live.

“Supporting small businesses in our communities is more important than ever right now,” she said. ASTA has a directory that allows you to search for advisers close to you; a quick Google search will likely do the trick, too, Ms. Richter said.

Think about where you want to go

Another way to find a travel adviser is to seek one out based on a destination, or destinations, that he or she may specialize in. Are you interested in going to a specific Caribbean island nation? You’ll likely want to work with an adviser that has booked a number of trips in that country, and has connections and contacts there. Some advisers specialize in trips to Disney resort properties; others focus on cruises. If you’re interested in planning a trip outside of their purview, advisers can refer you to someone else within their network, or do the heavy-duty research themselves.

“Choosing someone who specializes in a destination is a good first foray into working with a travel adviser,” Ms. Belles said. “But when you work with the same adviser for a while, they become a specialist in you.”

Consider their professional networks

Speaking of what you want, it can be useful to understand the organization, or organizations, an adviser is associated with. Whether they work alone, with one partner in a small shop, or as part of a large agency, they are likely connected to a consortium, or a professional network, like Virtuoso, which is made up of more than 1,000 agencies in 50 countries around the world, or ASTA itself.

“Obviously, I represent ASTA, but I do think it’s important to look at an adviser’s professional affiliations,” Ms. Richter said. Affiliations can serve as a vote of confidence that the adviser has been vetted; it also gives you a chance for recourse should you find yourself unhappy with your relationship (ASTA, for example, can handle consumer complaints and be a part of the resolution process). Some consortiums specialize in a certain type of travel — Virtuoso agencies focus on luxury travel, for example, while others might highlight adventure travel, or family trips and so on.

An adviser’s affiliations also act as a conduit for one of their major selling points: traveler perks.

“Ask them what sorts of benefits they get from their professional networks,” Ms. Richter said. “Upgrades, free breakfasts, late checkouts when available — who doesn’t want some of those freebies?”

Make sure your adviser understands your travel style

Do you like leisurely, slow trips? Packed itineraries filled with sightseeing and attractions? Do you like to travel alone, or are you planning multigenerational trips with children and grandparents? Ensuring that your adviser understands what you want — and maybe even establishing that they have a similar travel style themselves — can greatly help with building rapport (and allow them to plan an even better trip for you).

Some important questions to ask: Do they charge a planning fee? What are some examples of trips that they’ve planned in the past?

“Be really upfront about your budget for a trip, and be sure that that is something they can help you make the most of,” Ms. Richter said.

Ms. Belles suggested asking the adviser how they personally like to travel, and some of their favorite destinations.

“Interview them a little bit! You can see whether there are some similarities there,” she said. But make sure they’re asking you just as many questions.

“If they’re not, that should be a red flag,” said Ms. Belles. “An adviser should be looking to get to the heart of what exactly you want as a traveler.”

52 Places to Love in 2021

We asked readers to tell us about the spots that have delighted, inspired and comforted them in a dark year. Here, 52 of the more than 2,000 suggestions we received, to remind us that the world still awaits.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2021 .

Explore Our Style Coverage

The latest in fashion, trends, love and more..

Scam Calls and Messages: Digital life is cluttered with bogus text messages, spam calls and phishing attempts. You can try to block, encrypt and unsubscribe your way out of it , but you may not succeed.

A Celebrity Editor’s Store: Shoe horns, lampshades and CBD-infused elixirs are among the goods Graydon Carter is selling at a new newsstand-style shop in New York.

What Is a Magazine Now?: Highsnobiety is a store, a website, a production agency and a clothing line . Oh, and Pamela Anderson is on the latest cover.

Collectible Italian Ceramics: Buon Ricordo plates were introduced 60 years ago at restaurants in Italy. The hand-painted ceramics can now be found at design trade shows and fancy décor stores.

Gossip From a Tiny Island: Rusty Foster could never live in New York. But his hit newsletter, Today in Tabs, is an enduring obsession of the city’s media class.

French Olympics Opening Outfits: Carine Roitfeld teamed up with Berluti to sprinkle some fashion fairy dust on the designs . Here’s the verdict.

Tours , Travel Tips

Understanding the difference between tour operator and travel agencies: a comprehensive guide.

October 15, 2023
No Comments

The travel industry is a huge and complex network of companies that each play a unique role in meeting the constantly changing requirements of tourists. Travel agencies and tour operators are two major participants in this market. Despite their frequent interchangeability, they have distinct roles, duties, and effects on your trip. In order to help you make wise choices the next time you embark on a journey, this book seeks to make those distinctions clear.

Overview of the Travel Sector Environment

Prior to getting too technical, it’s important to comprehend the overall travel business scenario. It includes travel agencies, hotels, rental car agencies, tour operators, and airlines, among others. Everybody has a specialty and works together to provide passengers with a smooth experience. Although they serve different purposes, tour operators and travel companies in particular serve as a middleman between the tourist and other service providers.

What is a Tour Operator?

A tour operator is a business or a person who designs and plans package vacations. These packages often include a variety of travel-related services, such as lodging, transportation, sightseeing, and occasionally meals, into a single item. These packages are created by tour operators using their knowledge, research, and connections to other service providers.

Key Functions of a Tour Operator

1. package creation.

They create distinctive travel packages for a variety of passenger types, including families, couples, and adventure seekers.

2. Coordination with Service Providers

To deliver a seamless travel experience, tour operators communicate with lodging establishments, transportation providers, and local guides.

3. Bulk Booking

They frequently reserve services in large quantities to get lower costs that they can then pass along to the client.

4. Quality Control

Monitoring lodging, transit, and other services on a regular basis to ensure that they meet quality standards.

What is a Travel Agency?

A company that represents passengers as an agent is known as a travel agency. They handle and market travel-related goods and services, ranging from hotel reservations and airline tickets to whole vacation packages (which are occasionally obtained through tour operators).

Key Functions of a Travel Agency

1. booking services.

They assist clients in making reservations for buses, trains, airplanes, and other forms of transportation.

2. Accommodation

Travel agencies have the ability to reserve hotels, resorts, or other types of lodging for their clients.

3. Itinerary Planning

While not as comprehensive as tour packages, they can assist in organizing an itinerary according to the requirements of a visitor.

4. Providing Insurance and Other Services

A lot of organizations provide currency exchange, travel insurance, help with visas, and other services.

Key Distinctions Between Travel Agencies and Tour Operators

1. the type of service.

Travel agencies mostly offer individual services or serve as sales representatives for travel items, whereas tour operators concentrate on the entire experience by designing multi-day vacation packages.

Tour operators engage directly with service providers like hotels and airlines, operating on a greater scale. Conversely, travel agencies may have closer relationships with certain clients.

Tour operators may provide better packages because of their direct relationships and large booking volume. Although they could provide more alternatives, travel agencies might not have the same pricing advantage for packages.

4. Expertise

Tour operators may create more personalized packages since they frequently have extensive understanding of particular trip locations or itineraries. While their expertise may be more general, travel companies may not have a focus on a particular area.

Which One Is Better to Select?

Your choice between a travel agency and a tour operator primarily comes down to the type of trip you’re looking for.

