Contents Introduction Chapter 1

1.1 The essence and characteristics of tour operators
Tour operators are a key factor in the success of the tourism industry. Tourists count on tour operators to turn their dream vacations into realities. Booking a tour is an easy way for a traveler to experience a foreign land and make sure they hit the best spots. In this article we are going to talk about the roles and functions of tour operators that are aiming to provide the ultimate travel experience.
In most cases, tour operators are expected to make travel arrangements for the group of people on the tour. This includes transportation from one activity to another to ensure that all the group members make it to the next destination. Tour operators often assist with flight tickets and work closely with hotels to provide suggestions to the group members. Tour operators work diligently to create tour packages that offer high-quality service to customers for a cheaper price than if the customer was to book each commodity on their own, while also creating a profitable business. Tourists purposely seek out help from a travel agent or tour operator because it provides more bang for their buck. It is important that tour operators spend time on evaluation of pricing before finalizing a tour package.
A tour should be everything a traveler wants, and more. A tour operator should be very well versed in putting together an experience that will create memories to last a lifetime³. 
As important as it is to deliver a meaningful, positive experience, it is also vital to keep your travelers safe throughout the trip. Some tour activities may pose a potential risk to travelers, which poses a liability to your company.
As a tour operator, it is wise to encourage your traveler to invest in travel insurance, for example, ABTA Travel Sure travelers insurance. Insurance will provide comfort to both you and your client as they embark on adventures of a lifetime. 
Tour operators contribute to the positive experiences that travelers across the globe endure. They allow people to travel stress-free and for a relatively cheap price.
Tour operators aren’t allowed to have an off day. The reality is, they are working with people every day who are having a great time on vacation and making carefree memories with their family members and friends. This means that tour operators have to adopt that same mood each and every day in order to match the enthusiasm of their travelers. Tour operators need to be friendly, approachable, social and funny and must be able to conduct themselves as such. An effective leader is organized and is able to effectively use technology in order to maximize the efficiency of the tours. At any given moment, the tour guide should know the latest manifesto, the tour operator is the leader of any activity that has been planned, and they understand the availability of resources and be able to troubleshoot should the need arise. In addition to being able to multi-task while conducting a tour, a tour guide also needs to know how to use the resources that are available. Sometimes, this means using a mobile device to access cloud-based technology and provide customers with the information they need. In other cases, such as in the event of an injury or illness, the tour operator will need to be able to provide first aid care. The best guides know what resources are within arm’s reach, and they know how to best use those resources. Every day is different when you are a tour and activity operator. The best guides are able to adapt to changing circumstances. This includes staying composed in the event of an emergency, or when someone is delivering negative feedback. It means that they are able to think quickly on their feet, and deliver solutions if a problem arises. They are comfortable with the flexible nature of the position and the excitement that each day can bring.
Vacancies are advertised online and in trade publications including Travel Trade Gazette and Travel Weekly, as well as their online equivalents. Networking and speculative applications are advisable. A few larger companies operate graduate training schemes. Paid summer vacation jobs may be available with some employers.
Qualifications and training required
A degree is not a standard formal requirement for this role, though it may be an advantage. Degrees in leisure, travel, tourism, management, marketing, IT, business, languages or hotel and catering management are particularly likely to be relevant. Relevant professional or vocational qualifications, such as NVQs and HNDs, may also be beneficial.
Pre-entry experience gained working with the general public or within the hotel, tourism or travel trades (particularly overseas) will strengthen your applications and improve your chances. It may be possible to start work in a tour rep, tour guide or travel agent role and then move on to a tour operator position.⁴
Key skills for tour operators:
-a demonstrable interest in travel⁵
-knowledge of key holiday destinations
-foreign language skills
-excellent interpersonal skills
-communication skills
-customer service skills
-organizational skills
-IT skills
-commercial awareness
-good time management skills.

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  Types of Tour Operators
  

There are five main categories of tour operators that you could fall into: inbound tour operators, outbound tour operators, domestic tour operators, receptive tour operators, and ground tour operators. Let’s find out which one of these five you fall into.
Inbound Tour Operators (AKA Incoming Tour Operators)
Inbound tour operators bring tourists into a country as a group or via individual tour packages. They handle all arrangements in the host country; and the types of tours they curate are specifically for non-residents touring the country.
Let’s look at an example.
If a group of Italian tourists want to explore Germany, then the tour operator in Germany who handles all the arrangements for the tour is known as an inbound tour operator. So, inbound tour operators are locally based and offer tours that cover their own country.
Most inbound tour operators hire local travel agencies for things like airport pick-up and drop-off; form partnerships with local hotels and businesses; and have key partnerships with other types of tour operators (who help them run tours on the ground).
Outbound Tour Operators
Unlike inbound tour operators, outbound tour operators work within their countries to take travelers to other countries. They are tour operators who market their tours for international destinations, either for business or leisure travel.
Let’s say, for example, that a group of Canadian tourists are planning a trip to Italy. Then the tour company in Canada that handles all the ticket reservations and hotel bookings is the outbound tour operator.
To further simplify things, outbound tour operators design and package tours for tourists in their home country to visit an international destination.
Now, most outbound tour operators choose to specialize in specific destinations: either a destination that is “trending” or one in which they have particular expertise and distribution partners. They often work with other tour and activity providers in the destination when designing their travel packages.
Domestic Tour Operators
Domestic tour operators are those that put together inclusive tour packages and sell them to domestic travelers. In other words, they are tour operators who provide travel packages and tours within a tourist’s native country⁶.
Domestic tours usually involve residents of a specific country traveling within that country. They can visit national parks, scenic areas, hospitality tours, city tours, train tours, etc. Since there are many options that tourists can choose from,⁷ domestic tour operators often combine several tourist components into an inclusive package that they can sell to travelers within the boundary of the country.
Domestic tour operators form key partnerships with other tour and activity providers in order to attain a larger share of the domestic tourism market.