ITINERARY PERPARATION AND TOUR PACKAGING MTTM 302

CONTENTS
Itinerary Preparation and Tour Packaging
(MTTM 302)
S. No. Unit Details Page No.
BLOCK 1 ITINERARY MEANING, NATURE AND SCOPE (1 - 52 )
Unit 1 Itinerary and Travel Plan: Definition, Differentiation, Scope and Significance 3-14
Unit 2 Components and Elements of an Effective Tour Itinerary 15-30
Unit 3 Information and Research Input Required in Preparation of Tour Itineraries 31-43
Unit 4 Systematic Approach for Itinerary Preparation; Constraints and Grey Areas 44-56
involved in Preparation of Innovative Itineraries
BLOCK 2 TYPES OF ITINERARIES (53 - 108 )
Unit 5 Pre-designed, ‘Tailor Made’ and ‘flexible’ Itineraries: Scope and 58-69
Differentiation
Unit 6 Tour Manager’s / Executive’s and Tour Escort’s Itinerary – Definitions and 70-85
Case Examples
Unit 7 ‘Common Interest’ and ‘Special Interest’ Itineraries – Salient Features and 86-98
Case Models
Unit 8 Unique Features of MICE Centric Itineraries; Case Examples 99-113
BLOCK 3 TOUR PACKAGING – CONCEPT, NATURE AND SCOPE (109 - 165 )
Unit 9 Tour Packaging: Concept, Significance, Scope and Limitations 115-128
Unit 10 Key Elements and Steps involved in Formulation Standard Tour Package 129-141
Unit 11 Costing and Pricing of Tour Packages - Competition Analysis and Strategic 142-156
Costing Pricing
Unit 12 Marketing of Tour Packages; Need for Pre-active Approach 157- 170
BLOCK 4 TOUR PACKAGING IN INDIAN CONTEXT – CASE EXAMPLES (166 - 226)
Unit 13 Land Based Adventure Tourism Packages - Trekking, Mountaineering, Skiing 172-186
and Wildlife Watching
Unit 14 ‘Aero-sports’ and ‘Water-sports’ Based Packages 187-202
Unit 15 Cultural Tourism Packages – Pilgrimage, Festivities and, ‘Monuments and 203-215
Museum Visits’
U nit 16 Special Interest Tour Packages - Ethnic, Eco, Medical and Health and 216-231
Holiday Packages

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BLOCK- 1
Itinerary - Meaning, Nature and Scope
In the current tour operation business environment we find ourselves in
fastest changing era, it is critical that we maximise our key business asset,
namely our clients. Many businesses are finding that the only way to gain a
competitive edge is through the effective and efficient management of tour
package. Whether you are a tour operation manager or marketing manager, you
must be aware about the requirements of tourists , this block will give you the
necessary background about the itinerary: meaning, concept, nature and scope.
Moreover, the block will cover the tour itinerary –meaning, nature, scope
significance, components, elements and approaches in the Indian tourism
industry. It will explain and clarify how a well-structured and planed approach to
itinerary can deliver substantial benefits to all stakeholders: tourists as well as
tour operators. This block comprises the following units:
Unit 1 focuses on defining Itinerary and Travel Plan, understanding
differentiation and, scope. Finally the unit discusses the significance of tour
itinerary in tour operation industry Significance.
Unit 2 of the course entitled “components and elements of an effective
Tour Itinerary” describes the meaning and concept of tour itinerary, explain the
main components of tour itinerary and finally understanding of elements of
effective tour itinerary
Unit 3 deals with discussion of Information and research input required in
preparation of tour Itineraries. In this unit you will learn about the various
sources of travel information used to develop tour itinerary. Further, the unit
describes research input required in preparation of tour Itineraries.
In unit 4 we will describe about the approaches for Itinerary preparation.
The unit also discusses constraints and grey areas involved in preparation of
innovative tour Itineraries.