In Search of Tailored, Stress-Free Experiences: A tour operator that specializes in these areas could be a better option if you’re searching for a more specialized experience, like a safari in Africa or hiking in the Himalayas.
For freedom and Variety: A travel agency can provide you the necessary freedom if you would rather plan your own itinerary and choose specific components such as hotels, airlines, and excursions.

The Development of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators

In the past, there was a clearer distinction between the functions of travel agents and tour operators. Travel agencies served as middlemen in the early stages of contemporary tourism, mainly handling bookings and ticket sales. On the other hand, tour operators arose alongside the popularity of package vacations, particularly following World War II when leisure travel took off.

However, both groups have had to adjust because to changes in passenger behavior and technology improvements. Their operations have been changed with the introduction of internet booking platforms and direct-to-consumer marketing tactics. These days, a lot of travel companies sell package packages, and tour operators offer individual services, so the roles they play are pretty much interchangeable. However, there is still a fundamental distinction between their respective roles.

The Industry’s Reaction to Digital

Travelers have access to more resources than ever before in the digital era. Travel packages, lodging, and even flights may be booked instantly using websites, applications, and online platforms. The transition to digitalization has affected travel agents as well as tour operators.

These days, tour operators may reach out to customers directly through their websites, blogs, and social media accounts. Through user feedback, virtual tours, and video material, they may highlight immersive experiences. However, through internet portals where clients can compare costs, read reviews, and personalize their vacation plans, travel companies have increased the range of services they provide.

Ecological and Conscientious Travel

The emphasis on sustainability and responsible travel is one new trend in the travel business. In order to promote and engage in sustainable tourism, both tour operators and travel agents are involved.

It is possible for tour operators to design packages that emphasize ecotourism, help out local populations, and make sure tourism doesn’t negatively impact the ecology or customs of the area. They can collaborate with eco-friendly lodging establishments, advertise low-impact events, and instruct tourists on ethical behavior.

In addition to offering bookings and information, travel firms may help guests make sustainable decisions. They may give suggestions for environmentally friendly lodging, cultural sensitivity advice, and even flying carbon offset alternatives.

The Future of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators

The importance of the human touch endures, even as consumer behavior and technology continue to transform the travel business. Personalized services, professional guidance, and a sincere concern for tourists’ experiences are things that technology and direct reservations cannot provide.

Travel agents will persist in creating distinctive, niche experiences, providing tourists with immersive expeditions tailored to particular passions. Conversely, it is probable that travel companies will adopt a more consultative role, functioning as consultants who offer suggestions grounded in their own experiences and areas of expertise.

Tour operators and travel agencies play a vital role in providing everyone with hassle-free, engaging, and unforgettable travel experiences, regardless of how the travel industry changes.

Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish between tour operators and travel agencies, especially since so many companies provide a combination of the two services. Nonetheless, being aware of their main distinctions and advantages can help you select the best traveling companion. Knowing each company’s responsibilities will make the trip go more smoothly and pleasurable, whether it’s through the flexible services of a travel agency or the all-inclusive care of a tour operator. Travel safely!

Comprehensive Book Summary of The Diary of a CEO The 33 Laws of Business and Life

The Psychology of Money: The Most Comprehensive Book Summary (updated for 2024)

Every Night with My Son: A Journey into Baby Portrait Photography with Just a Mobile Phone

Your Love Story Through My Lens: Offering Free Wedding Photography in the Philippines for a Limited Time

Keep reading, related article.

Comprehensive Book Summary of The Diary of a CEO The 33 Laws of Business and Life

The Diary of a CEO The 33 Laws of Business and Life (by Steven Bartlett) Comprehensive Book Summary: Ultimate Guide Updated 2024 Introduction Few voices

Psychology of Money (Morgan Housel) Brief Summary More than just the technical parts of economics or financial planning, Morgan Housel’s “The Psychology of Money” delves

Signup on my newsletter to get update information, news & insight.

I created this website to serve as a personal photo blog where I am posting all the photos and videos I’ve taken from 11+ years of travel.

Photography
Featured Articles
Travel Tips

Destinations

South Korea
Philippines

Get in touch

Term of use
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Home » Travel & Tourism » Difference Between Tour Operator and Travel Agent

Difference Between Tour Operator and Travel Agent

When you are planning a vacation, you may be confused about the difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent and how exactly their roles play in planning your vacation. In this article, we are going to help you to clear this confusion by highlighting the difference between travel agent and tour operative.

What is a Tour Operator

A tour operator is a person responsible for actual planning of the trip . He is the one who reserves the tickets, hotels, transportation, destinations and even meals. Sometimes they might even arrange a tour guide to guide you through your destination. So we can say that a tour operative offers a complete package . A tour operative is involved in your vacation right from the planning of your trip to the point you return home. He works for you throughout your holiday and he reaps the maximum benefit from your deal.

Some tour operators are specialized in certain areas i.e. specialized in a certain country. Other tour operators offer tours throughout the world. While some tour operators are involved in planning, arranging, advertising, selling and operating tours, some do not actively participate in selling. This is where the role of travel agents comes in.

What is a Travel Agent

The term agent, in travel agent, might give you a hint about the role played by travel agents. An agent is a person or a business authorized to act on other’s behalf. In this case, a travel agent is an intermediary between clients and tour operatives . He is actually involved in selling attractive tour packages to the clients and is good at matching tours and trips according to client’s needs and requirements. A travel agent can help you to choose the ideal package, based on your budget and preferred destinations.

However, with the availability of self-service in the internet, many people prefer to arrange their own tours and the number of available jobs as travel agents is slowly decreasing. However, there are still people who prefer to obtain the services of a travel agent to arrange their tour in order to save their time and efforts.

The main difference between a tour operator and a travel agent is that tour operator is the person who is actually responsible for the planning of the trip/tour package while travel agent is the person who is involved in selling the tour package. Travel agents’ job is to help you select a package that suits the clients’ needs whereas tour operator plan your trip, arrange accommodation, transportation and look into the minute details of the job. Tour operators have more responsibility about your tour, as their job begins the minute you start preparing for the trip to the moment you return safely from the trip. In addition, nowadays many people prefer to work directly with the tour operators without the intervention of the travel agents.

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.

Get the Hottest Deals First!

.nationalparks { margin-top: -130px !important; } .nationalparks img { filter: drop-shadow(0 0 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.2)); } .nationalparks p { color: #fff; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.4; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-shadow: 0 0 25px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); } .home-search-hero-form a.btn-primary { height: 4.8rem; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 1.6rem; padding: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 15px; filter: drop-shadow(0 0 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)); } .collette-hero-overlay { border: unset; box-shadow: inherit; display: none; } .map-marker-center { color: #fff; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400; text-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.4), 0 0 70px #000000, 0 0 180px #000000; } .park-map-marker { position: absolute; left: 150px; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.4), 0 0 70px #000000, 0 0 180px #000000; margin-top:-10px; } @media only screen and (max-width: 991px) { .park-map-marker { left: -5px; bottom: -155px; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 853px) { .park-map-marker { left: -5px; bottom: -85px; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 767px) { .py-5.mt-5.d-none.d-md-block { display: block !important; } .nationalparks { margin-top: -40px !important; padding: 25px; } .nationalparks p { margin-bottom: 25px; font-size:16px } .park-map-marker { left: -5px; bottom: -105px; } } Explore America’s National Parks Step Inside Bryce Canyon National Park

Special offers, the collette difference.

