Unit 1: Introduction to Travel and Tour Operations Business
1670: The Grand Tour concept was developed especially for educational
purposes.
1730: Health experts suggested that sea water is found to be useful to cure
many diseases. The result was that many resorts around the English Coast
were established to attract visitors seeking to cure themselves by sea water.
1815: Steamboat services were introduced from London to Gravesend. One
effect of this development was the construction in all major resorts of a pier
to accommodate the vessels on their arrival.
1820: European cultural centers were opened to British travelers.
1830: The rail link was introduced between Liverpool and Manchester.
1838: Peninsular and Oriental (P&O) Steam Company introduced steamship
services to India and Far East.
2008: Marks the 250th anniversary of Cox & Kings, the longest established
travel company in the world. A British man Sir Richard Cox was the founder
of Cox & Kings.
1841: A british man, Thomas Cook organized a trip by train for 570
members. Initially Cook arrange this tour on a no profit no loss basis, but
incidentally it give him a new idea and he turned it into a tour business.
1845: Thomas Cook set up the ‘World’s First Travel Agency’ to organize
excursions. Due to this innovative approach, Thomas Cook is known as the
Father of the Travel Agency Business.
1855: Cook started operating package tours. He conducted world’s first
international tour from England to Paris. This was an inclusive tour and in this
way he developed the concept of inclusive tour.
1841: It was a sheer coincidence that in the same year 1841, Henry Wells
started his freight
business in USA. Henry Well’s company is known as American Express.
1870: In order to eliminate payment in cash, Thomas Cook introduced two
systems Traveler cheques and hotel Vouchers; while American Express
introduced Credit cards and traveler cheques.
1887: Brownell Travel Founded on July 04th 1887 and it was the first travel
agency in North America.
Travel trade in India
1920: Mr. J.N.Katgara became india’s first travel agent. He founded Jeena
and company.
1951: The setting up of ‘Travel Agents Association of India ‘ (TAAI) in
Mumbai started the travel sector in a organised manner.
1961: ‘Travel Corporation India Ltd’ was formed (Jeena and Co. merged with
N. Jamnadas & Company, Lee and Muirhead India Pvt Ltd) to form TCI.
1963: Several travel companies established in India, such as SITA.
, Meaning & concept of travel business
When tourism started?
When people learned to differentiate between work and leisure then tourism
started.
When travel considered as business?
When business agencies were developed to sell travel related services then
tourism industry started and travel business flourished.
Types of Travel Agencies
a) Retail travel agency: A retail travel agency is a business that sells
tourist products and services directly to the public on behalf of
suppliers. They act as an intermediary between the tourist and the
wholesale agencies that organize tourist packages.
b) Wholesale travel agency: A wholesale travel agency is a business
that buys tourism products in bulk from suppliers and sells them to
retail travel agencies. They act as a middleman between travel
suppliers and sellers, facilitating the distribution of travel products and
services.
Source of income for travel agency: Retail travel agencies earn revenue
primarily from the commissions they receive from suppliers. They may also
use a mark-up price selling method.
Business travel houses
Companies that deal only with business travel are called Business Travel
Houses. They may also be responsible for dealing with the planning, publicity
and bookings for trade fairs and conferences.
Skills of a travel agent
• Honesty and integrity: Being upfront about money and expectations,
and telling clients the true fares of tickets and commutes
• Attention to detail: Ensuring the service provided meets client
expectations
• Communication: Being able to communicate travel plans and needs
effectively to avoid misunderstandings
• Adaptability and flexibility: Being able to handle unexpected events,
such as natural disasters, political unrest, or global health concerns
• Problem-solving: Having a knack for solving problems
• Empathy: Being empathetic towards clients
• Resourcefulness: Being resourceful
1670: The Grand Tour concept was developed especially for educational
purposes.
1730: Health experts suggested that sea water is found to be useful to cure
many diseases. The result was that many resorts around the English Coast
were established to attract visitors seeking to cure themselves by sea water.
1815: Steamboat services were introduced from London to Gravesend. One
effect of this development was the construction in all major resorts of a pier
to accommodate the vessels on their arrival.
1820: European cultural centers were opened to British travelers.
1830: The rail link was introduced between Liverpool and Manchester.
1838: Peninsular and Oriental (P&O) Steam Company introduced steamship
services to India and Far East.
2008: Marks the 250th anniversary of Cox & Kings, the longest established
travel company in the world. A British man Sir Richard Cox was the founder
of Cox & Kings.
1841: A british man, Thomas Cook organized a trip by train for 570
members. Initially Cook arrange this tour on a no profit no loss basis, but
incidentally it give him a new idea and he turned it into a tour business.
1845: Thomas Cook set up the ‘World’s First Travel Agency’ to organize
excursions. Due to this innovative approach, Thomas Cook is known as the
Father of the Travel Agency Business.
1855: Cook started operating package tours. He conducted world’s first
international tour from England to Paris. This was an inclusive tour and in this
way he developed the concept of inclusive tour.
1841: It was a sheer coincidence that in the same year 1841, Henry Wells
started his freight
business in USA. Henry Well’s company is known as American Express.
1870: In order to eliminate payment in cash, Thomas Cook introduced two
systems Traveler cheques and hotel Vouchers; while American Express
introduced Credit cards and traveler cheques.
1887: Brownell Travel Founded on July 04th 1887 and it was the first travel
agency in North America.
Travel trade in India
1920: Mr. J.N.Katgara became india’s first travel agent. He founded Jeena
and company.
1951: The setting up of ‘Travel Agents Association of India ‘ (TAAI) in
Mumbai started the travel sector in a organised manner.
1961: ‘Travel Corporation India Ltd’ was formed (Jeena and Co. merged with
N. Jamnadas & Company, Lee and Muirhead India Pvt Ltd) to form TCI.
1963: Several travel companies established in India, such as SITA.
, Meaning & concept of travel business
When tourism started?
When people learned to differentiate between work and leisure then tourism
started.
When travel considered as business?
When business agencies were developed to sell travel related services then
tourism industry started and travel business flourished.
Types of Travel Agencies
a) Retail travel agency: A retail travel agency is a business that sells
tourist products and services directly to the public on behalf of
suppliers. They act as an intermediary between the tourist and the
wholesale agencies that organize tourist packages.
b) Wholesale travel agency: A wholesale travel agency is a business
that buys tourism products in bulk from suppliers and sells them to
retail travel agencies. They act as a middleman between travel
suppliers and sellers, facilitating the distribution of travel products and
services.
Source of income for travel agency: Retail travel agencies earn revenue
primarily from the commissions they receive from suppliers. They may also
use a mark-up price selling method.
Business travel houses
Companies that deal only with business travel are called Business Travel
Houses. They may also be responsible for dealing with the planning, publicity
and bookings for trade fairs and conferences.
Skills of a travel agent
• Honesty and integrity: Being upfront about money and expectations,
and telling clients the true fares of tickets and commutes
• Attention to detail: Ensuring the service provided meets client
expectations
• Communication: Being able to communicate travel plans and needs
effectively to avoid misunderstandings
• Adaptability and flexibility: Being able to handle unexpected events,
such as natural disasters, political unrest, or global health concerns
• Problem-solving: Having a knack for solving problems
• Empathy: Being empathetic towards clients
• Resourcefulness: Being resourceful
