Our marketing strategy will be based mainly on making the right service(s) available to the right target customer. We will ensure that our services’ prices take into consideration organizations’ and peoples’ budgets, and that these people know that we exist, appreciate the value of our services, and how to contact us. The marketing will convey the sense of quality in every picture, every promotion, and every publication. Our intension will be to target those individuals and groups looking for leisure activities and places to visit. We realize the need to focus our marketing message and our service offerings. We need to develop our message, communicate it, and make good on it. The decision to establish strategic alliances with several hotels, lodges and travel agencies is aimed at tapping our target market effectively and efficiently.
We have identified competing companies, some firmly established, that fill the same needs as Sephats Tours. We intend to market ourselves in such a way that with time competitor customers will choose our service over competitors’ on the basis of our higher quality and informative excursions. A more thorough outline of our main competitors including their strengths and weaknesses follows:
Brought to you by
Using ai and step-by-step instructions.
Secure funding
Validate ideas
Build a strategy
Upon closer analysis of the above competitors it may be observed that the majority of these are offering safari excursions, and this represents an opportunity to be realized by us. According to the Central Statistics Office there are approximately 81 travel agents, tour operators and safari operators in Botswana at present, the majority of which have a South African background either in directorship or actual origin.
Our advantages are best described as our strengths:
The keys to Sephats Tours success will undoubtedly be effective market segmentation through identification of several niche markets and implementation strategies. Along these lines the company intends to implement advertising, personal selling and direct marketing strategies to the target markets. Our personal selling marketing strategies will rotate around keeping in touch with hotels and travel agencies for major customers, and advertising for more individual customers. Hence our key success factors will include the following:
Marketing plan.
One core element of our strategy will be that of differentiation from our competitors. In terms of marketing we intend to ensure that our name and services are marketed on an extensive basis so that customers are aware of our existence. We will have a Social Media Strategy. We will be in Twitter, on Facebook, and on LinkedIn. We will run promotions and sales and have our customers tell us their favorite vacations, and experiences and they will talk to each other. In price, we intend to offer reasonable and competitive prices in comparison to competition and we need to be able to sustain that. Our service marketing will strive to ensure that we establish long relationships with clients.
For the short term at least, the selling process will depend on personal selling/networking and advertising to lure and inform potential customers about the services we offer and the benefits of utilizing our services. Our marketing does not intend to affect the perception of need as much as knowledge and awareness of the service category.
At present the company offices are located at Plot Number 28338, Block 3, Belabela road opposite Gaborone Television Station, near Hill Crest Primary School. However, as time progresses the intention is to move into more accessible and attractive offices in a prime area. This regardless of the fact that our type of business is not too dependent on office location and size.
Sephats Tours will strive to ensure that it contains the latest, or extremely recent personal computer including relevant software so as to ensure that the company is continuously at the forefront in our market arena. The one certainty in our industry is that technology will continue to evolve and develop, changing what we market as well as how we market it. Our aim will be to be aware of the implications of this new technology and utilizing it in our existing framework where possible. However it should be noted that as we are new on the market it will take some time before we have in place our own website and other multimedia presentations. With time we also intend to have the latest and most efficient software in place to enable smooth operations.
Key metrics.
Our Key metrics are:
Sephats Tours is a Private Limited company incorporated at the Registrar of Companies through the foresight and vision of Mr. X and Mrs. Y. It is a 100% wholly owned Botswana firm.
The founders of Sephats Tours are passionate about the activities it will promote and offer on the market. Management style will reflect the participation of the directors/shareholders. The company intends to respect its community and treat all employees well. We will develop and nurture the company as community. However we realize that we are not fully conversant in tourism and as such intend to engage experienced staff as well as undergo a training course from a reputable institution.
The Managing Director’s experience in public commercial transportation and government will assist in the establishment of good networks. He also has attended a course in Auto Mechanics at X Centre that will assist in servicing the vehicles. However acknowledging the importance of continuous training and improvement the Managing Director intends to undergo a course in Travel and Tourism so as to be fully conversant in the field, as well as obtain knowledge of the latest developments in the industry.
Financial plan investor-ready personnel plan .">, key assumptions.
Some of the more important underlying assumptions are:
Expenses by month, net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.
Thus far we have purchased a Mercedes Benz mini bus to run tours for our customers, for P167,00, which was purchased with P32,000 down and the rest on a 5-year 6% loan. Other start-up expenses covered include legal costs, business plan compilation, license costs and related expenses.
START-UP REQUIREMENTS
Start-up Expenses
TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES P5,000
We have 2 investors, investor 1 is investing P100,000, investor 2 is investing 102,000.
Projected balance sheet, projected cash flow statement.
Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.
No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.
Discover the world’s #1 plan building software
Written by Dave Lavinsky
You’ve come to the right place to create your Travel Agency business plan.
We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their travel agencies.
Below is a template to help you create each section of your Travel Agency business plan.
Business overview.
My Itinerary Travel Agency is a new travel agency located in Boca Raton, Florida. The company is founded by Sandra Rodriguez, an experienced travel agent who has gained valuable knowledge on how to run a travel agency during the past ten years while working at Fun Destinations Travel Agency. Now that Sandra has experienced managing a travel agency, she is ready to start her own company, My Itinerary Travel Agency. Sandra is confident that her organizational and communication skills, combined with her understanding of business management, will enable her to run a profitable travel agency of her own. Sandra is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a travel agency – sales and marketing, vendor relationships, customer relationship management, budgeting, and financial reporting.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will provide a full suite of travel planning services for individuals nationwide through its sophisticated online platform and accompanying customer app. My Itinerary Travel Agency will be the go-to travel agency for personalized service, convenience, and expertise of its travel agents. The company will be the ultimate choice for customer service while offering the best travel accommodations available.
The following are the services that My Itinerary Travel Agency will provide:
My Itinerary Travel Agency will target individuals nationwide who are looking for personalized and convenient travel planning services. The company will target vacationers, tourists, and business travelers who are seeking the best deals on premium accommodations. No matter the customer, My Itinerary Travel Agency will deliver the best communication, service, and the best prices.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will be owned and operated by Sandra Rodriguez. Sandra is a graduate of Florida University with a degree in business. She has over ten years of experience working as a travel agent for another local agency. Sandra will be the company’s chief executive officer. She will oversee the travel agency staff, manage customer relationships, and build vendor relationships.
Sandra has recruited sales and marketing expert, Sara Anderson, to be the company’s chief marketing officer and help oversee travel agency’s sales and marketing activities. Sara will handle all branding, marketing, advertising, and outreach for the company. She will also create and maintain the company’s online and social media presence. Sara has a Master’s degree in Marketing and has nearly ten years of experience working as a marketing director for a leading travel industry corporation.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:
My Itinerary Travel Agency is seeking $290,000 in debt financing to launch its travel agency. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the office space, and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:
The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for My Itinerary Travel Agency.
Who is my itinerary travel agency.
My Itinerary Travel Agency is a newly established travel agency in Boca Raton, Florida. My Itinerary Travel Agency will be the first choice for anyone seeking a personalized approach, 24/7 support, and streamlined technology to make trip planning easy. The company will serve customers nationwide from their headquarters in Florida.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will be able to guarantee the best deals possible thanks to the leadership team members’ long standing relationships with a large network of vendors in the hospitality, transportation, and entertainment markets. The company’s team of highly qualified travel agents will provide personalized service to each client, removing the uncertainty and hassles associated with finding and booking the right accommodations.
My Itinerary Travel Agency is owned and operated by Sandra Rodriguez, an experienced travel agent who has gained valuable knowledge on how to run a travel agency during the past ten years while working at Fun Destinations Travel Agency. Now that Sandra has experienced managing a travel agency, she is ready to start her own company, My Itinerary Travel Agency. Sandra is confident that her organizational and communication skills, combined with her understanding of business management, will enable her to run a profitable travel agency of her own. Sandra is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a travel agency – sales and marketing, vendor relationships, customer relationship management, budgeting, and financial reporting.
Since incorporation, My Itinerary Travel Agency has achieved the following milestones:
The U.S. travel agency industry is valued at $48.5B with more than 90,600 businesses in operation and over 318,600 employees nationwide. Factors currently driving industry growth include an increase in domestic tourism and travel for overnight trips, vacations, and business purposes. More domestic travel typically results in more consumers using travel agencies to book their trips. The travel agency industry can be segmented by brick-and-mortar establishments or online businesses. The global market size for the online travel agency segment reached $432B last year and is expected to rise as more people use the internet to book their trips. The travel agency industry relies heavily on the use of technology. Industry operators must stay up-to-date on the latest travel technology in order to remain competitive in the market.
One of the most significant hurdles for travel agency operators is attracting customers in the age of do-it-yourself booking. Now that customers are able to book many of their travel accommodations themselves, travel agents must be able to demonstrate why booking with them is a better option. Some ways industry operators can add value are by providing personalized services, promotional discounts, and helpful information about accommodation options.
Demographic profile of target market.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will target individuals nationwide who are looking for personalized and convenient travel planning services. The company will target vacationers, tourists, and business travelers who are seeking the best deals on premium accommodations. No matter the customer, My Itinerary Travel Agency will deliver professional communication, service, and the best prices.
The precise demographics for Boca Raton, Florida are:
My Itinerary Travel Agency will primarily target the following customer profiles:
Direct and indirect competitors.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.
Fun Destinations Travel Agency
Fun Destinations Travel Agency is one of the largest and oldest travel agencies in Florida. The company was founded in 1958 in Boca Raton with one small office location. Now, the company has over 50 locations throughout multiple states. Fun Destinations specializes in booking accommodations for family vacationers. The company books accommodations near key family destinations such as theme parks, resorts, and tourist attractions. Fun Destinations is family owned and operated so the founders are familiar with the hassles associated with planning a family vacation. For this reason, Fun Destinations focuses on booking the best family-friendly accommodations so its clients can relax and enjoy the family fun.
Best Fit Vacations Travel Agency
Best Fit Vacations Travel Agency is a small travel agency catering to Boca Raton locals from its central office and nationwide clients via its online booking platform. The company was established in 1995 with the mission of providing vacation accommodations that will be “the best fit” for every client. Best Fit Vacations is owned and operated by industry professionals that have extensive experience working with vendors to negotiate the best deals for clients. The company strives to get the lowest prices for every booking and regularly finds additional savings and discounts other agencies might not know about.
Trustworthy Travel Agency
Trustworthy Travel Agency is a Boca Raton, Florida-based travel agency that provides superior service to its consumers. The company is able to provide a wide variety of travel accommodation bookings for customers in the area. Trustworthy Travel Agency has three locations throughout the state and operates an online booking platform for nationwide travelers. Customers can book online or over the phone at their convenience. The company uses an algorithm that finds the lowest prices on travel, lodging, and other accommodations across the country.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:
Brand & value proposition.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:
The promotions strategy for My Itinerary Travel Agency is as follows:
Social Media Marketing
The company’s chief marketing officer will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. She will ensure My Itinerary Travel Agency maintains an active social media presence with regular updates and fun content to get customers excited about traveling.
Professional Associations and Networking
My Itinerary Travel Agency will become a member of professional associations such as the Travel Agency Association, American Travel Agents Society, and the Florida Travel Industry Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the company’s vendor network.
Print Advertising
My Itinerary Travel Agency will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The company will also invest in professional ads to place in travel magazines and local publications.
