Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Inbound Tour Operator
Inbound Tour Operator
The tour operators are the architect or manufacturer who assembles the tour
ingredients and creates travel and market by having satisfied clients who return year
after year. Tour operator is a company which specializes in planning and operation
of prepaid, pre-planned vacations and makes these available for tourist either
directly or through retail travel agency. The tour operator can be classified into:-
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Outbound tour operators arrange travel documents, transportation,
sightseeing and other services.
FUNCTIONS
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HISTORY OF ACE.IN TOURS AND TRAVELS
Ace.in tours and travels established in the year 2004 as a company in the
hospitality sector in the state of Kerala. The long term vision of the company is to
emerge as one of the top most travel companies in the country, that provide and
divides unique services to customers worldwide. The company’s mission is to extent
cost effective tour and travel packages with quality and class of service from time to
time. The company is intending to introduce the number of unique and innovative
ideas in the travel sector. It is managed and operated by a dedicated team,
experienced professionals with a strong commitment towards customer service. At
present, the company is headquartered in the city of Cochin, the commercial hub of
the state of Kerala. It has already established full-fledged infrastructure with
advanced computerized and modernized office set up to handle the customer needs
with pace and precision. Individual care and attention is upheld in every facet of its
service.
Since the travel agency has felt its need to protect itself and its clients against
the possibilities of commercial failure, either its own or a supplier’s and it has
advertised the fact that it is surety bounded, meaning in the case of failure, the
customers are guaranteed either and equivalent holiday to which they have lost or if
they prefer, a refund. The travel agency has received the following recognitions and
they are accredition from International Air Transport Association (IATA), Active
member of IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), recognition form Kerala
Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Kerala Travel Mart and the agency is
a specialist counselor on travel to Scotland.
Earlier the services provided by the agency are Domestic and International
Air ticket, Emigration Assistance, Visa Assistance, Package Tours, Car Rentals,
Hotel Reservation and Railway Ticketing. In addition to the above services, at
present they also provide services like Insurance Assistance, Processing of travel
related documents, Cruise holidays, Health holidays, House boat holidays, Event
management and Ayurvedic Therapy.
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DEPARTMENTS
1. COUNTER DEPARTMENT
2. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT
1. COUNTER DEPARTMENT :-
2) VISA ASSISTANCE: - A visa (from the Latin charta visa, lit. "paper that
has been seen") is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter or
leave the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an
immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a
document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the
applicant's passport (or passport-replacing document). Some countries do not
require a visa in some situations, such as a result of reciprocal treaty
arrangements. The country issuing the visa typically attaches various
conditions of stay, such as the territory covered by the visa, dates of validity,
period of stay, whether the visa is valid for more than one visit, etc.
Conditions of issue
Some examples of countries who apply reciprocity in their visa policy are:
A fee may be charged for issuing a visa; these are often also reciprocal, so if
country A charges country B's citizens US$50 for a visa, country B will often also
charge the same amount for country A's visitors. The fee charged may also be at the
discretion of each embassy. A similar reciprocity often applies to the duration of the
visa (the period in which one is permitted to request entry of the country) and the
amount of entries one can attempt with the visa. Expedited processing of the visa
application for some countries will generally incur additional charges.
Types of visa
Each country has a multitude of categories of visas and with various names.
The most common types and names of visas include:
By purpose:
Transit visa, for passing through the country to a destination outside that
country. Validity of transit visas are usually limited by short terms such as
several hours to 10 days depending on the size of the country and/or the
circumstances of a particular transit itinerary.
Airside transit visa, required by some countries for passing through
their airports even without going through passport control.
Short-stay visa, for short visits to the host country. Many countries
differentiate between different reasons for these visits, such as:
Private visa, for private visits by invitation of residents of the
country.
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Tourist visa, for a limited period of leisure travel, no business
activities allowed.
Visa for medical reasons, for undertaking diagnostics or a course of
treatment in the host country's hospitals.
Business visa, for engaging in commerce in the country. These visas
generally preclude permanent employment, for which a work visa
would be required.
Working holiday visa, for individuals traveling between nations
offering a working holiday program, allowing young people to
undertake temporary work while traveling.
Long-stay visa, valid for longer but still finite stays:
Student visa, which allows its holder to study at an institution of
higher learning in the issuing country.
