Key Players in the Travel and Tourism Industry

Travel and Tourism Organizations

The travel and tourism industry includes a variety of organizations. Travel organizations include airlines, train companies, and cruise operators. Tourism organizations encompass a broader range, including travel agents, tour operators, accommodation providers, food and drink providers, visitor attractions, and ancillary service providers.

Travel Agents

Travel agents sell the products and services that other tourism organizations provide, including ancillary services. A travel agent can be a physical retail shop, an online business using websites or social media, or a specialist in one type of tourism, such as business travel or independent travel.

Tour Operators

Tour operators organize travel and tourism packages for both outbound and inbound customers. These packages are sold either:

• Directly by the tour operator
• Indirectly through a travel agent

Package Holidays

A holiday made up of multiple components, such as travel and accommodation, that are put together and sold as a single product.

Dynamic Packages

Packages organized by tour operators from components that are specifically chosen by the customer.

Accommodation Providers

Accommodation is where tourists stay overnight. Tourism organizations that provide these overnight stay products and services are known as accommodation providers. Examples include:

• Hotels
• Guest houses
• Hostels
• Homestays
• Serviced apartments

Guest House

A type of accommodation on a small scale, often in a private house.

Hostels

A basic type of accommodation that often features shared sleeping arrangements, such as dormitories.

Serviced Apartment

A type of self-catering accommodation where services, such as cleaning, are also provided.

Food and Drink Providers

Examples of food and drink providers include:

• Restaurants
• Cafes
• Street food vendors

Visitor Attractions

Natural Attractions

Places that appeal to tourists because of their natural environment.

Ancillary Service Providers

These organizations provide services to tourists other than travel and accommodation. Examples include guided tours, currency exchange, and car or bike hire.

Ancillary Services

Extra products and services that tourism customers buy in addition to their main travel and accommodation arrangements.

Tour Agents and Guided Tours

Tour agents in destinations are often local tour operators that provide guided tours as a specific tourism service.

Industry Interdependencies

Interdependency occurs when travel and tourism organizations choose to work together for mutual benefit. This interrelationship is crucial for the industry's success. For example, domestic and international transport types are often interdependent, relying on each other to create a seamless travel experience for the customer.