Website/SEO Marketing
My Itinerary Travel Agency’s chief marketing officer will design the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that My Itinerary Travel Agency is able to provide. The website will also list testimonials from happy customers.
The chief marketing officer will also manage My Itinerary Travel Agency’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “best travel agency” or “travel agency near me”, My Itinerary Travel Agency will be listed at the top of the search results.
The pricing of My Itinerary Travel Agency will be on par with (and often lower than) competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the company’s services.
The following will be the operations plan for My Itinerary Travel Agency.
My Itinerary Travel Agency will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.
12/1/2022 – Finalize contract to lease the office
12/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the My Itinerary Travel Agency management team
1/1/2023 – Begin build-out/renovation of the office, and purchase office equipment and supplies
1/15/2023 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan
2/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for initial vendors
3/15/2023 – My Itinerary Travel Agency officially opens for business
Key revenue & costs.
The revenue drivers for My Itinerary Travel Agency are the commissions earned as a percentage of bookings from vendors and fees charged to customers for consultations and services.
The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a travel agency firm. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, greenhouse equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.
Key assumptions.
The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.
Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, what is a travel agency business plan.
A travel agency business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your travel agency business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.
You can easily complete your travel agency business plan using our travel agency Business Plan Template here .
There are a number of different kinds of travel agencies , some examples include: independent agency, host agency or franchise.
Travel agencies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. This is true for a travel agent business plan and a tour and travel business plan.
Starting a travel agency business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.
1. Develop A Travel Agent Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for your travel agency that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.
2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your travel agency business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your travel agency business is in compliance with local laws.
3. Register Your Travel Agency Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your travel agency business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.
4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your travel agency business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.
5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.
6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.
7. Acquire Necessary Travel Agency Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your travel agency business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.
8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your travel agency business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.
Learn more about how to start a successful travel agency business:
Written by Dave Lavinsky
Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their travel agencies. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a travel agency business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.
Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >
A business plan provides a snapshot of your travel agency as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.
If you’re looking to start a travel agency or grow your existing travel agency you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your travel agency in order to improve your chances of success. Your travel agency business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.
With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a travel agency are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.
The second most common form of funding for a travel agency is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan.
Your travel agency business plan should include 10 sections as follows:
Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.
The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of travel agency business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a travel agency that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of travel agencies.
Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the travel agency industry. Discuss the type of travel agency you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.
In your company analysis, you will detail the type of travel agency you are operating.
For example, you might operate one of the following types:
In addition to explaining the type of travel agency you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.
Include answers to question such as:
In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the travel agency business.
While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.
First, researching the travel agency industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.
Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards glamping, it would be helpful to ensure your plan calls for plenty of luxury camping packages.
The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.
The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your travel agency business plan:
The customer analysis section of your travel agency business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.
The following are examples of customer segments: sports enthusiasts, soccer moms, baby boomers, businesses, etc.
As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of travel agency you operate. Clearly baby boomers would want a different atmosphere, pricing and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than businesses.
Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most travel agencies primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.
Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.
Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?
With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!
Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.
Direct competitors are other travel agencies.
Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes customers making travel arrangements themselves at home. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone who travels uses travel agency services.
With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other travel agencies with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be travel agencies located very close to your location.
For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:
With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.
The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:
Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.
Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a travel agency business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:
Product : in the product section you should reiterate the type of travel agency that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to regular accommodation and transportation booking, will you offer items such as tour packages and excursions?
Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the packages you offer and their prices.
Place : Place refers to the location of your travel agency. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your travel agency located next to a heavily populated office building, or highly trafficked retail area, etc. Discuss how your location might provide a steady stream of customers.
Promotions : the final part of your travel agency marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:
While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.
Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your travel agency such as serving customers, procuring supplies, keeping the office clean, etc.
Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 1,000th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch a new location.
To demonstrate your travel agency’s ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.
Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in the travel agency business. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.
If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in travel agencies and/or successfully running retail and small businesses.
Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.
Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.
In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 50 customers per week or 100? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.
Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your travel agency, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.
Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.
In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a travel agency:
Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your store design blueprint or location lease.
Putting together a business plan for your travel agency is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the travel agency business, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful travel agency.
What is the easiest way to complete my travel agency business plan.
Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Travel Agency Business Plan.
You can download our travel agent business plan PDF template here. This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.
Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Travel Agency business plan?
Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.
Click here to see how Growthink’s business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.
by Bryan Reynolds | Jul 10, 2023 | Destination Marketing
Starting a tourism business can be an exciting venture, but it’s vital to have a solid business plan in place. Your business plan will serve as a blueprint for your business, outlining your goals, strategies, and financial projections. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a tourism business plan.
Next up is the market analysis.
After understanding your market, it’s time to outline your organization and management structure.
Outline your team structure..
Finally, let’s talk numbers in your financial projections.
Why do I need a business plan for my tourism business? A business plan helps you understand your business better, assists in securing funding, and serves as a roadmap for your business’s growth. A company overview is important in the travel and tourism industry. How long should my business plan be? The length of a business plan can vary significantly depending on the size and complexity of the business. However, typically, a business plan ranges from 20 to 50 pages. Who should write the business plan? As the successful business owner, you are the best person to write the business plan. However, you can also hire a professional business plan writer or use business plan software. How often should I update my business plan? It’s a good idea to update your business plan at least once a year or whenever significant changes occur in your business or industry. What if I’m starting a small tourism business and don’t have a team yet? That’s perfectly fine. In your organization and management section, simply focus on your role and any outsourced functions. Do I need to include all these sections in my business plan? Yes, each section plays a critical role in providing a comprehensive view of your business. However, the depth of detail in each section can vary based on your specific business. Can I use my business plan to secure funding? Absolutely. Investors and lenders will often request to see a business plan to understand the viability and potential of your business. A well-crafted business plan is crucial for the success of your tourism business. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating a comprehensive and effective business plan.
Writing a business plan for a tourism business involves several best practices that can increase the likelihood of your venture’s success. Here are some key points to consider:
Remember, your business plan is not just a document for potential investors or lenders; it’s also a roadmap for your business, guiding your decisions and strategies. By adhering to these best practices, you can create a robust business plan that sets your tourism business up for success.
How to turn a tv into digital signage, grow digital kiosk and signage engagement with hootboard os, free events calendar template for a website.
by Bryan Reynolds | Digital Signage , Touch Kiosks
Turning a regular smart TV into digital signage can be a game-changer for your business or project. Digital signage...
Delivering information effectively and engagingly is more important than ever. Whether you're in travel & tourism,...
by Bryan Reynolds | Templates
It's time to upgrade your digital space and captivate your visitors with the latest interactive events calendar – the...
Email Address
Organisation
Phone Number
Industry Industry Travel & Tourism Smart City Education Workplaces Industry Agnostic Others
Do you have the next great tour business or travel company idea, but don’t know how to turn it into reality? You’ve found your niche and even come up with the best tour company name ever, but who do you tell and how do you get started?
Why your tour company needs a business plan.
We’ve previously covered topics on how to build your business, but one beneficial, even crucial, practice before you start is to write up a small business plan, one that compiles all the important aspects of your brand in a single 15-20 page document. Having a simple tourism business plan will help you plan for the future and even discover new things about your brand.
Whether you’re a young entrepreneur building a tour startup in search of investors, or you’re an established tour operator looking to better understand your business and take it to the next level, a tour operator business plan can help guide you in the right direction.
As mentioned above, a tour company business plan is a document that outlines all the important aspects of your tour business. From your company goals and objectives, to your team members, and even your financial statements, a business plan is an effective tool for analyzing the ins and outs of your business.
It is the ultimate document used to convince investors and lenders to support your tour company. If you’re not looking for investors, writing a simple business plan for your tour business is still useful practice to align the leaders in your company, discover any shortcomings you might have missed, and plan for future growth.
Now that you understand why having a small business plan is important, you’re probably wondering how to write one. You can use a business plan template, but it’s good to know why you’re including the information it asks for. It’s also acceptable to cater the content of your business plan to suit your unique company, but there are certain sections that investors expect to see, making them beneficial for you to include.
Here is what you need to include in your company’s business plan:
One of the most important sections of your business plan will be your executive summary, which serves as a high-level overview of your business, providing highlights of the fundamentals of your brand.
You’ll notice that most, if not all, of the topics covered within your executive summary will have their own dedicated section later on in your business plan. Because the executive summary is typically limited to a single page, leave the nitty-gritty details for their respective sections and use the executive summary as a way to simply introduce the topics to your reader.
Executive summary topics:
Again, like your business plan as a whole, not all of the topics listed above may be applicable to your business or your specific needs, so include only what you see fit.
Your company overview should give your reader a detailed understanding of who you are and what you do. This includes technical topics like your business description, structure, and model, but should also cover the heart and soul of your company. That is, not only what you do, but why you do it. Developing your brand story is an important step to branding in the travel and tourism industry .
What is it about running a bungee jumping business, wine tasting tour, or spelunking course that inspires you? What is your company’s mission, vision, purpose, and USP (unique selling proposition)? What are your business goals and objectives, both short-term and long-term? Defining these aspects of your business helps readers, whether investors or your own employees, connect with your business at a deeper level.
Another important section to include in your business plan for your tour company is a detailed market analysis. Even if you’re creating your business plan for internal use only, conducting market analysis and research is an excellent way to gauge your position within your industry, identify areas of concern, and create an effective marketing strategy using the 7 Ps of Travel and Tourism Marketing .
Things to consider in your market analysis include your target market and demographic, whether your marketing strategy is aligned with your target market, where you want to position yourself in the industry in relation to your competitors, and where you have room to improve.
Try conducting a SWOT analysis for your tour business to explore your:
Use your team summary section to outline the leaders and key players in your tour company. An organizational chart works well to display this information and will usually explore members of management and other key personnel, their job titles, and their roles and responsibilities. Be sure to address how each person plays/will play an integral role in the success of your tour business or travel company.
Even if your business is very small or you run a sole proprietorship, it’s still worth including a team summary section so that potential investors can get to know who they’re investing in. A team summary adds a human element to your business plan and can help build your readers’ confidence by showing them that they can trust the leaders (even if it’s just you) to bring the company to success.
Discuss your finances. What is your current financial state, what is your future financial projection, and how do you plan on getting there? If you’re looking for an investment, how much do you need? Include relevant documents, paperwork, statements, calculations, etc. to back up the numbers you’re sharing.
Needless to say, tour marketing is one of the most important aspects of your tour business.
Your business plan should have a detailed marketing strategy and promotional tactics, including pricing strategy, advertising channels, and innovative tactics. It should also leverage social media and other tourism-related technology to reach your target market effectively.
Investing the time up front to create a simple business plan for your tour company is worth the effort, and is crucial to becoming a successful tour operator. Going into anything without a plan can be risky, and starting a tour business is no different.
Once you know how to write a business plan and understand the main components that make one effective, you’ll have an invaluable tool for securing investors and planning your company’s growth in the competitive tourism and travel industry. There’s really no better time than now, so go out there, write a killer business plan, and start the tour business of your dreams .
Written By | Edward Nieh
Edward Nieh is a freelance writer and copy editor working across multiple mediums for clients from various industries. He has a degree in creative writing with a focus on screenwriting for feature films.
Previous Article How Tourism's Recovery is Empowering Women Worldwide
Next Article 8 Revenue-Generating Tourism Rental Ideas for 2024 (Updated)
Set-jetting, forest bathing, and hush trips: 20 innovative tourism business ideas and trends for 2023.