Expertly Designed

We get it. You’re not the homebody type. We aren’t either. Your passion, needs, and desires have shaped our business. Destination experts hand-craft transformative experiences designed specifically with you – our fellow traveler – at heart. We wouldn't trust your experience with anyone else.

Guided Touring Reimagined

We know you want to explore and also dive in. We’re curious travelers, just like you, so rest assured, you’ll experience must-sees and connect with the people and culture that define the destination. You’ll eat in locals’ homes, take cooking classes, travel by trains and tuk tuks, explore cities with food tours, and stay in igloos, castles, and chateaus.

Value Beyond Price

Your time is one of your most precious commodities, so you should spend more of it in the destination, not driving between places. We design tours that spend the fewest hours on the coach. One-night stays are a rarity. This is your trip, and you shouldn’t feel rushed. With choice, flexibility, and free time, take it all in – this is your tour.

Confidently Collette

Travel with trust. Because this is your trip - something you've planned for and dreamed about. You should feel confident in your journey every step of the way.

Industry-Leading Travel Protection

Cancel for any reason (bad hair day applies) up to 24 hours before your tour leaves and get a full money-back refund. Collette issued a record-breaking $185 million cash back to travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experience & Expertise

We've been doing this for a long time. Since 1918, in fact. Collette is the most experienced and longest-running tour operator in North America. You choose...

Traveling Well

Our team is on the pulse of world events and protocols, so you are kept fully aware and feel well-prepared for your trip.

Service Rating

Independent

Why Guided Travel

You're a traveler with places to go. We'll take care of the details. You embrace the journey.

Social Connections

Meet a group of people who share your love of travel. Learn from locals. Forge friendships in the coolest places.

Independence

There's plenty of time built into our itineraries, plus optional tours, Choice on Tour excursions, and more. It's your trip, your way.

Expertly Planned

You know what you want to see and do - let a team of experts handle all the details from the must-sees to centrally-located accommodations and local lessons.

The Best Pacing

Don’t rush – this is your time to see the world. Get more time in the destination, and enjoy an ideal balance of included excursions and free time.

Our Best Moments

When you go, capture all those incredible moments, and use the hashtag #GoCollette so that we can share your joy!

Featured Tours

Collette travelers choose from 160 tours across all 7 continents, as well as 5 travel styles including small group touring and destination spotlights. Check out some trending tours for inspiration on your next adventure.

Explorations

Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside featuring Italy's Charming Hill Towns

African Safari: Kenya and Tanzania

Alaska's Northern Lights

Winter in Croatia featuring Plitvice Lakes and the Adriatic Coast

Icelandic Adventure

Costa Rica: A World of Nature featuring Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano & Manuel Antonio National Park

Mediterranean Coastal Journey Spain, France & Italy

The Best of Ireland featuring the Wild Atlantic Way

Exploring South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana

$3,299 pp* $3,699 pp, historical greenbrier featuring washington d.c. & williamsburg, $2,299 pp* $2,499 pp, spotlight on northern italy featuring venice, verona & the dolomites.

Spain's Costa del Sol & Madrid

Find a travel agency.

Once you've found the perfect Collette tour, your local travel agent can assist you in making reservations. To find a preferred travel agent in your area, please enter your 5-digit zip code, then click Search.

Enter a Whole or Partial Zip Code

Please tell us everything, we want it all.

We really value your feedback, please be open an honest. Tell us where we can improve, how we can get better. This feedback is anonymous, but if you would like us to get in touch with you regarding an issue provide your email address as part of your feedback and we will get right back to you.

Talk to an Expert

Please fill out the form below, and a Collette Expert will contact you shortly.

Yes, I'm a Travel Professional
Yes, I am working with a Travel Professional
I am traveling with 8 or more travelers

View or Download

A Travel Agency vs. A Tour Operator

December 9, 2015

Spring Break Packing Checklist

Top 5 spring break destinations for 2025, top spring break destinations, how to book with us, top 10 spring break hotels 2025, 5 tips for choosing a spring break hotel.

We have a lot more just for you! Lets join us now

At first glance, a travel agency and a tour operator may appear identical, and they are similar. But what are the differences between a travel agency and a tour operator? A Travel Agency vs. A Tour Operator

Both a travel agency and a tour operator will help you go on a trip. Both will sell you travel insurance (never go on vacation without travel insurance). Both will do their best to make sure you have a good time. That’s where the resemblance ends.

A tour operator specializes. A tour operator knows an area well. A tour operator can get you into the best sightseeing attractions, take you to restaurants with delicious local cuisine, and make sure you spend your nights in comfortable surroundings. And if there are any problems, your tour guide is there to help — you don’t need to call a travel agent who’s 2,000 miles away.

If you’re an experienced traveler, you may feel comfortable improvising. In that case, a certified travel agent might be the right person to help you (choose a certified travel agent, one who belongs to ASTA or CLIA). If you’re traveling aboard for the first time, you might prefer a little extra help. You don’t want to take the chance on a bed and breakfast being full, or the restaurant your cousin recommended being closed. You want to know where you’re going and what you’re doing. You may want a translator; you’ll definitely want an experienced guide. A tour operator can arrange all that for you.

A travel agent will help you arrange transportation, find lodgings, and suggest an itinerary. A tour operator will arrange your transportation, lodgings, food, entertainment, and itinerary. A tour operator removes the headaches. A tour operator does the work for you.

Contact Go Blue Tours to arrange a vacation without all the headaches, where all you need to do is enjoy yourself.

SEE OUR DEALS HERE

Spring Break Packing Checklist The Ultimate Spring Break Packing Checklist Spring break is just around

Top 5 Spring Break Destinations For Spring Break As the temperatures rise and flowers bloom,

Top Spring Break Destinations Spring Break is full of with sun-soaked beaches, lively nightlife, and

Give Us a Ring

1-855-224-6258

Or Email us Here

Subscribe to GoBlue

Get VIP News & Deals

with the GoBlue Newsletter

Let us do the hard work so you don't have to

Start planning your spring break.

We are experts in Spring Break group travel!

Search Please fill out this field.
Manage Your Subscription
Give a Gift Subscription
Sweepstakes
World's Best

The 15 Best Tour Operators in 2022

These are the companies Travel + Leisure readers trust to provide them with travel expertise and memorable experiences.

Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2023 list of our favorite tour operators .

When it comes to an itinerary, Travel + Leisure readers want more than a string of photo opportunities — and the right tour operator makes all the difference in creating a trip of a lifetime versus one that simply checks off a list of sights. This year, our readers were especially drawn to companies that utilize local expertise and experience to thoughtfully design trips that will entertain as well as inspire.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey , T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated tour operators and safari outfitters based on their staff and guides, itineraries and destinations, activities, accommodations, food, and overall value.

The top picks were noted for their deep knowledge of destinations and guides who "go the extra mile." One reader who has been traveling for more than five decades said a trip with Classic Journeys (No. 2) was the "very best" they had experienced. Others noted attention to pandemic safety details, while one who went to Norway was charmed by a "wonderful surprise dinner in Bergen out on the water that was fantastic."

