Tour Packaging &

Programming

Definition of terms
Tour refers to the pre-arranged (but not necessarily prepaid)
journey, which includes accommodations, transportations, food
services and entertainment, to one or more destinations and
back to the point of origin.
Tour is defined as any form of travel from one place to another
with multiple features that can be packaged or sold single unit.
Packaging is the process of combining a number of interrelated tourism products and services that are offered together
to offer an inclusive experience for travelers.
They are brought together into a suitable single product at a
lower price than if they are bought individually.

A package tour comprises a combination of two or

more components of services with an objective of helping
the clients or customers save time & cost and avoid
uncertainties.
It
largely
includes
the
services
of
transport,
accommodation, food, guide and other miscellaneous
services. Moreover, transport and accommodation form a
significant proportion of the cost and service of any
organized package tour.
Tour package may be defined as a total tourism
product consisting of transportation from market area to
the destination, accommodation at destination and
recreational activities performed by the tourists.

Package tour is the sum total of variety of services offered to

the tourists in one price, which normally less expensive than
that of each individual items. Such tour largely includes the
services of accommodation, transport, food, guide and other
ground and miscellaneous services.
Packages are largely developed by travel intermediaries such
as tour wholesalers and operators, incentive travel planners
and convention/meeting planners.
Moreover, packages are also developed by primary service
providers like hotels, airlines and coach and car rental
companies.
However, packages are designed for the independent and
group tours after comprehensive research and analysis before
it is launched in the market.

Types of Package
Tour/Classification of Package
Tours

The classification is made on the basis of the operation

and types of services.
Given the nature of package tour business, it may be
named as group tour, individual tour, sponsored tour,
special interest tour and common interest tour, guided
tour, and escorted tour.
Package tours are basically classified as independent
tour, escorted tour, hosted tour and incentive tour

All-inclusive package is a generic term for packages to include

all the elements that travelers require for their trips, including
airfare, lodging, ground transportation, meals, recreation and
entertainment and taxes. All-inclusive holidays have become
popular option for savvy spenders.
Escorted tours is a pre-arranged travel program, escorted by tour
manager/ leader commonly provide variety of information
throughout the tour.
It utilizes local tour guide who expert on specific region/ tour
features to provide detail information to the tour participants.
Familiarization trip refers to the Trip commonly arranged by
tourist boards and similar organizations for journalists, tour
operators and travel agents in generating areas to visit
destinations and to become aware/ acquainted with their
attractions, facilities and services.

Group inclusive tours (GIT) are comprised of groups of

travelers that share a particular mutual affiliation, such
as belonging to the same club or business organization.
Such a tour is generally conducted with a fixed itinerary.
Free Independent tour refers as a tour where
participants travel without group or guide. A package
tour is designed for independent tourists or free
independent travelers. They are very much particular
about selecting types of destinations, accommodation,
and transportation as it suits the budget, comfort and
time.

Hosted tour is the type of tour that offers travelers an

opportunity to travel independently but also receive
assistance and guideline from a host at the destination.
Host is a representative of tour company or ground
operator who assist participants with panning and
organization of their activities and tour arrangement.
Incentive Tour is usually all-inclusive package tours that
include all essential components of a standard package tour.
It is organized package tour that is conducted for employees
with the sponsorship from the business firms or corporate
houses. It is an incentive or intangible reward for employees
given periodically as per the organizations policy.

Incentive Tour Incentive Tour is usually all-inclusive

package tours that include all essential components of a
standard package tour. It is organized package tour that
is conducted for employees with the sponsorship from
the business firms or corporate houses. It is an incentive
or intangible reward for employees given periodically as
per the organizations policy.

Components of Package
The following component of services is delivered
assembled in package tours. These are the following
elements of package tours.
Accommodation is an important component of package
tour and it constitutes almost one third cost of package
examples star hotels, business hotels, resorts, lodges,
guest houses, bungalows, service apartments.
Attraction/ Sightseeing Tour: Sightseeing is one of the
most important elements of a package tour. It is an
integral part of a package tour as it offers conducted
tours to the places of tourist interest in the cities.

Transportation thus becomes yet another focal

component of a package tour.
The journey of a tourist from origin to destination
involves tourists movement and it requires a suitable
means of transport. Safe, comfortable and quick modes
of transport are wanting
of the tourists.
Quicker means help tourists spend more time at the
destinations and at the same time can visit more
destinations in a country.
Transportation modes can be air travel, railways, buses,
ships, cars etc.

Insurance, Among the travel arrangements for tourist,

insurance is a very important aspect.
The insurance policies given to tourists cover the areas
like medical care and hospitalization, personal accident,
cancellation or curtailment of holiday, delayed
departure, baggage loss, money loss, personal liability
etc.
Tourists have to ensure that medical coverage is
sufficient to meet their needs in the countries where
hospital care is very expensive
Miscellaneous Services: This service includes porter at
airports and railway stations, tips to guides, interpreters
and room boys, entrance fees, gifts and welcome
dinners.

Entertainment, This category includes local art forms,

art galleries, cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, bars, casinos
and shows. Many tourists look for entertainment and
expect these facilities to be available especially in cities.
Shopping
Shopping can be both an attraction and a basic facility
which tourists expect at a destination. This can include
souvenir shopping or purchasing basic necessities.
Products which identify with a destination are always
popular.

Tour Formulation & Designing

Process
These are the following steps in tour design and selection process.
-Initial research on destination and source market clarifies much drawback
of package tour and takes corrective measures for enhancement the
quality and appealing of tour.
-A well-structured itinerary is prepared with due considerations to several
dos and do nots during the tour.
-Selecting the destination companies and authorizing them with the ground
handling responsibilities.
-Venders of primary and supplementary services are contacted and
negotiated to obtain the best possible quotations.
-Costing of elements of package tours and pricing package tours is done
carefully.

-Tour brochure is given final shape once the destination

selection, negotiations with vendors and costing is
completed.
-Selling the package tour directly or through the retail
travel can be done through a robust reservation system.
-Marketing and sales promotion helps in reaching the
target market.
-Operation of tour is carried out with the help of ground
operators.

Tour Programming and its

Importance
Tour Programming comprises activities like learning
photography,
music,
dance,
painting,
sculpting,
swimming, fishing, surfing, canoeing, rowing, trekking,
cooking, cultivating, etc.
Many visitors are interested to learn these activities as a
lifetime experience.
Tour operators refer to the local calendars to find the fairs
and festivals around the places of tourist interest and
include them in the itinerary cutting the prime activities
of sightseeing or excursion.

Advantages of Tour
Programming
It is value for money for the customers.
It enhances the quality of tour itinerary.
It arranges the activities as per the needs and traits of
customers.
It is a business opportunities for the tour operators.
It helps in building branding and positioning.
It helps in catering the target market.
It creates repeat buyers for the package.