Temporary worker visa, for approved employment in the host
country. These are generally more difficult to obtain but valid for
longer periods of time than a business visa. Examples of these are the
United States' H-1B and L-1 visas. Depending on a particular
country, the status of temporary worker may or may not evolve into
the status of permanent resident or to naturalization.
Journalist visa, which some countries require of people in
that occupation when traveling for their respective news
organizations. Countries which insist on this
include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United
States (I-visa) and Zimbabwe.
Residence visa, granted to people obtaining long-term residence in
the host country. In some countries, long-term residence is a
necessary step to obtain the status of a permanent resident.
Immigrant visa, granted for those intending to immigrate to the issuing
country (obtain the status of a permanent resident with a prospect of possible
naturalization in the future):
Spousal visa or partner visa, granted to the spouse, civil partner or
de facto partner of a resident or citizen of a given country to enable
the couple to settle in that country.
Marriage visa, granted for a limited period before intended marriage
or civil partnership based on a proven relationship with a citizen of
the destination country. For example, a German woman who wishes
to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancée Visa (also known
as a K-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States. "A K1 Fiancée
Visa is valid for four months from the date of its approval.”
Pensioner visa (also known as retiree visa or retirement visa), issued
by a limited number of countries
(Australia, Argentina, Thailand, Panama, etc.), to those who can
demonstrate a foreign source of income and who do not intend to
work in the issuing country. Age limits apply in some cases.
Official visa is granted to officials doing job for their governments or
otherwise representing their countries in the host country, such as the
personnel of diplomatic missions.
Diplomatic visa is normally only available to bearers of diplomatic
passports.
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Courtesy visa issued to representatives of foreign governments or
international organizations who do not qualify for diplomatic status
but do merit expedited, courteous treatment - an example of this is
Australia’s Special purpose visa.
By method of issuance:
This list is not exhaustive. Some countries may have more detailed
classifications of some of these categories reflecting the nuances of their respective
geographies, social conditions, economies, international treaties, etc. Others, on the
contrary, may combine some types into broader categories.
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Providing immigration assistance
Section 280 of the Act states that a person who is not a registered migration
agent must not give immigration assistance, unless one of the limited exemptions
applies. This is the case even if a fee is not charged.
The department has found that visa applicants and other clients of
unregistered migration agents are significantly more at risk of being given incorrect,
incomplete or misleading advice. Also, clients of unregistered migration agents do
not have the benefit of consumer protection.
Registered migration agents:
Must comply with a Code of Conduct
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4) CAR RENTALS: - A car rental or car hire agency is a company
that rents automobiles for short periods of time (generally ranging from a
few hours to a few weeks) for a fee. It is often organized with numerous
local branches (which allow a user to return a vehicle to a different location),
and primarily located near airports or busy city areas and often
complemented by a website allowing online reservations.
Car rental agencies primarily serve people who have a car that is temporarily
out of reach or out of service, for example travelers who are out of town or owners
of damaged or destroyed vehicles who are awaiting repair
or insurance compensation. Because of the variety of sizes of their vehicles, car
rental agencies may also serve the self-moving industry needs, by
renting vans or trucks, and in certain markets other types of vehicles such as
motorcycles or scooters may also be offered.
Alongside the basic rental of a vehicle, car rental agencies typically also
offer extra products such as insurance, global positioning system (GPS) navigation
systems, entertainment systems, and even such things as mobile phones.
Hertz is one of the longest established rental companies, and the first in
America, originally started in 1918 by Walter L. Jacobs as Rent-a-Car with twelve
Ford Model T cars in Chicago.[1]
Rental condition
Car rentals are subject to many conditions which vary from one country to
another and from one company to another. Generally the vehicle must be returned in
the same condition it was rented in, and often must not exceed mileage restrictions,
otherwise extra fees may be incurred.
In all cases a valid driver's license is required in order to rent a vehicle, and
some countries require an International Driving Permit.
The majority of car rental companies require the use of a credit card to
charge additional fees should a defect be found with the car on its return or for road
tolls, motoring related fines or missing fuel. In lieu of a credit card some companies
require a large cash deposit or occasionally a debit card.