Block Objectives: After studying this block, you will be able to:
 Describe the tour itinerary concept.
 Discuss various types of itineraries
 Explain the scope of tour itinerary ,
 Discuss the significance of tour itinerary,
 Understanding Information and research input Required in Preparation of
Tour Itineraries,
 Describe Systematic Approach for Itinerary preparation
 Explains constraints and Grey areas involved in preparation of innovative
Itineraries
 Explain the main components of tour itinerary.
 Understanding of Elements of effective tour itinerary

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UNIT 1: ITINERARY AND TRAVEL PLAN:

DEFINITION, DIFFERENTIATION, SCOPE AND
SIGNIFICANCE
Structure
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Tour Itinerary - Concept, meaning, definition
1.3 Types of tour itinerary
1.4 Scope and Significance of Tour itinerary
1.5 Summary

1.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Understand meaning and concept of itinerary
 Discuss various types of itineraries
 Explain the scope of tour itinerary ,
 Discuss the significance of tour itinerary

1.1 Introduction
In the world of real estate, it is well established that the three most
important factors that determine property value are, “location, location, and
location.” Similarly, in the world of travel, location – or knowing where to find
points of interest – is critical. Depending on a traveller’s particular interests, he
will seek information on local attractions and activities that meet his needs. The
word “itinerary,” means, “the route of a journey or tour, or the proposed outline of
one.” Anyone who has planned a trip would appreciate the importance of having
some idea of what they plan to see and do at their destination. In fact, that kind of
knowledge could determine the selection of the tourist destination itself. Also,
suggested itineraries can be very helpful for independent travellers once they
arrive at their destination. Traditionally, self-guiding pamphlets and guides serve
this purpose. Itinerary development can be a powerful tool in organizing
information about an area’s attractions and presenting that information to visitors
in an appealing manner. In tourism, this could be called “tourism product
development.” In this unit students will be able to understand Itinerary and
Travel Plan also describe differentiation, scope and significance.

1.2. Tour Itinerary - Concepts and Meaning

An itinerary is a key and significant component of a tour package. It may
be an initial itinerary or a final itinerary. Basically it is designed to identify the

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origin, destination and all the enroute stopping points along with the
transportation, accommodation and other services on a travelers trip an itinerary
has various portions and these portions are known as segments. Practically,
these segments are dependent on the type of journey undertaken by the tourist.
Moreover, itinerary shows the sequence of the various tour ingredients and
provides essential information such as assembling point, departure point, days of
departure, duration of a tour, legal requirements, features of a destinations,
optional activities, and meal and perhaps can be called as a central point for the
success of a tour company. To be more effective tour company needs to develop
separate and distinctive itineraries for the tourists, tour managers, tour escorts,
vendors and tourist itineraries. The key features of tour itinerary include:
 Grass roots travel using all forms of local public transport where possible.
 Using small scale locally owned accommodation and homestays were
available and using local Restaurants and markets for dining.
 Employing western leaders who facilitate the company’s values to
travellers and local communities, educating them in sustainable tourism
practices. Intrepid also employ local guides to aid travellers
understanding of local culture and etiquette.
 Having maximum group sizes of twelve, which allow travellers to
experience, cultures at a grass roots level offering greater opportunity for
cross-cultural understanding.

1.3 Types of tour itinerary

An itinerary is a day to day plan of a journey. It includes all the activities
and destinations that the tourist will engage in or visit during his or her journey.
An itinerary is generally based on a client profile.
A client profile gives the travel agent an idea of the person or persons
they are drawing up a tour plan for. A tourist route that includes visits to various
historical sites, places of cultural interest, or natural attractions—an itinerary
undertaken for cultural, educational, health, or sports purposes. Tour itineraries
may be worked out by tourist agencies and organizations or by the tourist’s they.
In terms of their directional orientation, the various types of itineraries include
linear, circular, and radial ones. Itineraries are also distinguished in terms of
mode of travel.
For example, walking, cycling, automotive means, or water transport; in
terms of time of tour operation—year-round, seasonal, or one-time itineraries;
and in terms of the different arrangements that may be involved for group and
individual itineraries. Tourists may follow organized, or pre-planned, tour routes
(on the basis of tourist organization travel vouchers), or they may work out their
own independent itineraries. Organized tour routes are specially designed and
equipped to offer tourists such services as excursions, tourist centers, and camp
sites.