Advantages and disadvantages of online travel agencies (otas).
Your marketing mix: the 7 ps of travel and tourism marketing, search the blog.
I have read and agree to the Rezgo Privacy Policy
Sign-up for a free demo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmo tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Schedule A Demo
By Kevin Tjoe — 13 Jan 2022
Business plan Business set-up
Updated July 2023 – Ready to take the plunge and launch that tour company or adventure travel business you’ve been envisioning? Before you start welcoming guests, the best first step is always to build a detailed business plan.
A tour operator business plan is more than just a formality; it is the compass that will navigate your business’s journey. A well-structured business plan for a tour operator provides the framework for transforming your vision into a thriving and sustainable business. It will help you clarify your goals, streamline your operations, and make informed decisions.
Let’s explore the immense value of a clear tour operator business plan as well as the most important elements to consider in this comprehensive document.
Crafting a business plan allows you to lay the groundwork for your tour operator business effectively. Whether you plan to help travelers make travel plans or to provide amazing tourism experiences, your business plan will serve a couple of key purposes:
In order to understand how to set up a tour operator business, you’ll first need to learn the key elements of a tour operator business plan.
This section of your tour operator/ tour agency business plan provides a holistic snapshot of your company, offering readers a clear understanding of your business’s identity. Ideally, it should include the following:
Start by defining your target market. Are you catering to adventure-seeking travelers, history enthusiasts, or nature lovers? Consider their demographics, interests, and spending behavior. Research industry trends and analyze competitors to gain insights into their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you identify opportunities and potential gaps in the market that your business can fill.
In addition, study the external factors that could impact your business, such as seasonal fluctuations, economic conditions, and any regulatory requirements specific to the tourism industry.
Crafting compelling and diverse tour offerings is at the heart of your tour operator business. Consider the unique experiences and attractions your target market seeks. Develop a range of tour packages that cater to different preferences and budget levels.
Your tours should not only showcase the best of the destination but also provide memorable and immersive experiences. Whether it’s organizing guided city tours, thrilling adventure expeditions, or cultural explorations, your offerings should reflect your passion for travel and your commitment to creating unforgettable memories for your customers.
Use your tour operator/ tour agency business plan to emphasize what sets your tours apart from the competition. Whether it’s exclusive access to hidden gems, knowledgeable guides, or sustainable practices, highlight the value that customers will gain from choosing your services.
Successful businesses have strong brands, so your business plan should set out branding guidelines . Consider the following key elements when coming up with a strategy that will guide how you should start marketing your tour business:
The operations and management section of your tour operator business plan delves into the practical aspects that keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. This nitty-gritty exploration ensures that every aspect of your tour company is well-organized, legally compliant, and focused on delivering exceptional experiences to your customers.
Here are the key components to include in this section:
The financial plan is a key component of your tour operator business plan. It outlines your revenue streams, costs, and projected financial performance over time. A well-structured financial plan demonstrates the viability of your business and helps you secure funding if needed.
Start by estimating your startup costs, including equipment, licenses, marketing, and initial staff training. Calculate the expected cash flow, factoring in the seasonality of the tourism industry. Identify the pricing strategy for your tours, ensuring that it covers your expenses while remaining competitive in the market.
Create financial projections for at least the first three to five years, considering both conservative and optimistic scenarios. This will enable you to anticipate potential challenges and make informed decisions that will help you with growing your tour business.
Remember to regularly review and update your financial plan as your business progresses. Monitoring actual financial performance against projections will help you make timely adjustments and stay on track towards achieving your business goals.
Download the free all-in-one checklist for easy reference.
Now that you have an effective business plan in place, it’s important to ensure your business has the right software.
Online booking software for tour operators like Rezdy is designed to equip your business for success. It includes multiple features integrated into the system, which allows you to reduce your overall admin duties. Some of these tools include real-time availability to avoid double bookings, automatic customer updates and reminders, and secure payment processes.
Furthermore, Rezdy also offers a channel manager platform that connects your business to thousands of resellers instantly. Joining Rezdy Marketplace is as simple as listing your products and setting your commission rates. From there, you can let resellers on the platform promote and sell your services to their customers.
Set your business up for success with a FREE 21-day trial or alternatively, book a demo to learn more about Rezdy and our products!
If you enjoyed this article then make sure to follow the Rezdy blog . There are a lot of marketing tools and tour operator tips designed with businesses like yours in mind.
Enjoy a 21-day free trial to take a look around and see if we are a good fit for your business.
No obligations, no catches, no limits, nada
Three customer experience strategies you’re missing, embracing a digital-first world, smbs can have the confidence to thrive, applications for sab foundation are now open, trending tags.
Start-up your travel tour agency with a business plan similar to this detailed example..
Car wash business plan, event planning sample business plan, coffee shop business plan.
Starting your own travel tour agency but don’t know how to compile your business plan? Here’s an example of a dummy company’s business plan to get you thinking about how to create yours.
1. executive summary.
The tourism industry has undergone rapid growth of unsurpassed nature over the last several decades. This has mainly been due to the advent of a ‘borderless’ world and increased information dissemination about the majestic sceneries throughout the world, with the southern African region being no exception.
We are on the brink of penetrating a lucrative market in a rapidly growing industry. The current trend towards an increase in the number of tourists entering the country presents an opportunity for Sephats Tours to penetrate the market.
An opportunity for Sephats Tours’ success exists because the national tourism industry is growing at a rapid pace annually.
Sephats Tours is poised to take advantage of this growth and moderate competition in the city travel portion of the industry, with a dedicated and experienced staff, excellent networking, and effective management and marketing. Sephats Tours intends to provide travel and adventure packages to tourists primarily in the Southern region, but also the whole of Botswana.
Services and products provided by Sephats will initially include pre-arranged tours, custom packages according to clients specifications, travel consultation, and as time progresses making reservations for lodging amongst other related services. Sephats Tours seeks to differentiate itself as the premier adventure mobile operator in the greater Gaborone area.
Our services will be positioned very carefully: They will be of extremely high quality, comfortable, informative and tailored to the clients needs such that they will enable individuals to have a greater appreciation of the natural environment and its intricacies.
Our marketing strategy will be based mainly on ensuring customers know about our existence and the service(s) we fulfill. Hence our intention is to make the right information available to the right target customers. This will be done through implementing a market penetration strategy that will ensure that we are well known and respected in the tourism industry.
We will ensure that our prices take into consideration peoples’ budgets, that these people appreciate the service(s), know that it exists, and how to contact us. The marketing will convey the sense of quality in every picture, every promotion, and every publication.
Our promotional strategy will involve integrating advertising, events, personal selling, public relations, direct marketing and the Internet, details of which are provided in the marketing section of this plan.
It is important to recognise that we do not intend to just take individuals on sightseeing excursions, but also to ensure that they appreciate nature through informative briefings on objects’ origins.
This element will assist in differentiating us from our competitors and contribute towards the development of a sustainable competitive advantage.
Hence we need to engage the right people in the right place at the right time if we are to ensure optimum growth. We intend to develop our team so that our people can grow as the company grows – a mutually beneficial relationship.
We project sales to increase from more than P350,000 (Botswana Pula [P]) the first year to more than P556,500 the second, and P630,000 in the third year.
In a nutshell, we do not just intend to market and sell our service, but to market and sell travel solutions and a total-quality environment. This will ensure we establish a reputable corporate image.
Our business strategy will revolve around the need to provide quality service to our various target customers, in the process fully satisfying their needs. This shall be undertaken through recruitment of a professional team and the provision of good quality custom-designed travel packages, catering to the client’s particular needs.
With time our marketing campaign will increase the awareness of our services in the various market segments we shall be targeting. This is particularly so with the organisation looking at establishing a clear advantage(s) in an increasingly competitive market.
We will provide clients with the opportunity to focus on their core activities whilst their transportation side needs are fully satisfied. Marketing material shall be professionally done so as to be reflective of our intended image and reputation.
We shall position ourselves as a quality commercial transportation operator that provides customer-need fulfillment, enjoyment, reliability and a good image. We intend to establish a good rapport with all the relevant stakeholders, especially hotels and travel agents.
We also intend to have well-designed brochures and other promotional material that will enable clients to have an understanding of the types of services we offer and advantages of utilising them.
In addition well-done, informative brochures, fact sheets and business cards often have a triggering effect on clients contemplating utilising our services. Hence this will undoubtedly generate increased sales of our service.
In summary we intend to attain the following objectives:
Internally we intend to create and nurture a healthy, exuberant, respectful, and enjoyable environment, in which our employees are fairly compensated and encouraged to respect the customer and the quality of the service we intend to provide.
In addition follow-up will be mandatory so as ensure customer satisfaction and make any improvements as recommended by the customers in future.
We seek fair and responsible profit, enough to keep the company financially healthy for the short and long term, and to fairly remunerate employees for the work and effort.
The keys to Sephats Tours success will undoubtedly be effective market segmentation through identification of several niche markets and implementation strategies.
Along these lines the company intends to implement advertising, personal selling and direct marketing strategies to the target markets.
Our personal selling marketing strategies will rotate around keeping in touch with hotels and travel agencies for major customers, and advertising for more individual customers.
Hence our key success factors will include the following:
Sephats Tours intends to provide individual and group travel to leisure clients.
Services and products provided by Sephats will initially include pre-arranged tours, custom packages according to clients specifications, travel consultation, and as time progresses making reservations for lodging amongst other related services.
Sephats Tours seeks to differentiate itself as the premier adventure travel company in the greater Gaborone area.
As it grows it will take on people and expand into related markets and services. It will also look for additional leverage by establishing relationships and representations with appropriate strategic allies.
Sephats Tours is a Private Limited company incorporated at the Registrar of Companies through the foresight and vision of Mr. X and Mrs. Y. It is a 100% wholly owned Botswana firm.
Thus far the directors have contributed one hundred and sixty seven thousand pula (P167,000) to purchase a Mercedes Benz mini bus currently in its possession and P30,000 for cash expenses. Total start-up expenses covered (including legal costs, business plan compilation, license costs and related expenses) come to approximately P5,000.
At present the company offices are located at Plot Number 28338, Block 3, Belabela road opposite Gaborone Television Station, near Hill Crest Primary School.
However, as time progresses the intention is to move into more accessible and attractive offices in a prime area. This regardless of the fact that our type of business is not too dependent on office location and size.
Sephats Tours is a travel company that intends to deliver leisure travel excursions to customers. Sephats intends to guide customers in selecting a trip(s) based on pre-defined vacation criteria. This analysis will be based on user profiles, set by the consumers, which includes preferences such as:
A traveler will hence be able to select areas of interest based on their preferences and subsequently identify destinations to visit.
The intention is to provide customers with access to exclusive travel destinations, service to fully appreciate destinations through information packages, not just sight-seeing, and access to special interest travel according to the group’s/individual’s preferences.
There are presently few competitors offering services similar to ours. However considering the pace of change and current growth rate of the tourism industry luring many companies into the sector, this may be short-lived.
Hence there will be a need to not only firmly establish ourselves on the market, but also strongly differentiate ourselves from these other businesses. However on a broader scale our competition comes in several forms:
The most significant competition are hotels and travel agencies offering travel excursions to their clients. They undertake this service in order to establish a competitive advantage over their competitors.
However, instead of directly competing with them we intend to establish good working relationships in the form of strategic alliances such that we are able to offer the service for their clients and thus enabling them to concentrate on their core activities whilst ensuring customers are fully satisfied.