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5) PACKAGE TOURS :- It is a combination of travel elements prepared for
an individual or group by a tour operator. Package tours are categorized into
inbound and outbound tours. The company has carefully designed and
packaged its inbound tour packages, specialized tours and travel packages
for the individuals as well as the group are evolved taking into account the
customer needs and interests. It has pioneered unique holiday packages for
the sub continent India. The company’s service start with the very arrival
transfer till final departure from India with assistance, guidance and
facilitation from experienced representative throughout the tour in the state
of Kerala. One can enjoy the scenic journey through Kerala with its very
changing landscape from sandy beaches to tranquil lakes, from wildlife
sanctuaries to green mountains. The representative of the company shall
accompany the tourist groups, show them the sights, guide them on special
cuisines, assist them in shopping and bargaining and take care of the
problems if any. The company will select standard hotels and resorts with all
necessary amenities to make sure that the inbound tour and the stay is a
memorable and enjoyable one.
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of persons across international boundaries. Travel documents usually assure
other governments that the bearer may return to the issuing country, and are
often issued in booklet form to allow other governments to place visas as
well as entry and exit stamps into them. The most common travel document
is a passport, which usually gives the bearer more privileges like visa-free
access to certain countries. However, the term is sometimes used only for
those documents which do not bear proof of nationality, such as the Refugee
Travel Documents.
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exercise their right of free movement in the EU, EEA and
Switzerland without a visa.
Driver's license:- Driver's licenses are generally not
considered travel documents, since they bear no information
on nationality and conditions which would lead to refusal of a
travel document have generally not been tested. However, in
several provinces of Canada and U.S. states, nationals/citizens
can -upon payment of an extra fee and additional information
regarding- receive an Enhanced Drivers License which
enables border crossing between Canada and the U.S. by land
and sea.
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the booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip, or a "multi-
trip" policy can cover an unlimited number of trips within a set time frame.
Coverage varies, and can be purchased to include higher risk items such as
"winter sports".
Coverage types
The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance are:
The recent growth of festivals and events as an industry around the world
means that the management can no longer be ad hoc. Events and festivals, such as
the Asian Games, have a large impact on their communities and, in some cases, the
whole country.
The industry now includes events of all sizes from the Olympics down to a
breakfast meeting for ten business people. Many industries, charitable organizations,
and interest groups will hold events of some size in order to market themselves,
build business relationships, raise money or celebrate.
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related services, which can range from a few select services for clients with limited
budgets, to handling all creative, technical and logistical aspects of an event.
Categories of events
Events can be classified into four broad categories based on their purpose
and objective:
While a hip replacement surgery cost up to US$ 12,000 outside India, the
procedure would be completed in less than one – third of the cost here in Kerala. On
a more common level, a regular dental filling which would cost around 400 in
Austria would cost a mere ten in Kerala. Generally estimates show that more
surgeries in India cost just one – tenth of the cost in western countries and across
different categories, tourists are discovering that there is an alluring cost difference
of around 60 – 70% on medical treatments in most premium institutions here.
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cruise lines & liners and offer our customers the best value cruise holidays to
destinations around the world.
Reservations
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government has classified the tourist houseboats as Platinum, Gold and
silver.
The kettuvallams were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice
harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters. Thatched roof covers over
wooden hulls, 100 feet (30 m) in length, provided protection from the elements. At
some point in time the boats were used as living quarters by the royalty. Converted
to accommodate tourists, the houseboats have become floating cottages having a
sleeping area, with western-style toilets, a dining area and a sit out on the deck. Most
tourists spend the night on a house boat. Food is cooked on board by the
accompanying staff – mostly having a flavour of Kerala. The houseboats are of
various patterns and can be hired as per the size of the family or visiting group. The
living-dining room is usually open on at least three sides providing a grand view of
the surroundings, including other boats, throughout the day when it is on the move.
It is brought to a standstill at times of taking food and at night. After sunset, the boat
crew provide burning coils to drive away mosquitoes. Ketuvallams are motorised
but generally proceed at a slow speed for smooth travel. All ketuvallams have a
generator and most bedrooms are air-conditioned. At times, as per demand of
customers, electricity is switched off and lanterns are provided to create a rural
setting.
2. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT :-
Accounting Procedures
When you start a travel agency, you need to keep accurate accounting
records for your business. These records help you keep track of your
agency's performance and are necessary for preparing your tax return. The
most important accounting procedures for a travel agency are the cash flow
statement, the general ledger and the income statement.
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be easy to lose track of your sales and your incoming payments.