Tour operators that seamlessly navigated the logistics of a trip also came out on top. Quasar Expeditions (No. 9) was noted "for really planning out every detail" so that "all you have to do is show up and have a great time." Meanwhile, of TCS World Travel (No. 10), a guest said: "You never lift a finger and just spend your time actually exploring the destination." They even added that they "learned so much" along the way.

Among the five companies on this year's list that weren't on last year's were two women-only tour operators that cater to travelers of all ages. AdventureWomen (No. 14) has multiday tours designed by women from Bhutan to Yellowstone National Park, while Explorer Chick (No. 15) has everything from day trips — like glassblowing in Baltimore and cave rappelling in St. Louis — to full itineraries in Machu Picchu and the Galápagos. One reader said her Everest Base Camp trip with AdventureWomen was filled with "like-minded women" who "bonded so well," while another said she felt it was a "safe tour group for women."

No matter which tour they chose, readers were most taken by the people they met along the way, as one said of Trek Travel (No. 13): "By the end of the trip, a group of strangers felt like longtime friends." Find out which other companies round out the list of the best tour operators below.

1. DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.

A tour with DuVine goes far beyond just riding a bike — it's a way to really see the character of a destination. Case in point: even those who say they're not necessarily cycling fans have been converted. That's part of what helped the tour operator — which runs trips in Europe, the U.S., Latin America, and Africa — skyrocket from No. 14 last year to this year's top spot. Its "top-notch biking equipment" and "challenging but doable itineraries" didn't hurt either. One reader was especially taken by a guide picking figs off of a local tree in Puglia for an extra energy boost during a tough climb, as well as another guide singing to the group after dinner. As another reader put it simply: "They exceed your expectations."

Score: 99.12

More information: duvine.com

2. Classic Journeys

Score: 99.04

More information: classicjourneys.com

3. Artisans of Leisure

Score: 98.38

More information: artisansofleisure.com

4. (tie) Black Tomato

Score: 98.33

More information: blacktomato.com

4. (tie) GeoEx

More information: geoex.com

4. (tie) Wilderness Travel

More information: wildernesstravel.com

7. Inside Japan Tours

Score: 98.14

More information: insidejapantours.com

8. Kensington Tours

Score: 98.03

More information: kensingtontours.com

9. Quasar Expeditions

Score: 97.84

More information: quasarex.com

10. TCS World Travel

Score: 97.78

More information: tcsworldtravel.com

11. Butterfield & Robinson

Score: 97.33

More information: butterfield.com

Score: 96.95

More information: tauck.com

13. Trek Travel

Score: 96.90

More information: trektravel.com

14. AdventureWomen

Score: 96.11

More information: adventurewomen.com

15. Explorer Chick

Score: 95.87

More information: explorerchick.com

Questions About B2B Tour Operators

W orking as a travel agent is definitely a very creative occupation, without this meaning that you are not called to face challenges or invent high-demanding solutions, in order to correspond in the best way possible to every client’s needs and requirements.

Therefore, and as you’ll see your client list growing and most probably so will do their specific demanding’s, it’s important to form and establish a group of partners, that will provide touristic services of any kind (transportation, accommodation, activities), and will in fact massively facilitate the planning procedure, allowing you to contrate on the direct relationship with your clients.

This intermediary, taking care of particular aspects of a trip, which they address to you, to in turn form the final product provided to individuals, are called B2B tour operators. In order to make things clearer, we have listed below some of the most common questions, accompanied with their answers, related to the services such a kind of operator is in charge of.

What kind of services can they offer to me?

In general, choosing to collaborate with a b2b tour operator , as long as your decision has been made after careful investigation, could only be beneficial. They will hand you completed offers for hotels and other resorts, unique transportation offers (flights, buses, car rentals) as well as the ability to modify them according to the needs of the client. You will be able to correspond to a wider range of requests, without necessarily being a master of the kind, such as conferences, seminars, team-building events , and corporate retreats. The operator is in fact your greatest support, making it possible for you to provide both top-quality packages and budget friendly choices, according to the occasional demand. They will consult you on various destinations, including the local attractions, culinary options and cultural experiences.

Can you explain more specifically the exact benefit?

According to what is mentioned above, the in-depth knowledge and expertise of a tour operator, along with the specific established partnerships with suppliers of all kinds, are highly time-saving for you. Also, if we take into account that the amount of time saved, can be consumed on something more crucial for the development of your own business that will potentially increase your income, it wouldn’t be weird to characterize it as a money-saving collaboration, too.

Which factors are determining for choosing the right one?

Even though the business relationship between a travel agent and a b2b tour operator can be described as one of the most prosperous ones, and a determinant key-action towards success, it is impossible for this to happen if some specific factors are not fulfilled and some aspects of them both are not aligned. Therefore, before confirming the partnership, you should at first reassure their good reputation on the market, collecting reviews and testimonials from other clients. Additionally, you should verify they are specialized exactly on the type of services that you are interested in (corporate travel, incentive trips, destination-specific expertise ) and finally, that they will not act with the aim of harming your business’s well-being (e.g. hidden costs).

Frequently Asked Questions About B2B Tour Operators

We serve our travel industry partners in the most efficient way by providing superb quality service, competitive rates and a constantly expanding range of services.

Moscow Tourism
Moscow Hotels
Moscow Bed and Breakfast
Moscow Vacation Rentals
Flights to Moscow
Moscow Restaurants
Things to Do in Moscow
Moscow Travel Forum
Moscow Photos
All Moscow Hotels
Moscow Hotel Deals
Things to Do
Restaurants
Vacation Rentals
Travel Stories
Rental Cars
Add a Place
Travel Forum
Travelers' Choice
Help Center

Tour Operator + additional nights visa query - Moscow Forum

Europe
Russia
Central Russia
Moscow

Tour Operator + additional nights visa query

United States Forums
Europe Forums
Canada Forums
Asia Forums
Central America Forums
Africa Forums
Caribbean Forums
Mexico Forums
South Pacific Forums
South America Forums
Middle East Forums
Honeymoons and Romance
Business Travel
Train Travel
Traveling With Disabilities
Tripadvisor Support
Solo Travel
Bargain Travel
Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
Central Russia forums
Moscow forum

I'm trying to avoid having to apply for multiple visa permits (1. the cost and 2. the hassle) to cover the tour then a extra couple of days post tour.

Could anyone please advise if I would need to apply for 2 visa and if I chose to book the additional nights myself / through travel agent, do I have to obtain the invitation from the Hotel or should I ask the Tour company to provide me with an invitation that includes the 2 extra nights? Are they allowed?

Also I've booked my return flights home leaving from Moscow, (without first obtaining the visa) so I could lock in the fare price. Can anyone see any issues why a visa application maybe refused (I've already booked and paid for tour but not the additional nights). I'm trying to work out which is better 1) booking myself / through travel agent as it is much cheaper or 2) arranging through the tour company but the prices are triple what I can get them for.

Thanks in advance for any advise provided

This post has been removed at the author's request.

If the tour company is not handling your visa, or not doing so at a reasonable price, just do what the article under Top Questions (Crossing the border) says...that is, get a "blanket" visa from a visa agency (runs about $20-30 US) - put in your own dates. That way, it will correctly look like a single, longer trip...which it is...