Our key advantage in this regard will be our specialty of the service and hence wide knowledge ensuring customer satisfaction at all times as well as flexibility in providing the service. Existing hotels, lodges and travel agencies may identify the opportunity to diversify into our intended services utilising their current client database.
Naturally, existing clients will be inclined towards utilising these familiar companies due to the fact that a good relationship may have already been nurtured over the years during their business dealings.
This presents a potential challenge to us, as we need to aggressively market our services and expertise in the field. Existing safari operators that mainly focus on the remote environs such as Maun and Kasane are at times able to compromise, offering excursions in and around Gaborone, though very rare. Hence we intend to focus on this market. An analysis of competition is provided in the Market Analysis section of this plan.
Sephats Tours intends to offer the service and knowledge a discerning leisure traveler seeks whilst on vacation, with the intention of seeing and appreciating the numerous sights in the area.
Keeping in mind the comforts of a tourist, our fleet shall be very well maintained and designed as per customer standard and expectations. However not wanting to limit ourselves we intend to be open to special hire by churches, organisations, groups, schools and sports teams, amongst other related groups.
The game reserves and lodges that we intend to be our main destinations are:
Below is a briefing of several places of interest and their various attractions.
Other sites will include Matsieng Foot Point, Gemsbok National Park, Mabuasehube Game Reserve, Legaga la ga Kobokwe, Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve, Nxaii Pan and Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
Integrating the above places of interest into our tours we intend to be offering the following tours:
At a large scale research demonstrates that tourism is undergoing a rapid growth of unsurpassed nature. Generally there is a trend towards shorter stays but increased visits, as individuals strive to experience as many cultures as possible, including seeing as many attractions as possible.
Increasingly Botswana is being marketed as “one of the few places in Africa where game sanctuaries have remained completely unspoiled.
A destination that unlocks the mystery of nature – an oasis in a wilderness which is an ideal escape for nature lovers. Very little of this fascinating country has seen human habitation – this is true Africa in all her remoteness and authenticity.
With such marketing in place the number of tourists entering the country is bound to increase, presenting a larger potential market for ourselves. This potential market is what we seek to tap.
The business will begin with a general corporate brochure establishing its position on the market. This brochure will be developed as part of the start-up expenses including the business cards and Company Profile, mainly for the large organisations that often recommend services to potential customers.
Compliment slips are also intended so as to raise awareness of the company and its services. We also intend to have information pamphlets that will provide information on our various tour packages. Literature and mailings for the initial market forums will be very important.
The key fulfillment and delivery will be provided by the employees of the company. The real core value will be professional expertise, provided by a combination of expertise, experience, hard work, and education (in that order). Hence we intend to ensure that the work we undertake is always thorough and relevant to the clients’ needs.
We will turn to reputable companies for supplying the necessary individuals and groups for our services. Hence the need to establish good relationships with our strategic allies.
Sephats Tours will strive to ensure that it contains the latest, or extremely recent personal computer including relevant software so as to ensure that the company is continuously at the forefront in our market arena.
The one certainty in our industry is that technology will continue to evolve and develop, changing what we market as well as how we market it. Our aim will be to be aware of the implications of this new technology and utilizing it in our existing framework where possible. However it should be noted that as we are new on the market it will take some time before we have in place our own website and other multimedia presentations.
With time we also intend to have the latest and most efficient software in place to enable smooth operations.
In putting the company together we have attempted to offer enough services to allow us to always be in demand by our customers and clients. The most important factor in developing future services/products is market need.
Our understanding of the needs of our target market segments shall be one of our competitive advantages. It is critical to our effort to develop the right new services. In the future, Sephats Tours intends to broaden its coverage by expanding into additional markets.
One of the main services it aims at providing is to become a destination management company that brings alive the magnificence of this country to the traveler. This will be done by co-coordinating the traveler’s entire experience from hotel bookings, safaris and tours, greeting and porter services, and to tour packages and incentives. However in doing so we will strive to ensure that it is compatible with the existing products and company personnel.
As time progresses the intention will to provide a Southern Africa tour package covering the whole of southern Africa.
We are today experiencing a rapid growth in the economy of unsurpassed nature. This has been brought about by, amongst other things, the relaxation of foreign exchange policies and macroeconomic policies geared towards attracting foreign investors into the country.
The fiscal and monetary policies of the government geared towards maintaining growth with social justice have largely contributed towards this, evidenced by our economy averaging a growth rate of 7% since 1990 – very high by international standards.
The current drive and emphasis by the government on diversification of the industrial base away from the minerals sector presents an opportunity for Sephats Tours to make a valuable contribution towards achieving this goal. Having undertaken a thorough and comprehensive research of the market we realized that there was a need for a tourist transport company that focuses on providing leisure excursions to tourists.
Though there are mobile operators currently on the market, some of whom have been in existence for a relatively long period of time, we believe that there is a market need for one that specializes on providing comfortable and enjoyable transport to tourists and visitors.
This, also considering the fact that, potentially Botswana’s richest natural resource, the tourism industry is becoming an increasingly important player in the economy and may in the long term prove even more valuable than mineral resources in earning foreign exchange.
Aware of the fact that operating in such a market is largely dependent on good networking, we intend to establish networks and strategic relationships with various hotels, lodges and travel agents to ensure a steady stream of clients.
However in so doing we intend to ensure that the service we provide is of extremely high quality and comfortable. Our initial overall target market share shall be 10% of the market, mainly focusing on the greater Gaborone area and southern Botswana.
We appreciate that entering such a market is not a ‘bed of roses’ and will require us establishing strong links with strategic partners as outlined previously. Hence we intend to implement an aggressive marketing strategy, well supported by the other business functions.
The above prognosis influenced our decision to enter the tourist transport industry.
We will be focusing on those foreign tourists seeking leisure travel and excursions whilst on vacation in Botswana, with the intention of letting them see and appreciate the numerous attractions in our country.
Though we realise that the majority of our tourists come from South Africa we shall be mainly targeting those from Europe and the Americas who often do not have transport or adequate knowledge about the country, unlike their South African counterparts who often do. Hence we shall be mainly targeting those who are not that mobile but wanting to see as many sites as possible.
These people often do not want to waste their money on hiring vehicles to move about by themselves, but instead want to be escorted around places of interest by a reliable source. Hence the need to professionally market ourselves and the services we provide, offering a service of uncompromised nature.
Our marketing strategy will be based mainly on making the right service(s) available to the right target customer. We will ensure that our services’ prices take into consideration organisations’ and peoples’ budgets, and that these people know that we exist, appreciate the value of our services, and how to contact us.
The marketing will convey the sense of quality in every picture, every promotion, and every publication. Our intension will be to target those individuals and groups looking for leisure activities and places to visit.
We realise the need to focus our marketing message and our service offerings. We need to develop our message, communicate it, and make good on it. The decision to establish strategic alliances with several hotels, lodges and travel agencies is aimed at tapping our target market effectively and efficiently.
Though the tourism sector has undergone rapid growth over the last decade the vast majority entering this sector have rushed to the North where we have the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and other sites as attraction points.
Very few have focused on south and central Botswana. With this in mind we intend to exploit the untapped market in this area so as to provide our customers with a good service and realize our business objectives.
We understand that our target markets need more than just being shown the areas of interest but also to be informed about their significance and origins. Hence we don’t just intend to provide a service(s), but to provide one of unparalleled nature relative to the market.
Of all the uncertainty surrounding this industry, one fact is certain: tourism is here to stay. The only question is how large the industry will become and whether it can sustain, if not exceed, its current growth rate. However large the market ultimately becomes, the company strongly believes that travel will be an important component of this market place. Tourism statistics provide a reliable guide as to the size of the market.
According to the latest tourism statistics total arrivals for 1998 amounted to 1,351,798 representing an increase of approximately 12.65% from the previous year. Of the total arrivals in 1998 205,146 (15.2%) were holiday/tourists whilst 319,440 (23,6%) were visitors, both groups of which constitute our target market, totaling approximately 524,586 individuals.
Source: Tourism Statistics 1998 – Central Statistics Office .
ExpertHub’s team of Staff Writers deliver unique, insightful and curated content from successful business leaders, authors and subject matter experts. This highly-experienced team understands the information that business readers are looking for, what’s unique and impactful, and how to distil key ideas into actionable insights.
You’re 40 something, mid-career, and you feel stuck. You need to make more money, but you don’t know how.
Are you ready to unlock your writing potential and turn your creativity into cash? Learn how to make money by...
Are you ready to turn your passion for hair into a thriving business? Follow our step-by-step guide to start your...
Are you ready to unlock your freedom and join the laptop lifestyle? It's time to find work that ignites your...
Copyright © 2022 ExpertHub.info Revenue Growth Experts
Login to your account below
Remember Me
Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.
Tour operator business plan template, tips and tricks for a strong tour operator business plan.
Wondering how to turn your tour operator idea into a real business? The first step to launching a startup and getting investors onboard is to develop a formal proposal called a business plan . Whether you want to start a travel agency, a walking tour company, or an adventure travel business, you will use a business plan to communicate exactly how you plan to make your idea come to life.
Creating a tourism business plan might sound daunting; in this article, we’ll show you how to do one and offer lots of advice for first-time founders. You’ll be able to use this article as a tour operator business plan template to write your own sample business plan (as an exercise) or to create the real thing.
To more clearly illustrate how to create a tour operator business plan, we’ll use a sample business as we go through each section. Our sample business is a small tour operator startup that specializes in ecotourism in Thailand.
Before you start to create your official business plan, it can be helpful to think through several aspects of your business so that you are fully prepared to address each topic in the business plan template. One excellent preparation exercise is to complete a Business Model Canvas for your company.
The Business Model Canvas encourages you to think critically about your customers, cost structure, revenue streams, marketing strategy, and more. It’s the perfect warm-up for your business plan because you’ll incorporate your Business Model Canvas notes into the actual business plan document. We recommend that you do this exercise with your co-founders, if you have any, and with a whiteboard – you’ll probably make lots of changes as you go!
You can find a printable Business Model Canvas template here .
Your tour operator business plan should contain at least seven sections: an executive summary, a company overview, a description of your services, an analysis of your market, an implementation plan, a team summary, and a financial plan. You might have one or more appendices at the end, if you have additional relevant information to include. The finished product should be formatted nicely and incorporate your company’s logo and branding.
As the first component of your business plan, the executive summary is arguably the most important section. If you’re pitching your idea to investors, they’re likely very busy people, so you want to grab their attention from the beginning. The executive summary should contain a concise outline of your tour operator company’s objectives and goals, your mission and/or vision statements , your key success factors, and a clear description of your value proposition.
Think of this section as what you would post on the “About” section of your tour operator company’s website. The company overview should explain who your company’s key leaders are, how and when the business started, what the ownership structure looks like (if you have investors, for example), where your office is located, and an outline of your current assets and debts. If you’re in the early stages of your business, this section might be quite short.
The operations plan is where you describe exactly what your company will offer. What kinds of tours will you sell? Where exactly will you operate? This is the type of information you would list on your website for potential customers or guests to read – but without too much of a sales pitch.
In this section, it can also be helpful to include a description of the full “ life cycle ” of your business. What happens before, during, and after a tour? What steps does the guest complete, and what happens behind the scenes at your company’s office?