Through the use of your accounting software, you can keep track of
your company's net cash flow from sales and expenses. This keeps
track of the cash management of your business and helps identify any
financial problems. Make sure that your agents post all business
transactions in your accounting records.
b) General Ledger:-Another accounting tool for a travel agency is the
general ledger. The general ledger gives an overview of your
company's current position. This ledger keeps track of your agency's
assets, everything your company owns and what it owes. The
accounting impact of all business transactions should be recorded on
your general ledger through your accounting software. Most
businesses update their ledgers daily or weekly. It is crucial to update
your general ledger regularly so you can keep track of your agency's
financial status.
c) Recognizing Revenue:-An important accounting procedure for any
business is the process of revenue recognition. This principle
establishes when a business has officially earned revenue and can
declare the earnings on its accounting statements and for taxes. A
travel agency, as a service industry, must use the cash method for
recognizing revenue. Your agency must recognize revenue as earned
as soon as a payment is received. It does not matter when you
complete your service to the customer, as soon as you receive
payment, you must recognize the payment as revenue.
d) Income Statement:-The last accounting procedure for running a
travel agency is the maintenance of an income statement. The income
statement records your total income and expenses to calculate your
net profit over a period of time. The income statement serves a
similar purpose as the cash flow statement. While the cash flow
statement only keeps track of cash, the income statement measures
the profits of your business. When you start your agency, the cash
flow statement is more important as you get the handle of your
company's daily cash flow. In the long-run, your income statement is
more important as it gives a better description of your company's
total profitability.
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FINDINGS
It is a recognized institution.
It is customer oriented.
The agency has experienced professionals.
The services provided by the agency has high quality and is also cost
effective.
They uses modernized and computerized methods.
The agency fulfills the customer needs within the time period as required by
the customers.
The staff in the agency is very cooperative and gives full disclosure of the
information to the clients.
The agency always maintains liaison between the management and the staff.
Each department in the agency is completely flourished.
They maintains the records accurately and efficiently.
The agency conducts the internal audit and external audit on time in order to
ensure the true and fair view of the reports maintained.
The agency has adopted standard accounting practices.
It has fully fledged infrastructure.
Individual care and attention is upheld in every factor of its services.
The itinerary is designed according to the customer’s interests and
requirements.
The travelers and tourists can advice from the agency’s tour consultant to
meet their desired dream holiday’s.
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SUGGESTIONS
Increase the sales training and prospecting skills: The phones may not
ring as much in the near future as in the past. Take this time to fine tune the
sales skills so the company can be better prepared for tougher sales in the
weeks ahead.
Be in the know: The more the company can be perceived as the travel
knowledge or safety expert, the more the clients will rely on the company
for its guidance and counsel. Use the Internet, trade associations, news,
consortium membership, peers, etc. to fully gain knowledge, not just
information, which the clients desperately need, thereby building credibility.
Marketing plan: You can't get to where you want to go without a road map.
The marketing plan will force the agency to take an aggressive sales posture
and will provide it with the strategies and tactics to reach its goals, whatever
they may be. The key is to have them. It will also establish action plans for
everyone. However, if the agency don't inspect what the client expect, the
plan is meaningless. So standard format of marketing plan must be
maintained.
Identify more pied pipers who have the ability to bring in new business:
Think of the number of airline employees who have been recently laid off.
What a wonderful opportunity to hire them as outside agents who can bring
in new customers. They will also be grateful to stay connected to the travel
industry.
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events, etc. This list is endless in identifying new ways of attracting
business.
CONCLUSION
The reduction in commission paid by airlines has prompted travel agencies
to streamline their business and adapt to new business models in order to guarantee
their long-term profitability. This can be accomplished by shifting their commission-
revenue model to a service-fee revenue model. Indeed service fees are not only a
way to compensate for the loss of airline commissions but also a way to generate
new revenue sources for travel agencies. As a result, many of them are expanding
their service-fee models both in terms of the amounts charged and the number of
services for which they charge fees.
To be profitable, travel agencies must sell the value of their services and
expertise on prices to sustain long-term relationships with their customers. This
means that they have to consider the impact of new technologies and identify cost-
efficient service-fee management solutions to meet their business requirements.
Educate: Educate staff and travel agents thanks to formal training programs
on service-fee schemes and high margin products.
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