Note the tour group is providing you with any "invite" to cover the first part, you could also simply get a free invite from your hotel for the last 2 days and enter the extra invite data on the visa app form...will be clearer as you start filling out on-line

> I'm trying to avoid having to apply for multiple visa

You can't apply for more than one Russian visa at the same time even if you were not trying to avoid it. You need one visa covering the whole length of your trip, period.

> Can anyone see any issues why a visa application maybe refused

Hi all, my travel agent has confirmed that my tour company "Insight Vacations" will issue the invitation letter/voucher for the days on tour and I've booked the hotel for the additional 2 nights. The hotel is able to provide the invitation letter/confirmation, so this sorts out my original query.

I'm working through the VisasDirect application form but I'm not sure of the following:

1) I believe each person traveling (both hubby and myself) must submit separate visa applications but the form actually has under Applicant information "Applicant 1" and Applicant 2". If having to submit separate forms, why does it have both applicants, especially if the proceeding pages refers to singular person? Is this so they know who you are travelling with?

2) If submitting separate visa applications, do we need a separate invitation letter/voucher for each person or are the hotels/tour company able to include both of us on the same form/s?

3) referring to 2) if on the same invitation/voucher, do I just submit two copies of same form ie; one on my application and another copy on hubbies application?

4) under "Educational & Previous Employment" the first question asks:

a) "List all educational institutions you ever attended, except high school", is this referring to higher education? I'm assuming TAFE, Uni, qualifications but not primary and secondary. It only has enough space for 2 qualifications but I have a lot more. Do I have to list all or can I just put the last two ie; uni degree then diploma?

b) "List your last two places of work, excluding the current one". I've been employed with the same employer for over 15 years and don't have specific information on previous employer details ie; contact names, start/end dates etc. How relevant is the accuracy for this question?

5) under Last Visit Details it asks to:

a) "List all countries you have visited in the last 10 years and indicate the date of visit". I've travelled to Europe twice in the last 5 years and visited over 13 countries either independently or through "Insight Vacations". Should I just enter all countries which I've either flow into/out off which has used immigration or include every country?

b) how accurate do the dates have to be?

Any advise would be appreciated.

As per my response to your other thread questions, us Australians don't need to go through a third party for visa applications we can do it direct to the embassy/consulate. Have a look at the Sydney consulate website here http://sydney.mid.ru/web/sydney-en/tourist-visa and use the link on the website displayed as: https://visa.kdmid.ru to complete your application.

Before I answer anything else make sure you are completing the correct application though the consulate website.

Hi OzWitchy

Thanks for your reply. I was planning on submitting myself through http://visa.kdmin.ru but wanted to prepare myself for the process. When I attempted to find out what is required in the application (aka: visa.kdmin) I was only able to select which country and language for hints, then the Before you start completing box and ability to either "Complete New Application form" or "Open previously completed application". The website does say "Electronic visa application form will be stored for 30 days from the moment of its last saving" but I was hesitant to start a dummy application given I don't go until Dec and can't apply until at least Jul, hence the reason behind obtaining the VisasDirect application, which I'd assumed would be the same as the official application through visa.kdmin. Any advise would be appreciated.

I have a coworker who recently went to Russia and she said it was a difficult process (you need to dot your "I" and cross your "t") and strongly recommended I use an agency. I've travelled extensively but not with visa requirements which makes me nervous. Rather be too prepared than under prepared.

Oops just read cant actually apply until Sept so I'm probably preparing way to early.

Yes you will have to wait until 90 days before your trip.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

Train Booking Moscow to St. Peter yesterday
Planning trip to Russia Apr 09, 2024
SIM card. Russian SIM cards, do they still work in the UK? Apr 09, 2024
Union Pay debit card Mar 27, 2024
Russian trying to book a hotel in Jerusalem Mar 14, 2024
Dual Citizen Arrested in Russia Mar 12, 2024
about clothes Feb 27, 2024
NOTE - border crossing from Finland into Russia closed Feb 09, 2024
Snow boots in Red Square Feb 04, 2024
Travelling to Moscow & Murmansk with toddle in winter Feb 02, 2024
Anyone traveling from London to Moscow this week ? Jan 27, 2024
Booking accommodation Jan 11, 2024
Traveling friends (Designers preferred) :) Jan 05, 2024
Are shops and things closed during Christmas and New Week ? Dec 15, 2023
Moscow to St Petersburg train or air?? 32 replies
New Sapsan Express Train from Moscow to St Petersburg 18 replies
New year's in moscow 8 replies
Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour 5 replies
How do you purchase Bolshoi Ballet tickets at a great price? 2 replies
Select-a-room.com Are they legitimate? 3 replies
Weather Moscow and St. petersburg in May 8 replies
Night train to St Petersburg 3 replies
ATM Access 12 replies
Visa needed if on layover at Moscow Airport??????? 15 replies
Where can I get initial answers to ANY question?

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality ›

Leisure Travel

Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Slovakia 2010-2014

Annual turnover of travel agents and tour operators in slovakia from 2010 to 2014 (in million euros).

Additional Information

Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

2010 to 2014

Date of publication unknown. * Estimate.

Other statistics that may interest you

Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Finland 2010-2016
Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Germany 2010-2016
Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in the United Kingdom (UK) 2010-2016
Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Norway 2010-2014
Number of tourism businesses Australia 2022, by size
Travel agencies and travel booking operators in Denmark 2010-2020
Number of ATAS travel agents in Australia 2019, by state
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Finland 2010-2016
Travel agents and tour operators: number of employees in Finland 2010-2016
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Ireland 2010-2016
Turnover of bakery product manufacturing in Slovakia 2013-2020
Cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery manufacturing turnover in Slovakia 2012-2021
Slovakia: number of wholesale and retail trade enterprises 2013-2022
Slovakia: electronic components manufacturers 2012-2021
Slovakia: number of food products manufacturers 2013-2022
Slovakia: number of leather manufacturers 2013-2022
Slovakia: number of dairy product manufacturers 2012-2022
Slovakia: number of consumer electronics manufacturers 2013-2022
Slovakia: number of specialized games and toys retailers 2014-2021
Slovakia: number of enterprises in the manufacture of sugar industry 2012-2021
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Belgium 2010-2015
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Norway 2010-2014
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Bulgaria 2011-2014
Number of travel agents and tour operator sales points in Austria 2010-2016
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Switzerland 2010-2016
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Spain 2012-2016
Number of travel agents and tour operators in the Netherlands 2010-2016
Number of travel agents and tour operators in the Czech Republic 2010-2016
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Croatia 2010-2016
Number of travel agents and tour operators in Cyprus 2010-2016
Domestic tourism expenditure in Czechia 2022, by product
Inbound tourism expenditure in Czechia in 2022, by product
Number of passenger transportation establishments in Czechia 2010-2021
Hotel occupancy rate in Prague 2012-2022
Domestic tourism expenditure in Czechia 2007-2022
Tourism industry employment in Czechia 2019-2022, by industry
Outbound tourism expenditure in Czechia 2007-2022
Outbound tourism expenditure in Czechia 2022, by product
Inbound overnight tourist consumption in Czechia 2003-2022
Leading outbound travel destinations from Czechia 2017-2020