Thinking about our Thai ecotourism company, we might illustrate how someone could book a tour perhaps six months in advance on our website. Between booking and arrival, we coordinate accommodation, meals, and transportation with partner providers. When the tour concludes, we offer transportation back to the airport and follow up with a special offer to book another tour with us at a discount.
This section explores your specific niche within the tourism industry and the geographic location(s) where you plan to operate. Who are your target clients or guests? Who are your main competitors? What trends exist in this facet of the industry? Is the amount of visitors to your location increasing or decreasing?
Try to include statistics from reputable sources whenever you can. Destination marketing organizations, tourism bureaus, and air traffic data, just to name a few, can provide valuable insight and add credibility. This section should leave no stone unturned so that your reader can truly understand your market conditions.
In our ecotourism business in Thailand, for example, we would include information about travel trends in Thailand (like the most popular feeder markets), new air routes, economic trends, the number of new hotels being built, etc. We would also explore the ecotourism market; are more people choosing eco-friendly travel options today compared to five years ago? What companies are the current ecotourism market leaders globally and in Thailand?
Now that you’ve explained your business idea and described the market in which you plan to operate, it’s time to outline exactly how you will bring your tour operator business to life. This section should include a SWOT analysis , details about your marketing and pricing strategies, and a sales projection.
In the SWOT analysis , you will explore your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. What does your company offer that nobody else in the market does? What are some potential challenges that you will need to face? Using our ecotourism company example, a threat could be natural disasters – if there are floods or mudslides, our business cannot operate. On the other hand, an opportunity is that more people are interested in eco-friendly travel options.
Your marketing and pricing strategies should be very specific. How will customers find your company? Which online channels will you use? Will you work through travel agents or directly with your customers?
Your pricing strategy should include the exact rates you plan to charge for at least a year in advance. For example, our ecotourism company in Thailand might charge $699 for a package during low season, $899 during high season, and $999 over holiday periods, with rates increasing 5% each year.
We might also offer a 10% discount for advance purchase bookings made at least 6 months in advance and charge a 50% cancellation fee for any reservations cancelled within 3 months of the tour departure date. Based on your pricing strategy, you can create a sales projection that will estimate your company’s sales performance, preferably over the next three years.
After your reader understands what your tour operator business will do, they’ll wonder who is going to make it happen. And if you’re planning to launch a full-fledged tour operator business, you’re probably not going at it alone. The Team Summary section should include a thorough plan for your company’s organizational structure, key leaders, employees, and training processes.
Do you already have a management team in place, or will you need to hire additional leaders? How many employees will you need, and how much will you pay them? And how will you train and develop your employees? The Team Summary should answer all of these questions and provide enough information for potential investors to understand exactly how you plan to staff your business, pay your employees, and ensure all team members are trained properly.
The financial plan is extremely important to potential investors because they will want to maximize the return on their investment. Your financial plan is essentially a projection of your revenue streams and cost structure for your company’s first five or so years of operation. It will include not only revenue from ticket sales and costs from employee salaries, but also details like tour-operator software costs, insurance, taxes, marketing spend, depreciation of assets, interest on loans, and more.
If you don’t have a finance background yourself, it may be helpful to seek assistance from an accountant or someone who knows the ins and outs of financial modeling.
In an appendix, you can include supporting information or statistics that may be helpful for potential investors, but not essential to your business plan. For instance, you could include a full report on air traffic trends that you used in your Market Analysis section.
Writing a business plan is certainly not an easy task. It’s time consuming and requires a lot of thought, but a well written business plan can lead to significant growth for your company. As you complete your business plan, keep these pieces of advice in mind:
Now that you have all the tools to create a great tour operator business plan, it’s time to get to work!
Yay you are now subscribed to our newsletter.
Adrienne Fors is the founder of Strategic Stays, a consultancy specializing in tech solutions and copywriting for short-term rental businesses and boutique hotels. She was previously a Market Manager at Expedia, and she graduated from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. Adrienne is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and enjoys traveling and playing tennis.
Mize is the leading hotel booking optimization solution in the world. With over 170 partners using our fintech products, Mize creates new extra profit for the hotel booking industry using its fully automated proprietary technology and has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue across its suite of products for its partners. Mize was founded in 2016 with its headquarters in Tel Aviv and offices worldwide.
6 min. Whether you are thinking of moving into the travel industry or you already own a business in this sector, the concept of travel agency management groups is a task worthy of analysis and study. Defining an effective business model for your retail travel agency is one of the key factors in optimizing sales […]
12 min. Managing and operating modern businesses often encompasses corporate travel. However, managing business travel is complex, especially with limited experience and resources. You must ensure that everything goes smoothly for the travelers while staying on top of the logistics and expenses. That’s why many organizations decide to outsource their travel management to a dependable […]
11 min. While travel agencies have to overcome many challenges to remain competitive, there is one challenge in particular that all agencies need to overcome despite their size or target market. They need to excel as intermediaries between tour operators or travel product suppliers and consumers or travelers. The real question is, how do they […]
Are you researching how to start a tourism business?
Since COVID, there are considerations that didn’t exist previously for travel businesses looking to enter the market. For example, you will have to put careful thought into how you approach safety, insurance, branding, and marketing for your company.
To take some of the unknown out of the process, we have gathered some helpful insights for you. As with any start-up, there are many moving parts to bring together before you reach the point of lift-off.
Overall, you need to have a clear strategy, a good business idea, and be willing to put in the work.
1. formulate a plan for your business.
First, you need to develop a clear business plan .
Before setting the entity up, you’ll need a concise vision and understanding of what the business will look like and the direction it is going in. Here are some important aspects to cover:
Why will people sign-up with your company? What makes you great and stands you out from the competition? Is there something that you are going to do differently that travelers should know about?
Consider the answers to these questions and proudly claim them in your marketing materials to attract your ideal customers.
You have a passion that is driving you to start a travel business.
It's this passion that is going to shine through and attract your ideal clients. Walk in knowing precisely who these clients are and what drives them to you, in particular.
From there, you can work on creating marketing messaging to reach them and draw them to your company.
As we emerge from the pandemic, safety while traveling will be top of mind for your clients.
Reconnection is going to be another aspect that travelers will be chasing. After months apart, there is lost time with family and friends to make up for.
When designing your tours, keep these two factors top of mind. Travelers will want reassurance that they can travel with peace of mind while having a great experience with their loved ones. As a travel company or tour operator, they will be looking to your expertise to guide them through the unknown terrain of traveling post-COVID.
It’s essential to figure out the small print around how you will operate day-to-day.
Establish things like your operating hours, who you need to appoint to your team, and where you will work from. Also, consider your asset and equipment requirements and when and how you plan to go to market.
Naturally, you want your operation to be viable so that you can make a living off doing what you love. To get an idea of where you will be money-wise, you need to draw up a financial plan.
Work out exactly what your business costs will be. Keep in mind that you might have start-up and day-to-day running expenses, as well as costs related to suppliers and vendors once you're operating.
With this information, you can establish how much you need to charge clients for your service or offering.
Take a minute to check whether this is relative to what your competitors charge and suited to the market you are targeting?
As you will likely have start-up costs initially, you may not make a profit right away. See if you can put a number on how many tours or how much revenue it will take to get you to this point. Make a note of this and allow a little wiggle room for the unexpected.
The next big step in how to start a tourism business is to set up your operation to trade legally.
First, you need to pin down a name and register your company.
Some of the different legal business structures include sole proprietors, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLC), and corporations. Select a suitable one based on your expected annual turnover, whether you are operating alone or with a partner, and whether you wish to carry liability personally.
Open up a dedicated company bank account so that you can keep your personal and business finances separate.
The next step is to register your business for state and federal tax.
The type of taxes and date you’re liable to pay will depend on what legal entity you operate as. Business tax returns can get pretty complicated. So, it’s a good idea to appoint a professional tax practitioner who can ensure that you are registered correctly and prepare your returns.
All companies face unknown risks. To operate legally, lawfully, and safely, you need to get liability insurance at a minimum. This will protect you in the case a guest or employee has an accident.
Other insurance types to look into include Workman’s Compensation, Accounts Receivable, Property, and Errors and Omissions insurance.
Depending on what kind of company you are starting, you may need local permits or licenses to operate, for example, a tour operator license.
Check in with your local tourism body or nearest government office to see what the requirements are.
Note that these can differ from state to state, so if you work in a state other than the one you are registered in, you may need to factor this into the equation too.
When researching how to start a tourism business, you’ll hear how critical it is to establish a brand image. It should represent who you are and speak to your audience.
On top of that, you need a clear marketing strategy to grow your customer base and get your brand online. Some of the first things to focus on are to:
From there, it helps to know how to really sell your tours . Also, take a look at how your competitors market and sell their products. You can use the information to do even better.
Before you launch your business, be fully prepared with everything you need on the ground and to make things happen behind the scenes.
We’ve just mentioned some of the most important digital and technological considerations, including having a website, payment platform, social media accounts, and more.
Of course, you need computers, phones, and to furnish an office. You’ll need software and apps, like social media management or remote working tools.
You might also require equipment to host your tours or carry out your service, such as vehicles, radios, bicycles, and so on.
The last thing here is to hire a top-notch team. The people who work for you make or break your client experience, so choose them wisely.
Finally, put your accounting systems in place. Keeping track of finances is vital to your business’s success, so having a formal process from the get-go is a must.
From your research on how to start a tourism business, you'll know that it's no easy feat. But, after running through the points above, you’re now ready to launch and set up for success. Congratulations and good luck; let the real work begin.
Are you interested in finding out more about WeTravel’s booking and payment platform for your business? Watch the short clip below, or get in touch with us for a demo .
We’re committed to your privacy. WeTravel uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Top 10 features the best tour booking systems should have, easiest ways to accept online payments for your mba trip, unlocking seamless travel payment solutions: a comprehensive guide and common mistakes to avoid.
Choose your Tourism business plan template from the list below:
At Business and Plans, we offer a wide range of Tourism business plan templates to cater to your specific needs. Whether you are starting a Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, or Travel Agency, we’ve got you covered. Our professionally designed templates will save you time and ensure your business is set up for success. Browse through our selection below and choose the perfect template to kickstart your journey in the booming tourism industry.
Unlock the Potential of Your Hospitality Venture with Our Expertly Crafted Tourism Business Plan Templates.
Are you ready to elevate your hotel, bed and breakfast, or travel agency to new heights of success? At Business & Plans, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that the tourism industry presents. That’s why we’ve curated a collection of comprehensive and professionally designed tourism business plan templates to guide you on your journey to prosperity.
1. strategic roadmap:.
Our meticulously crafted templates serve as your strategic roadmap, helping you navigate the competitive landscape of the tourism industry. Whether you’re starting a new venture or looking to revitalize your existing business, a solid business plan is your foundation for success.
Attracting investors is a key step in expanding your tourism business. A well-structured business plan not only demonstrates your commitment but also instills confidence in potential investors. Showcase your vision, market analysis, and financial projections with our templates to secure the support you need.
Efficient operations are crucial in the tourism sector. Our business plan templates guide you through operational strategies, from optimizing booking processes to enhancing customer service, ensuring that your business runs smoothly and exceeds customer expectations.
Invest in the success of your tourism business today! Browse our collection of business plan templates and take the first step toward achieving your business goals. At Business & Plans, we’re committed to your success in the dynamic world of tourism.
Read Time: 5 Minutes
Posted: 06 Mar 2019
06 Mar 2019
Updated: 15th May 2023
If you’re planning on setting up a tourism business, you’ll definitely want to start with an airtight business plan . Here's everything you need to know about creating a business plan to start a travel company.
Your business plan is a document that sets out your business objectives and how you are going to achieve them.
When starting a travel or tour company, goals could include reaching new markets in different countries, making the booking experience easier or other gaps in the market. Crucially, you'll need to think about why you're starting this business.
Business plans are important for every kind of business. A successful business needs goals and to know the ways of reaching these goals. Without this important tool, it would be difficult to grow your business.
To succeed in the travel and tourism industry, you'll be providing customer service that could make or break someone's trip. From travel agencies to sightseeing tours, having a plan in place is necessary to succeed in this field.
Here's what we recommend including in your tourism business plan.
Company summary.
Financial forecast, funding and costs.
Setting up a tourism business is no mean feat; we hope these tips give you a strong foundation for your new travel and tourism business. There are also plenty of free templates to suit all kinds of travel, tourism and hospitality companies that are easy to fill in with the help of this blog. Ready to start creating your business plan? Start here with how to determine your business model .
If you need any additional advice, our friendly team are on hand to help with every step of the way. Simply contact us here and we’ll do the rest.
Related posts.
Iso certified.
Bluetree Print Limited T/A has been certified to ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015 for the following scope:
ISO 9001:2015: The production and supply of digitally, lithographically and nanographically printed products on paper, board and plastic substrates at the Manvers sites.
ISO 14001:2015: The production and supply of digitally, lithographically and nanographically printed products on paper, board and plastic substrates at the Manvers sites.
Certification is subject to periodic surveillance and re-assessment. For further information regarding the validity of the certification please Contact us for Certification Help. Call our helpful team today!
· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.
Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.
The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.
This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.
1. explore the red square.
The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.
The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.
The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.
Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.
For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .
St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.
St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church
The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.
Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.
There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.
The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.
As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.
The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.
The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.
GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.
While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.
While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.
It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.
Flying to moscow.
Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.
Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.
I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.
Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in my post about finding cheap flights that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.
READ OUR CHEAT SHEET
Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.
Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.
If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.
METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES
Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.
The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.
Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.
But wait; there’s more!
The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.
Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.
The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.
In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.
Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!
I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.
Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.
If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.
There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.
We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.
If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.
The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.
While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.
In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.
Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.
To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.
If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.
Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.
Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.
While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.
That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.
Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!
Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
March 10, 2024
March 1, 2024
February 20, 2024
February 12, 2024
February 3, 2024
Already have Rappler+? Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism.
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Marian Hukom/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Taylor Swift’s “The Eras” concert craze led to hundreds of thousands of people flying to Singapore. But rather than being an exception, the pop superstar might have just kickstarted concert tourism as a hot travel trend.
“The trend about bundling hotels rooms with concert tickets or with activities is also something that’s really amazing,” said Trip.com vice president of international markets Boon Sian Chai.
Data from travel app Trip.com showed that the total volume of Singapore-related bookings surged by 275% in the week of Taylor Swift’s Singapore concert (March 1 to 9) compared to the same period two weeks later (March 15 to 23).
In particular, inbound flight bookings to Singapore rose by 186%, and bookings for accommodations shot up by 462%. Trip.com also reported that attractions and tour bookings jumped by 2,373%. The figures suggest concert tourism does more than just promote a particular show; it also stimulates other tourism-related activities across the board.
The travel platform also noticed that in terms of demographics, those making Singapore bookings during the week of Taylor’s concert were younger on average. Almost half (48%) of users who used Trip.com for Singapore bookings during that time were in the 21 to 30 years of age range. In the two weeks after, users aged 21 to 30 years old only made up about a quarter (24%) of bookings.
Klook, another travel app, also recently said that Filipinos were the top buyers of a hotel and ticket bundle that they offered for Taylor Swift’s Singapore concert, accounting for up to 15% of all ticket bundles sold globally. (READ: Filipinos were ready for it: PH top buyer of Taylor Swift tour tickets in Klook )
Even digital bank GoTyme noticed an unusual uptick in their transactions – a 350% spike in their overseas card transactions in March, to be precise. And it was all because of Taylor Swift.
“We were like, ‘What is going on? It’s so much!’ Singapore went from 500 swipes a day to 5,000 swipes a day during the Taylor Swift week,” GoTyme president and chief executive officer Nate Clarke told Rappler.
And though some might dub this the “Taylor Swift effect,” this isn’t unique to just the American pop star.
Something similar happened to IU, one of South Korea’s most popular singers. Trip.com, which served as the priority presale platform for the Hong Kong stop of the “H.E.R. World Tour,” noted that the “thousands” of tickets for IU’s concert sold out in 30 seconds.
“The moment we start selling, it just sells like hotcakes,” Chai said.
The travel app plans to ride on this worldwide trend, as the Trip.com executive said he expects a similar level of demand for the Singapore IU concert tickets that it will sell. Concert tourism, he said, will be something that their company expands internationally since it was”quite common across multiple races,” although Trip.com has yet to offer concert and hotel bundles in the Philippines.
“Music festivals and concerts is going to be something that is going to be up and coming, and it’s very attractive for youngsters,” Chai said. – Rappler.com
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines .
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.
How does this make you feel?
Recommended stories, {{ item.sitename }}, {{ item.title }}, ticket prices, seat plan: bruno major in manila.
Want to go to boracay or iloilo go to antipolo and hop on a p2p bus..
Checking your Rappler+ subscription...
Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access.
Why is it important to subscribe? Learn more
You are subscribed to Rappler+
©Dmitry Vinogradov/500px
During any season, at any hour of the day, Moscow thrills visitors with its artistry, history and majesty.
Must-see attractions.
The Armoury dates to 1511, when it was founded under Vasily III to manufacture and store weapons, imperial arms and regalia for the royal court. Later it…
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Arbat & Khamovniki
This is Moscow’s premier foreign-art museum, split over three branches and showing off a broad selection of European works, including masterpieces from…
St Basil's Cathedral
At the southern end of Red Square stands the icon of Russia: St Basil’s Cathedral. This crazy confusion of colours, patterns and shapes is the culmination…
Moscow Kremlin
The apex of Russian political power and once the centre of the Orthodox Church, the Kremlin is the kernel of not only Moscow, but of the whole country…
Lenin's Mausoleum
Although Vladimir Ilych requested that he be buried beside his mum in St Petersburg, he still lies in state at the foot of the Kremlin wall, receiving…
Zamoskvorechie
Moscow's main city escape isn't your conventional expanse of nature preserved inside an urban jungle. It's not a fun fair either, though it used to be one…
Immediately outside the Kremlin’s northeastern wall is the celebrated Red Square, the 400m-by-150m area of cobblestones that is at the very heart of…
State Tretyakov Gallery Main Branch
The exotic boyar (high-ranking noble) castle on a little lane in Zamoskvorechie contains the main branch of the State Tretyakov Gallery, housing the world…
Public Transport
Apr 3, 2020 • 2 min read
You can check out the history and beauty of Moscow Metro's Soviet and modern Russian architecture online.
Mar 31, 2020 • 2 min read
Mar 5, 2020 • 2 min read
Feb 11, 2020 • 5 min read
Jan 23, 2020 • 5 min read
Dec 11, 2019 • 2 min read
Oct 28, 2019 • 5 min read
Sep 25, 2019 • 7 min read
Sep 24, 2019 • 1 min read
Sep 17, 2019 • 5 min read
in partnership with getyourguide
Purchase our award-winning guidebooks.
Get to the heart of Moscow with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
© 2023 - Businessday NG. All Rights Reserved.
Business + Leisure Travel and MICE 2023 opened on 29 th of September with a keynote speech from the Chairman of The Moscow City Tourism Committee, Evgeny Kozlov. In his speech, the Chairman spoke about the potential for MICE and business tourism in Moscow and the growing number of Indian businessmen who are choosing Moscow as their preferred destination for business events.
Evgeny Kozlov highlighted that the number of business tourists is expected to grow in the coming years. One of the factors supporting the growth of interest from Indian businessmen was the launch of electronic visa program. From August 1, 2023, it has become easier for Indian citizens to organize a trip to Moscow – they can come simply by applying for an electronic visa. The validity period of an e-visa is 60 days from the date of its issuance. You can stay with it in Russia for 16 days. An e-visa has several advantages over a traditional visa. To obtain it, you do not need to go to consulates or embassies, and the only documents required are a digital photograph of your face and a scan of the page with your passport data.
“Before the pandemic, the tourist flow from India grew by 12-15 percent annually. Now we are on the road to recovery – all the conditions have been created for this. Every year hundreds of international exhibitions, forums, congresses and conferences are held in Moscow. Over the past year, about 3.5 million people visited the capital for business purposes and a significant share of them are from India” – he said.
Evgeny Kozlov emphasized that Moscow is a growing hub for international business events and Indian businessmen could benefit from attending these events to expand their network and explore potential business opportunities. The Moscow MICE Ambassadors program, which also premiered at the exhibition, aims to promote Moscow as a preferred destination for business tourism, and Indian businessmen who have completed the program can serve as valuable resources for organizing conferences and events in Moscow. Furthermore, Moscow offers a range of world-class facilities and services for business travelers, including conference centers, hotels, transportation, and sightseeing. He also mentioned that Moscow’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant nightlife could provide Indian businessmen with unique experiences that could enhance their overall business trip.
In conclusion, Evgeny Kozlov expressed his optimism for the future of MICE and business tourism in Moscow. Thus, in October 2023, Moscow will host the largest MICE Congress in Russia. Among the participants are 14 countries, including Indians. The event will provide a platform for businesses in the travel and tourism industry to showcase their products and services.
...there are many ways you can work with us to advertise your company and connect to your customers. Our team can help you design and create an advertising campaign
We can also organize a real life or digital event for you and find thought leader speakers as well as industry leaders, who could be your potential partners, to join the event. We also run some awards programmes which give you an opportunity to be recognized for your achievements during the year and you can join this as a participant or a sponsor.
Let us help you drive your business forward with a good partnership!
Yes, contact me I want to download the media kit
Comments are closed.
Samar Province, DOT tout 3 new tourism circuits
Sustainable pathways with the ‘JW Garden’ at JW Marriott Khao Lak, Thailand
Bob W unveils Tallinn's newest gem: A tech-infused oasis in Arter Quarter
Escape the Everyday with WeRoad's Unbeatable Bank Holiday Deals
Welcome, Login to your account.
Sign in with Google
Powered by wp-glogin.com
Recover your password.
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Welcome back, Log in to your account.
SIGN UP FOR FREE
Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world.
Wednesday, 01 May 2024
Asia-pacific business leaders must rally for robust global trade, says brunei top official, semiconductor plan timely for malaysia to secure position at global supply chain’s forefront.
A junior suite at the Fifth Avenue Hotel New York City. — The Fifth Avenue Hotel
When is a hotel more than a place to sleep? When it’s in a building with a storied past, allowing guests to go back in time to the Gilded Age or Edwardian era as easily as they go to the gym or spa.
Nowadays, you can check into a 17th-century former soap factory on the French Riviera, or part of the Old War Office in London, or a Renaissance-palazzo-style building that was once a bank in New York.
Here are five new hotels in historic spaces where you can experience the past and present, delighting in the architecture of vanished days even as you indulge in the latest luxuries.