Other statistics that may interest you Statistics on

About the industry

Premium Statistic Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Finland 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Germany 2010-2016
Basic Statistic Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in the United Kingdom (UK) 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Norway 2010-2014
Premium Statistic Number of tourism businesses Australia 2022, by size
Premium Statistic Travel agencies and travel booking operators in Denmark 2010-2020
Premium Statistic Number of ATAS travel agents in Australia 2019, by state
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Finland 2010-2016
Basic Statistic Travel agents and tour operators: number of employees in Finland 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Ireland 2010-2016

About the region

Basic Statistic Turnover of bakery product manufacturing in Slovakia 2013-2020
Basic Statistic Cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery manufacturing turnover in Slovakia 2012-2021
Basic Statistic Slovakia: number of wholesale and retail trade enterprises 2013-2022
Basic Statistic Slovakia: electronic components manufacturers 2012-2021
Basic Statistic Slovakia: number of food products manufacturers 2013-2022
Basic Statistic Slovakia: number of leather manufacturers 2013-2022
Basic Statistic Slovakia: number of dairy product manufacturers 2012-2022
Basic Statistic Slovakia: number of consumer electronics manufacturers 2013-2022
Basic Statistic Slovakia: number of specialized games and toys retailers 2014-2021
Basic Statistic Slovakia: number of enterprises in the manufacture of sugar industry 2012-2021

Other regions

Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Belgium 2010-2015
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Norway 2010-2014
Basic Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Bulgaria 2011-2014
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operator sales points in Austria 2010-2016
Basic Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Switzerland 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Spain 2012-2016
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in the Netherlands 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in the Czech Republic 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Croatia 2010-2016
Premium Statistic Number of travel agents and tour operators in Cyprus 2010-2016

Related statistics

Premium Statistic Domestic tourism expenditure in Czechia 2022, by product
Basic Statistic Inbound tourism expenditure in Czechia in 2022, by product
Premium Statistic Number of passenger transportation establishments in Czechia 2010-2021
Premium Statistic Hotel occupancy rate in Prague 2012-2022
Premium Statistic Domestic tourism expenditure in Czechia 2007-2022
Basic Statistic Tourism industry employment in Czechia 2019-2022, by industry
Premium Statistic Outbound tourism expenditure in Czechia 2007-2022
Premium Statistic Outbound tourism expenditure in Czechia 2022, by product
Basic Statistic Inbound overnight tourist consumption in Czechia 2003-2022
Premium Statistic Leading outbound travel destinations from Czechia 2017-2020

Further related statistics

Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
Premium Statistic Annual revenue of China Tourism Group Duty Free 2013-2023
Premium Statistic Countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022
Basic Statistic Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
Basic Statistic Contribution of China's travel and tourism industry to GDP 2014-2023
Premium Statistic Middle Eastern countries with the largest international tourism receipts 2018
Premium Statistic Change in number of visitors from Mexico to the U.S. 2018-2024
Premium Statistic Music tourist spending at concerts and festivals in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2016
Premium Statistic Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
Basic Statistic Importance of BRICS countries to UK tourism businesses 2011

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
Annual revenue of China Tourism Group Duty Free 2013-2023
Countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022
Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
Contribution of China's travel and tourism industry to GDP 2014-2023
Middle Eastern countries with the largest international tourism receipts 2018
Change in number of visitors from Mexico to the U.S. 2018-2024
Music tourist spending at concerts and festivals in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2016
Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
Importance of BRICS countries to UK tourism businesses 2011

Latest News

Industry HQ
Travel Inspiration
Sustainability
All Latest News
Experiences
Corporate And Mice
Destinations
Accommodation
All Industry HQ
Movers & Shakers
Travel Leaders
Travel Influencers
Travel Advisors
Competitions & Incentives
Latest Jobs
All Travel Inspiration
Travel Deals
Accessories
Travel Hacks
Apps & Gadgets
Hotels & Resorts
Luxury Summit
Advisory Board
All Sustainability
Accreditation
All Level up
New For You
Masterclasses
Road Trip New Zealand
Road Trip Usa
If You Seek
Spotlight On The Usa
Destination Canada
Qatar Stopover
Training Centre
Event Calendar
Open Mindset
All About Us
Join The Team
Partner With Us
Creative Services
Join The Karryon Collective

How many travel agency & tour operator businesses are there in Australia now?

It’s a good time to be involved in the travel industry and travel agency sector. tourism has more or less fully rebounded from the pandemic, air travel is just about back to 2019 levels and airfares are moving in the right direction , while australia’s busiest hub reports that more aussies are travelling abroad than ever before..

Most viewed

The world's best airports, ranked by security, bag handling, dining, shopping, cleanliness, staff & more, fctg’s corporate travel division reveals the non-negotiable hotel amenities for business travellers, unwto expects full rebound of international tourism in 2024; apac currently at 65% recovery.

But how is all of this great news actually reflected in the number of travel agency and tour operator businesses that are out there right now?

According to Tourism Research Australia’s ( TRA ) ‘ Tourism Businesses in Australia ‘ snapshot of the growth of tourism-related businesses over the five years between June 2018 and June 2023, the number of travel agencies and tour operators in Australia grew by 7.2 per cent (+572), from 7,952 to 8,524 .

Considering this came during a pandemic, that’s a healthy rise. Slightly concerning, however, is that during the last of those five years, there was a decline, albeit a small one (-1.5 per cent, 130 businesses) in the number of travel agency and tour operator enterprises across the country.

Perhaps surprisingly, travel agencies and tour operators account for just two per cent of all tourism-related businesses in Australia.

Travel agency challenges

While the increase in the total number of agencies is a positive development for the travel industry, fully staffing those businesses remains a challenge.

According to a recent survey by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), only one-third of agencies were able to fill all their vacancies for travel agent roles in 2023. That leaves a lot of companies understaffed – and a lot of potential business left on the table.

Compounding the problem, there’s also a skills shortage in certain areas, as highlighted by the Council of Australian Tour Operators’ recent launch of the CATO Touring Academy .

The big picture

In June 2023, Australia had an overall total of 355,570 tourism-related businesses, making up 14 per cent of all Australian enterprises.

These businesses operate across nine different sectors, with the largest four sectors accounting for over 90 per cent of all tourism businesses.

These were retail trade (155,755 businesses, 44 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaways (95,958 businesses, 27 per cent), cultural, sports and recreation services (36,422 businesses, 10 per cent), and taxi transport (34,704 businesses, 10 per cent).

Over the five years leading up to June 2023, the number of tourism-related businesses grew by 41,179 (+13 per cent), mainly between 2018 and 2022. However, there was a decline of 5,262 businesses (-1.5 per cent) in the year ending June 2023.

Smaller businesses, employing fewer than five people, grew faster than larger businesses between 2018 and 2022 but experienced a decline in the following year.

Growth in tourism businesses in Australia between June 2018 and June 2023

Growth in tourism businesses including travel agency enterprises in Australia between June 2018 and June 2023

The fastest-growing sectors over the five years were car rentals (+53 per cent), retail trade (+16 per cent), and cafes, restaurants, and takeaways (+14 per cent). Only two sectors – taxi transport and casino and gambling services – saw a decline over this period.

State by state, Victoria (+4.1 per cent), ACT (+3.2 per cent) and the Northern Territory (+2.8 per cent) experienced the fastest growth in tourism businesses over the past five years. But in the final year, Victoria, NT and South Australia had the largest declines.