Location: Theoule-sur-Mer, France
This seaside respite on the Cote d’Azur was once a 17th-century soap factory yet looks like a castle thanks to a Scottish lord who, in the early 1900s, added turrets and crenelated ramparts. Near the Massif de l’Estérel mountain range, the property opened recently with 44 rooms and suites, some in the castle and others in villas. All have an airy feel, thanks to linen curtains, rattan light fixtures, hardwood floors and views of the Bay of Cannes.
While the building begs to be explored, soft sand and sunshine are the order of the day – and the hotel has its own beach, La Plage Blanche, with 90 sun beds.
Chateau de Theoule is about 20 minutes from Cannes, though if you get hungry there’s no need to leave the sand. A beach restaurant and lounge has cocktails – like the Strambery Fields (elderberry-infused gin, vanilla syrup, strawberry purée, tonic and egg white) – and menu items that include salads, pissaladiere (think focaccia with confit onions, anchovies and black olives), and grilled octopus with citrus fennel and chimichurri.
If you can bear to leave your lounge chair, explore the area’s hiking trails, swim in the pool, or visit the hotel spa for a massage or body treatment.
As evening descends, head to Mareluna on the terrace of the castle overlooking the bay for Mediterranean food and wine with dishes like cuttlefish tagliatelle with avocado and smoked herring eggs. The hotel will close for the season in mid-November.
Location: London, England
The former workplace of government and military officials, including Winston Churchill, the Old War Office (known as the New War Office when it was built in the early 1900s) has long been a place of intrigue. Fans of James Bond may recognise its Edwardian baroque-style exterior from some of the films, and indeed Ian Fleming, the creator of Bond and a former naval intelligence officer, is said to have visited the building.
It’s now open to the public for the first time, with part of it reborn as the 120-room-and-suite Raffles London At The OWO, the first Raffles Hotels & Resorts property in Britain.
Inside the grand space, some of the offices of political and military leaders have become suites, including one named for Churchill. There are also corner suites that take their names from female spies and other women linked to the property’s history, including Viscountess Astor, the first woman to sit in the House of Commons, and World War II operatives such as Vera May Atkins, a spy who recruited British secret agents.
The hotel’s interior design is by Thierry Despont, the French architect and designer known for his work on the Ritz Paris and the centennial restoration of the Statue Of Liberty. Despont passed away last year.
Strategic planning taking place nowadays involves when to book an appointment at the hotel’s spa, which spans four floors. Historic spaces have new purposes, like a former library that’s been transformed into a restaurant, Saison by Mauro Colagreco, with Mediterranean dishes from the chef, perhaps best known for his Michelin-starred restaurant, Mirazur, in France.
At Mauro Colagreco, another of the chef’s restaurants at the hotel, tasting menus highlight seasonal British fruits and vegetables.
Visit the Drawing Room, a wood-panelled lounge with a Steinway piano, for afternoon tea or something stronger, which you can sip while overlooking the Horse Guards at Buckingham Palace. Or slip off for a drink in rooms formerly used by MI5 at the underground Spy Bar.
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Once one of Latin America’s tallest buildings, the Edificio Mihanovich – commissioned in the 1920s by Nicolas Mihanovich, a shipping businessperson – is now home to this new 142-room-and-suite hotel. Inspired by the shape of a lighthouse, the building was among the first things sailors could see when coming into port, according to Casa Lucia, and Mihanovich wanted it to be tall enough so that he could see his own ships.
These days, guests can benefit from his ambitions with bird’s-eye views from some of the soft-hued contemporary rooms and suites. Many have balconies with outdoor showers and spots overlooking Buenos Aires and the Rio de la Plata.
In addition to being near the river, you’re in the midst of all that the chic Recoleta neighbourhood has to offer: French-inspired architecture, boutiques, galleries and tourist destinations such as the Recoleta Cemetery, where you can visit the tomb of Argentina’s former first lady, Eva Perón.
Back at the hotel, savour Argentine cuisine and, of course, wine at Cantina Restaurant, then go next door to Le Club Bacan, a moody cocktail bar with a large selection of Argentine wines. Later this spring, you should be able to drop by the completed fitness centre or the spa, which will have a heated pool.
Location: New York City, United States
Located in a building that’s more than a century old, as well as a new 24-storey glass space called the Tower, this 153-room-and-suite hotel in Manhattan’s NoMad neighbourhood harks back to the Gilded Age, when it was a home and carriage house.
In the early 1900s the building was sold, eventually becoming the Second National Bank, a five-story Renaissance-palazzo-style structure designed by McKim, Mead & White, the architectural firm behind New York’s original Pennsylvania Station and the Brooklyn Museum.
Step inside today and you’ll see a shimmering lobby with chandeliers, walls panelled in antique mirrors, marble flooring and cabinets replete with curiosities. The interior design by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio is at once playful and sumptuous, featuring tapestries and walls saturated with colours and patterns.
The guest rooms mix old and new with antiques, Murano glass chandeliers and wardrobes inspired by traditional Chinese cabinets.
Going out to eat in New York is a must. But chef Andrew Carmellini, a James Beard Award winner known for restaurants like A Voce, Café Boulud and Locanda Verde, tempts guests to stay in. The hotel’s Café Carmellini is his take on modern Italian and French cooking, with a menu that includes dishes like black bass forestière and cannelloni of lobster and golden osetra.
Afterward, drop by the art-filled, wood-panelled Portrait Bar, with an atmosphere inspired by Italian villas, for a drink by a fireplace.
Location: South Carolina, US
The 25 rooms, suites and residences in this stylish boutique hotel are spread across three buildings in downtown Charleston, South Carolina in the US, including two from the Victorian era.
And they are ideal if you want the amenities of a hotel and the flexibility of a vacation rental. All rooms have full kitchens, as well as washers and dryers. Some have French doors leading to private balconies and terraces.
You’ll hardly want to hole up in your room, though. An outdoor terrace off the main lobby has a fireplace that invites you to pause after exploring the neighbourhood’s romantic streets dotted with gas lamps, historic architecture, boutiques and restaurants.
Alternatively, wander over to the hotel’s Lequeux-Williams House, a Greek Revival-style building that the hotel says dates to 1834. Formerly a private residence, it has been repurposed into restaurants overseen by chef Jason Stanhope, winner of a James Beard Award for Charleston’s popular Fig restaurant. They include the Quinte, an oyster bar and cocktail spot (you can order seafood towers, soups, sandwiches and ice cream, too), named for a 1918 billiards hall that was in the same location.
Or try Lowland, a tavern with inviting dining spaces spread over two floors, including an outdoor dining area on cobblestone that’s hundreds of years old. Wherever you sit, you can tuck into comfort food like a biscuit with farmer cheese and pepper jelly, or a burger and fries. – The New York Times
► This article originally appeared in The New York Times .
Related stories:
Tags / Keywords: Historical Buildings , Hotels , architecture , hotels , holiday , tourism , sleep tourism , trends , luxury hotels
Report it to us.
Thank you for your report!
Next in travel.
Air pollutant index, highest api readings, select state and location to view the latest api reading.
Source: Department of Environment, Malaysia
Best viewed on Chrome browsers.
We would love to keep you posted on the latest promotion. Kindly fill the form below
We hope you enjoy this feature!
Now the new cabinet line-up has been settled, tourism operators are calling for greater unity between each ministry and related authorities to continue with the plan of making Thailand a tourism and aviation hub.
Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Association, said the cabinet reshuffle would not disrupt the government's stability, as long as its flagship policies continue, particularly the the 2030 Ignite Thailand vision, which aims to elevate the status of Thailand in the fields of tourism and aviation.
Under the cabinet reshuffle, the culture minister and tourism minister will switch roles. Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich will become the tourism minister, replacing Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, who will take over from Mr Sermsak at the Culture Ministry. Mr Sanga said that while Mr Sermsak is not recognised for having experience in the tourism industry, his previous experience as a minister in several other ministries ought to be useful in his new role.
However, Mr Sanga said the new minister should recruit tourism experts as his consultants and as members of his working team.
In response to the sudden resignation of Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara from the role of foreign minister, Mr Sanga said Mr Parnpree had set a high standard for significant policies, such as the permanent visa exemption scheme between Thailand and China, and extending the period of the visa-free stay for Russian tourists.
"The new foreign minister is expected to work harder for unfinished missions, such as discussing visa-free entry for Thais with European nations, and pushing for seamless tourism in Southeast Asia by positioning Thailand as a hub," said Mr Sanga.
To strengthen small and medium-sized tourism operators - the largest revenue contributors for the tourism industry - Mr Sanga said the new Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira should work more coherently with the Bank of Thailand to solve certain ongoing issues, such as a reduction in interest rates.
He suggested the finance minister would regain public confidence by settling all disputes with internal agencies, instead of openly criticising others when they had different viewpoints.
Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, president of the Association of Chonburi Tourism Federation, said all ministries should work more collaboratively to boost Thailand's economy and tourism industry, especially between the transport, tourism and foreign ministries.
For example, now that Pattaya and Chonburi can help increase carrying capacity by utilising U-tapao Airport, these ministries should work together to beef up the number of flights and increase tourism demand, said Mr Thanet.
He said the government should attract airlines that offer potential by providing incentives such as discounts on landing fees, parking fees or fuel surcharges, and by preparing transport from airports to the city centres.
Looking at the government's eight months in power, he said, overall, tourism operators have already benefited from the visa exemption schemes with many countries.
However, in terms of long-term policies, including soft power, they have yet to provide a fruitful outcome.
The government should upgrade tourist safety along with convenient travel between destinations, not just delay construction as seen with Rama II Road, which has been an obstacle for tourism in Hua Hin and Cha-am, said Mr Thanet.
As April rolls into May, we take a look at the key money dates to add to your calendar this month - including Spotify price changes and an energy price cap announcement. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.
Wednesday 1 May 2024 10:36, UK
Are you struggling because of high interest rates? Sky News is keen to hear from people who are due to refix their mortgages this year or are on a variable rate or tracker mortgage or trying to get on the housing ladder.
Email us your stories at [email protected] - or WhatsApp us here .
As April rolls into May, let's take a look at the key money dates to add to your calendar this month.
A small note before we jump in - May is a month with a couple of bank holidays, so if any of your benefits payments would normally fall on those days, you'll get the money on the previous working day instead.
1 May - Prescription price change
The cost of your NHS prescription increases by 25p today - from £9.65 to £9.90.
Repeat prescription customers can apply for a prepayment certificate (PPC) which charges a fixed amount for a set period of prescriptions.
However, the cost of a one-year PCC will also rise to £114.50 from £111.60 - a rise of almost £3.
9 May - Interest rate decision
Next week, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will meet for its latest review of interest rates.
The MPC has decided to freeze the base rate at 5.25% over recent months.
While nothing is guaranteed, the BoE is widely expected among economists to hold the rate once again - thought to be waiting for inflation to get closer to the Bank's 2% target.
12 May - Free childcare applications open
From 12 May, eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old will be able to register for access to up to 15 free hours of government-funded childcare per week.
You won't be able to claim the hours until September.
Check if you're eligible here .
15 May - Subway loyalty points changes
Sandwich giant Subway has outlined a series of measures in its branches regarding its loyalty schemes.
Customers have until 14 May to use the current scheme before it changes to a new app-only loyalty scheme.
From 15 May, any points will expire and become unredeemable.
May 24 - Energy price cap announcement
Regulator Ofgem will announce the new energy price cap for the period 1 July to 30 September.