Additionally, tourism businesses in regional areas grew at a slower rate (+1.9 per cent annually) compared to those in capital cities (+2.7 per cent) over the five-year period, with both regions seeing a decrease in the last year.

As of June 2023, Melbourne has the most tourism businesses (79,993), followed by Sydney (78,002), Brisbane (30,100) and Perth (25,058).

The travel industry winners of the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards were recently announced, with Sonia Jones Travel of Ashgrove in Queensland named winner of the 2024 Travel Agency category .

Value World Tours

Travel Operator • River Cruises • Escorted Tours • Group Travel • Airline Tickets

Celebrating 28 Years

Ready to go.

See how we can help you.

ValueWorldCruises.com

Celebrating 29 years in operating a variety of unique, all-inclusive, small ship Sea & world-wide River Cruises, featuring superb vessels, fully immersive cultural, educational and entertainment programs, and the best team of on board Cruise Managers anywhere! Truly the best VALUE that money can buy!

GlobalToursandCruises.net

Providing exemplary land services to Value clients, travel agents and partners. Ensuring the same high standards of service regardless of what part of the world the clients are travelling through. The golden triangle guarantees whatever your destination, our dedicated staff and personalized service will follow!

VWTours.com

Offering quality escorted motor-coach tours since 1992, specializing in countries of the former Eastern Europe. Featuring first class and deluxe hotels, modern air conditioned buses, highly skilled drivers and superb Tour Directors that will handle all aspects of your trip, leaving you to simply sit back and enjoy!

YugoAir.com

With over 20 years of experience, individual and personalized service, special consolidator contracts, and wonderful and dedicated staff, we are able to find and secure the best and most competitive international airfares, especially to Eastern Europe, the countries of former Yugoslavia and beyond! Call us – quotes are always free

Adriatic Sea Cruises

Angkor Wat Temples, Cambodia

Dock in city centers on the Danube

Forbidden Palace, Bejing, China

Mystical Mayanmar

MS Discovery

Sunset on the Mekong

Imperial Moscow

On our first ever program was a river cruise in Russia which had just started opening its doors to western visitors. Sure enough, the sailing along the mighty Volga departed in July of 1993 with 207 passengers on board. Boy, what a trip that was! First time cruisers…first western passengers aboard a Russian ship….crew that spoke no English…food that was limited to cabbage, boiled potatoes and cucumbers… a most memorable experience indeed!

However, as a result, we discovered a new way to explore the world, via the inland waterways of various countries, long before river cruising became a staple that it is today! Building on Russia’s popularity, we started expanding our river cruise offers to include Ukraine in 1995, Danube in 1996, China Yangtze in 1997, Egypt Nile in 2002, Mekong Delta Cruises in 2004 and most recently cruises in India & Myanmar (Burma).

So here we are, twenty eight years later, with more than 70,000 passengers that have traveled with us, some of them as many as 11 times over the years! We have survived wars, famines, bird flues, economic crises and Lord knows what else and yet, older but no wiser, we are still as passionate about our business as the day we started it! And with today’s mergers, acquisitions and big corporate and internet travel marketers, we are most proud of the fact that we are still an independent, family run operation whose customer satisfaction comes way before revenues and profit margins…and with your support, we hope to continue for many years to come!

Value World Tours, Inc.

IMAGES

Difference Between Tour Operator and Travel Agent
Tour Operator vs Travel Agent: What's the Difference?
Travel Agents and Tour Operators: Thriving in the Digital Era
The Difference Between a Travel Agency and a Tour Operator
The Role of Tour Operators & Travel Agents
10 Difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent (With Table