The current price cap (£1,690 a year) is expected by analysts at Cornwall Insights to fall by just over £100 to around £1,559 for the average household per year.
Spotify hikes
As we reported in the Money blog, Spotify will hike its prices by around £2 per month...
Depending on a customer's billing date, payment change to the higher rate will fall in either May or June.
Spotify has said it will email existing customers with one-month's notice of the increase.
By James Sillars , business reporter
A piece of good news to bring you: a welcome fall in oil costs.
A barrel of Brent crude started the week close to $88.
It is trading at $85 today after three days of declines – the latest in Asian trading today.
The major move lower, however, came yesterday afternoon.
Analysts credited increasing hopes of a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East and on rising US crude inventories and production.
It's been another positive start to the day for the FTSE 100 - rising 0.1% to 8.157 points in early deals.
The index has started higher each session this week but, in truth, it has struggled to make big inroads since last week's record closing high.
Banks and miners are leading the way.
Next, however, was among the fallers despite posting a strong rise in full price sales.
The first quarter increase of 5.7% was above market expectations but the retailer, usually renowned for keeping expectations low and over-delivering, maintained its guidance for annual sales and profits.
Its shares were 1.2% lower.
Among the fallers in the wider market was Aston Martin Lagonda.
The luxury carmaker's stock was almost 9% down after posting bigger than expected quarterly losses.
EasyJet passengers were left scrambling to rebook flights after they were wrongly told their flights were cancelled "due to Israel".
The airline sent emails and text messages to holidaymakers informing them their flights would not be taking off on 28 April as planned - before scrambling to let them know, an hour later, that there had been a mistake.
Amid the confusion, travellers shared their frustration on social media, with one asking: "Is this a scam? EasyJet App is not showing cancellation and has allowed me to check in."
The airline has since released a statement confirming there was a technical error.
"EasyJet can confirm that unfortunately, on 28 April, some customers received an incorrect notification stating that their flight on 30 April was cancelled," a spokesperson told Sky News.
"This was due to a technical error and all customers were quickly sent updated messages with a confirmation their flight is operating as normal. We would like to apologise for this and any inconvenience caused."
Shifting expectations for UK interest rate cuts have contributed to a dip in house price growth, according to a closely watched measure.
Nationwide reported a 0.4% fall in average property costs last month compared with March, taking the annual rate of growth to 0.6% from 1.6%.
Economists polled by the Reuters news agency had expected month-on-month growth of 0.2%.
The lender's report said the easing reflected "ongoing affordability pressures, with longer term interest rates rising in recent months, reversing the steep fall seen around the turn of the year".
Read the full story here ...
Every Wednesday we get Michelin chefs, top bloggers or critics to pick their favourite Cheap Eats where they live and at home. This week we speak to one of the most renowned chefs in the UK, Galton Blackiston of the Michelin-starred Morston Hall in Norfolk.
He's gone the extra mile in his Cheap Eats at home - uploading a how-to video to Instagram.
Hi Galton, c an you tell us your favourite places in Norfolk where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?
Allium in Downham Market , a family run restaurant which involves mum, dad, Joe in kitchen and James front of house. Open Wednesday through to Sunday, it has a great vibe on a Saturday evening and great food.
Bure River Restaurant , a tiny restaurant on the broads in Horning cooking lovely fish dishes.
Final cheap place is the Parlour in Binham , where they have a great restaurant and you put money into an honesty box for their local cheese from the village and raw milk from their farm - a great place to visit in Norfolk.
What's your go-to cheap meal at home?
Toad in the hole with a baked potato and hispi cabbage and onion gravy.
A good tip I would say is to colour off the sausages in dripping then pour over the batter, which should be eight eggs, 250g plain flour, one pint of full fat milk, salt pepper and nutmeg. Whisk together and allow to sit for an hour til you use.
And this is how you do the hispi cabbage with cling film over the pan...
Flight prices often rocket in the summer, but it turns out particular dates can prove cheaper.
Research by Expedia has revealed the best dates to book your trips...
The cheapest times to fly
If you're flying domestic, the best dates for your wallet are 28 July, 19 August and 23 August.
Expedia also recommends booking your domestic flights for a Wednesday to save roughly 20%.
For those travelling internationally, the cheapest dates are 2 and 13 June, and 28 August.
When it comes to booking, you can save about 15% if you book for a Thursday versus at the weekend.
The quietest times to fly
If you care more about a quieter airport, the least busy dates for flying domestic are 10 June, and 11 and 19 July.
For international flights, the best dates are 4 June, and 27 and 30 August.
And the dates to avoid...
The most expensive domestic flights are on 30 June, and 8 and 16 July.
International flights are pricier on 22, 23 and 29 July.
Meanwhile, Expedia says 30 June and 24 July will be the busiest air travel days for domestic and international destinations.
Domestic flights are busiest on 30 June, and 8 and 16 July.
For international flights, 10, 21 and 24 June are the busiest.
The advertising watchdog has banned a Premier Inn ad for misleading claims about room prices.
A paid-for search ad for the hotel chain, seen on 4 November, had stated: "Premier Inn Edinburgh - rooms from only £35 per night."
It was referred to the advertising watchdog after a reader complained they couldn't find any rooms at the advertised price.
Whitbread Group, trading as Premier Inn, provided the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) with data showing there were a total of 377 rooms on offer for £35 in Edinburgh within the 365-day booking window.
But the ASA said customers would understand the ad to mean a significant proportion of rooms available would be £35.
Read the full story, including Premier Inn's response, here ...
Taxpayers will be forced to cover £85bn of losses made by the Bank of England on its quantitative easing programme, estimates suggest.
The £895bn bond-buying scheme was carried out between 2009 and 2021, and had aimed to support the UK during economic shocks - but it has been blamed by some for allowing inflation to take root.
Recent chancellors have agreed to indemnify the Bank against any losses on the scheme - meaning the taxpayer will be paying for them.
Greene King is moving from its 200-year-old brewery in Bury St Edmunds.
The pub chain will be opening a new £40m facility in a town that will produce more modern, fizzy craft beers alongside its traditional cask ales.
The majority of Greene King's brewing will be moved to the new site, as part of a wider shift away from traditional cask beers.
It will take about three years to complete.
Butlin's has launched legal action against its insurance company Aviva over who foots a £60m bill.
The holiday park operator's Minehead resort was forced to close in September 2023 because of flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
It has said the incident cost the business £60m and has filed a claim at the High Court against Aviva for not covering the entire bill.
In legal documents seen by The Telegraph , Butlins have questioned the definition of a "storm" and argued that a "named storm" had not been declared when the flooding happened.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
COMMENTS
P25,365. P20,958. P10,959. Cash at End of Period. P25,365. P46,323. P57,282. Download This Plan. Explore a real-world travel tour agency business plan example and download a free template with this information to start writing your own business plan.
The U.S. travel agency industry is valued at $48.5B with more than 90,600 businesses in operation and over 318,600 employees nationwide. Factors currently driving industry growth include an increase in domestic tourism and travel for overnight trips, vacations, and business purposes.
Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P's: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a travel agency business plan, your marketing plan should include the following: Product: in the product section you should reiterate the type of travel agency that you documented in your Company Analysis.
Step 1: Executive Summary. Start with an executive summary, which provides a snapshot of your business. It should include your business name, location, and a brief description of the services you offer. This section should also highlight your unique selling proposition - what sets your tourism business apart from the competition.
Even if you're creating your business plan for internal use only, conducting market analysis and research is an excellent way to gauge your position within your industry, identify areas of concern, and create an effective marketing strategy using the 7 Ps of Travel and Tourism Marketing. Things to consider in your market analysis include your ...
In addition, highlight any milestones you have accomplished, such as the number of clients served, positive reviews, new travel agency openings, etc. 4. Conduct an Industry and Market Analysis. An industry and market analysis section is one of the most important ones in your travel agent business plan.
1. Business overview. This section of your tour operator/ tour agency business plan provides a holistic snapshot of your company, offering readers a clear understanding of your business's identity. Ideally, it should include the following: Business Name: Your business name should resonate with your target audience, conveying the essence of ...
Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your tour guide business plan: Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data. Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible. Illustrate your points with charts and graphs. Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind. 4.
Travel Tour Agency Business Plan. 1. Executive Summary. The tourism industry has undergone rapid growth of unsurpassed nature over the last several decades. This has mainly been due to the advent of a 'borderless' world and increased information dissemination about the majestic sceneries throughout the world, with the southern African ...
Tour Operator Business Plan Template. Your tour operator business plan should contain at least seven sections: an executive summary, a company overview, a description of your services, an analysis of your market, an implementation plan, a team summary, and a financial plan. You might have one or more appendices at the end, if you have ...
Get access to Upmetrics software, invite your team members and start writing your business plan. 1. Get tried and tested tips. Upmetrics business plan builder gives you everything you need to stay in sync and guides you on every step of your business plan writing. 3. Stunning business plan cover pages.
How To Start A Tourism Business: Step-By-Step Instructions. 1. Formulate A Plan For Your Business. First, you need to develop a clear business plan. Before setting the entity up, you'll need a concise vision and understanding of what the business will look like and the direction it is going in. Here are some important aspects to cover:
At Business and Plans, we offer a wide range of Tourism business plan templates to cater to your specific needs. Whether you are starting a Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, or Travel Agency, we've got you covered. Our professionally designed templates will save you time and ensure your business is set up for success. Browse through our selection ...
The next section of your travel and tourism business plan involves outlining your market research. Here you need to identify: Market segmentation - the groups of people you want to target. Key market trends in the tourism sector. Market needs based on current statistics in the tourism industry.
3. Marvel at St. Basil's Cathedral. St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil's Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style.
Here you'll find everything you need to plan a trip to Russia's fascinating capital, from help booking hotels and airport transfers to detailed descriptions of the city's sights and cultural attractions. Whether you're coming to Moscow as a tourist or on business, we're confident you'll find our range of services indispensable.
Data from travel app Trip.com showed that the total volume of Singapore-related bookings surged by 275% in the week of Taylor Swift's Singapore concert (March 1 to 9) compared to the same period ...
Family Travel. Russia has opened its first large scale theme park and it's all indoors. Mar 5, 2020 • 2 min read. History. How to spend a perfect weekend in Moscow. Feb 11, 2020 • 5 min read. Articles. These are the world's best cities in 2020, according to a new report. Jan 23, 2020 • 5 min read.
In addition, the committee is expected to evaluate and update the Nigerian Tourism Development Master Plan to provide a strategic roadmap for the growth and development of the sector. The minister further highlighted the transformative potential of tourism, emphasizing its role in promoting economic growth, sustainable development, cultural ...
Business + Leisure Travel and MICE 2023 opened on 29 th of September with a keynote speech from the Chairman of The Moscow City Tourism Committee, Evgeny Kozlov. In his speech, the Chairman spoke ...
When is a hotel more than a place to sleep? When it's in a building with a storied past, allowing guests to go back in time to the Gilded Age or Edwardian era as easily as they go to the gym or spa.
Now the new cabinet line-up has been settled, tourism operators are calling for greater unity between each ministry and related authorities to continue with the plan of making Thailand a tourism ...
Meanwhile, Expedia says 30 June and 24 July will be the busiest air travel days for domestic and international destinations. Domestic flights are busiest on 30 June, and 8 and 16 July.
Currently, flights between Spain's capital of Madrid and the Moroccan city of Tangier, a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times, take an hour and a half.