VIDEO

13 March 2024
4 March 2024
13 April 2024
20 March 2024
2 April 2024
4 April 2024

COMMENTS

Tour Operator vs Travel Agent: What's the Difference?
Here is a comparison of what a travel agent does and what a tour operator does: Aspect. Tour Operator. Travel Agent. Role. Creates and operates tour packages and itineraries. Sells tour packages, flights, hotels on behalf of suppliers. Services. Designs tours, contracts services, manages logistics.
Tour Operator vs Travel Agent: Understanding the Differences
The Roles of Tour Operators and Travel Agents. In conclusion, while tour operators and travel agents share some similarities, they play distinct roles in the holiday planning process. Tour operators handle the logistics of a vacation, from booking and packaging to on-the-ground arrangements, ensuring a hassle free experience for travellers.
The Difference Between a Travel Agency and a Tour Operator
In comparison, the tour operator requires proper business management skills. Travel agents can give advice about travel documents like passports, visas etc. Tour operators are great for advice about legalities on the ground (like if you're an e juice user and want to know where you can smoke, or if you have tattoos and want to know if they ...
The Difference Between Tour Operators & Travel Agents
The tour operator whose product they sell takes the responsibility for the holiday; the travel agent does not. Therefore the agent usually does not have an ATOL licence or any bonding in place, but relies on the tour operator to cover this. Nowadays it is fair to say, the difference between tour operator and travel agent is blurred.
10 Difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent (With Table)
Main Difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent. Tour operators create holiday packages, sell, advertise and plan. Travel agents sell and administrate tour packages. Tour operators deal with finer details such as accommodation, tickets, and meals. Travel agents help tourists to choose a suitable package.
Travel Agent vs. Tour Operator: Key Differences Explained
The decision to work with a travel agent or a tour operator depends on your travel preferences and needs. If you prefer a personalized, flexible trip and enjoy making individual choices, a travel agent is the way to go. On the other hand, if you're looking for a hassle-free, group travel experience with a pre-planned itinerary, a tour ...
Tour operator vs. travel agent: an overview of both careers
1. Job description. A tour operator is a person or organisation responsible for planning trips and holiday packages. A travel agent is an individual broker or an agency selling holiday packages. While the tour operator creates the services, the travel agent is an intermediary who sells these services. 2. Primary tasks.
Tour Operators vs. Travel Agents
Travel agents will then work directly with the tour operator to perfect your requests and provide the tour operator with the information and payments they need. While travel agents used to be the immediate go-to option, the massive hike in internet presence in the last 20 years or so has led to many people independently booking a tour package ...
7 Differences Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator
Seven Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator. The main difference between a travel agent and a tour operator is that the latter is the architect of travel ideas and packages, which they then sell to either the travel agents linked to them or directly to the customers. On the other hand, a travel agent will not develop travel plans ...
Travel Agent Vs Tour Operator
The differences between Travel Agents and Tour Operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a Travel Agent, becoming a Tour Operator takes usually requires 1-2 years.
What does a travel agent do?
A travel agent assists individuals or groups in planning, organizing, and booking various aspects of their travel arrangements. They act as intermediaries between travelers and travel suppliers, such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and tour operators. Travel agents have in-depth knowledge of different destinations, travel options, and industry trends, which they leverage to provide ...
How is a Travel Agent Different to a Tour Operator?
The difference is that the tour operator creates packages and sells them either to the consumer or the travel agent. Whereas, the travel agent only sells the packages on behalf of the tour operator and does not create packages. For this reason, travel agents tend to have good relationships with many different tour operators for different ...
Picking a Travel Agent? 4 Things to Know
It's a reality that's inspired many D.I.Y.-inclined travelers to consider working with a travel agent, or travel adviser, for the first time, ... tour operators, cruise lines, airlines and ...
Understanding the Difference Between Tour Operator and Travel Agencies
Travel packages, lodging, and even flights may be booked instantly using websites, applications, and online platforms. The transition to digitalization has affected travel agents as well as tour operators. These days, tour operators may reach out to customers directly through their websites, blogs, and social media accounts.
Difference Between Tour Operator and Travel Agent
The main difference between a tour operator and a travel agent is that tour operator is the person who is actually responsible for the planning of the trip/tour package while travel agent is the person who is involved in selling the tour package. Travel agents' job is to help you select a package that suits the clients' needs whereas tour ...
Vacations, US Tour Companies, and Guided Travel
Call us toll free at 800.340.5158. Request A Call Back. Talk To An Expert. Collette is more than just a travel company. Collette vacation tours are one-of-a-kind. Visit us and discover our collection of amazing travel destinations.
Travel Agents & Tour Operators
EXAMPLE: Tourist agencies for the arrangement of transportation, lodging, and Travel agencies. Tour Operators SIC 4725 / NAICS 56152. Establishments primarily engaged in arranging and assembling tours for sale through travel agents. Tour operators primarily engaged in selling their own tours directly to travelers are also included in this industry.
A Travel Agency vs. A Tour Operator
A travel agent will help you arrange transportation, find lodgings, and suggest an itinerary. A tour operator will arrange your transportation, lodgings, food, entertainment, and itinerary. A tour operator removes the headaches. A tour operator does the work for you. Contact Go Blue Tours to arrange a vacation without all the headaches, where ...
The 15 Best Tour Operators in 2022
The 15 Best Tour Operators in 2022. These are the companies Travel + Leisure readers trust to provide them with travel expertise and memorable experiences. DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. bike tour ...
Tour & Travel Agency in Moscow
In addition to our standard services, Grand Russia offers tours packages to Moscow and St Petersburg. You cannot resist our Two Hearts of Russia (7 Days &6 Nights), Golden Moscow (4 Days &3 Nights), Sochi (3 Days & 2 Nights), Golden Ring (1 Day & 2 Days), and many more. As a leading travel agency specializing in the tour to Russia and Former ...
Travel Experts Shares Why Independent Travel Advisors ...
"It has been said that the company that an independent travel advisor keeps makes all the difference in their ability to survive and be successful, especially now as the travel industry faces challenges as a result of our ever-changing environment," said Susan Ferrell, President & Owner of Travel Experts, the premier Host Agency with more ...
Questions About B2B Tour Operators
Even though the business relationship between a travel agent and a b2b tour operator can be described as one of the most prosperous ones, and a determinant key-action towards success, it is ...
ISCtravel. Russia Travel Operator. Russian Visa, Accommodation, Events
We complete range of travel services since 1991! We specialize in: processing visa support documents, discount hotel reservations, local transportation, standard and customized tour programs, unique travel itineraries, organizing large scale events such as convention, incentive travel, seminars and trade shows.
Tour Operator + additional nights visa query
Answer 1 of 9: Hi all, we're planning a trip to Russia starting in St Petersburg and finishing Moscow for Dec on a 7 night Tour but wanted to add an additional 2 nights post Tour. I've tried to find articles on TA that match my criteria but haven't...
Kensington Tours Launches Groups Specialist Department
Good to know: To celebrate the launch of the new Groups Specialist Department, Kensington Tours is offering a cash bonus (provided on a prepaid VISA card) for each new booking made between now and ...
TOUR OPERATOR
58 likes, 3 comments - wukitravelApril 10, 2024 on : "OPEN TRIP GUNUNG PRAU Jadwal April 12-14 (Long Weekend) 13-15 (Long Weekend) Meeting Point - Jakarta > Kopi send ...
Travel agents' and tour operators' turnover in Slovakia 2010-2014
Travel agents and tour operators: number of employees in Finland 2010-2016; Number of travel agents and tour operators in Ireland 2010-2016; The most important statistics. Turnover of bakery product manufacturing in Slovakia 2013-2020;
How many travel agency & tour operator businesses are there in
Travel agency and tour operator businesses are on the rise in Australia. In June 2023, Australia had an overall total of 355,570 tourism-related businesses, making up 14 per cent of all Australian enterprises.
Value World Tours, Inc.
Travel Operator • River Cruises • Escorted Tours • Group Travel • Airline Tickets. Celebrating 28 Years. ... Providing exemplary land services to Value clients, travel agents and partners. Ensuring the same high standards of service regardless of what part of the world the clients are travelling through. The golden triangle guarantees ...

Understanding the Difference Between Tour Operators and Travel Agents

What is a Tour Operator?

Types of Travel Agency

The Roles of Tour Operators and Travel Agents

What is an Automated Travel System?

Travel Technology Products

Travel Software Solutions

Travel API Provider

The Difference Between a Travel Agency and a Tour Operator

Tour Operators

Key Differences Between Travel Agencies and Tour Operators

If You Liked This Post You May Also Like:

Post a Reply Cancel reply

Search This Site

Recent Posts

Popular posts

The Difference Between Tour Operators & Travel Agents

Popular Posts

Accessible India: Where There’s Magic Around Every Corner

Walking Holidays: Free Your Mind

Tips for Your First Trip to Vietnam

The Vistula District

What is Overlanding?

10 Difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent (With Table)

Comparison Table (Tour Operator vs Travel Agent)

Who Is a Travel Agent?

Main Difference between Tour Operator and Travel Agent

Similarities between Tour Operator and Travel Agent

Frequently Asked Questions

In Conclusion

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

What Is The Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

Chloe Harris

Latest Posts

Choosing the Right Acoustic Guitar Strings and Set Up

Maximizing Residential Solar Energy Income with Sungrow Inversor Para Energia Solar RS Line

How Can I Hire an Experienced Web Designer in 2024?

Empowering Your Fishing Adventures: Portable Power Stations in Australia

GeneMind’s DNA Sequencing Technology: Pioneering Innovations in Healthcare

Follow us on

What Is The Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator?

Travel Agent

Personalized Travel Planning

Expert Advice and Recommendations

Booking and Reservations

Problem Resolution

Tour Operator

Pre-Packaged Tours

Group Travel

Inclusive Services

Expert Guides

Choosing the Right Option for You

New Shukriya Travels LLC Ajman:

Share this Post

7 Differences Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

What is a Travel Agent?

What is a Tour Operator?

Seven Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

Importance of Knowing the Difference Between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

Travel Agent Vs Tour Operator

Travel agent vs tour operator overview

Differences between travel agent and tour operator education

Travel agent vs tour operator demographics

Differences between travel agent and tour operator duties and responsibilities

Tour Operator Example Responsibilities.

Travel agent vs tour operator skills

Travel Agent vs. Similar Jobs

Travel Agent Related Careers

Travel Agent Related Jobs

What Similar Roles Do

What does a travel agent do?

What is a Travel Agent?

What does a Travel Agent do?

Are you suited to be a travel agent?

What is the workplace of a Travel Agent like?

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a Travel Agent Different to a Tour Operator?

What is a Travel Agent?

What is a Tour Operator?

What’s the Difference Between Them?

You May Also Like These