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There are essentially two types of itineraries:
1. A General Itinerary that is aimed at and marketed to a wide variety of
clients. It is an open itinerary taking in to consideration a wide range of Interest.
2. A Personalized Itinerary that is specially drawn up for a specific client
according to that clients needs and interests.
The following information should be kept in mind when planning an itinerary:
 Always have an interesting and attractive heading for your itinerary
 Show the date and time clearly
 You must draw special attention to your highlights
 Always break your itinerary up into paragraphs with new dates
 Provide as much information about the attractions and activities included
in your tour plan, as possible
 Always us the 24 hour clock,
 Allow sufficient time for each highlight
 Place each highlight in logical order. Remember you need to save your
client traveling time and cost
 Try to finish each day with a special highlight, if possible
 Distance must be realistic, try to use the 100km per hour rule
 Never make promises in your description that you may not be able to
keep, (e.g. don’t say, “You will enjoy a glorious sunny day at the
beach”, it could pour with rain on that day). To avoid this, provide the
Client with alternative that they could pursue if the plans have to change.
Contents
 Write clearly and to the point.
 The client must want to travel immediately to their preferred destination
when they read your itinerary.
 It must however leave the client wanting to travel in order to discover the
destination for them.
 Give them just enough information to wet their appetite.
 Never use the word etc in an itinerary
 If your itinerary is for five days or more, you can include one day at leisure
but be sure to suggest a variety of things to do on that day, that would
match the clients profile
 You must be clear about accommodation, transport, attractions, and
activities that the tourist is paying for.
The itineraries may be ready-made or made on request. The ready-made
itineraries are made in advance without knowing when and who will buy. It is
similar to produce clothes, shoes and display in a shop. It is prepared to suit
maximum number of potential travelers. It must be salable and should be
focused on the potential market segmentation. While preparing ready-made
itinerary, a travel agent should consider its capacity, market, marketing strategy,

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competitor's policy, future company policy, pricing policy etc. They are used for
packaging tours, so these are also known as package tours.
Special or tailor-made itineraries are made on request to suit the
individuals. They are made on request or on demand of the particular customer.
While preparing these types of itineraries, two way communication is possible so
that we can ask and prepare as per the requirement. In this type of itinerary,
duration, places of visit, date, hotel plan, type of service required is known. We
know who and when will buy the tour.

Tour Itinerary may be prepared on the basis of the following points.

* Single or multiple destinations: To include only one destination or to
include more than one destination in one itinerary.
* Special interest package: For example adventure package, cultural
package, holiday package, etc.
* Tour package: An itinerary prepared for pleasure, relax.
* Travel package: An itinerary especially for travel.
* Outbound package: An itinerary prepared for domestic tourists to visit
foreign countries.
* Inbound package: An itinerary prepared for foreigners to visit our
country.
* Domestic tours: An itinerary prepared for local people to visit own
country.
The above package types show that itineraries can be of different types. It
can be prepared for different purposes also. An itinerary prepared for manager
includes itinerary of different clients. Manager wants to know over all happenings
at a time. Transport itinerary includes only transport element to book transport or
to inform driver. Tour guide itinerary includes all details points to visit. Guest
itinerary includes detail description of the destination, interesting points, some
do's and don'ts. Its objective is to motivate tourists to involve in tour.

Sample Tour Itinerary Pilgrimage and Leh Tour

Duration: 16 Nights / 17 Days

Destinations Covered: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti - Lumbini - Kushinagar-
Vaishali - Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya - Varanasi - Delhi - Leh - Alchi -
Lamayuru - Leh - Delhi - Agra - Delhi
Day 01: Arrival Delhi
On arrival at Delhi International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your
Hotel. Check into the Hotel and relax. Overnight stay will be at Delhi
Day 02: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti
After breakfast, in time transfer to airport to board a morning flight for Lucknow.
Arrive Lucknow and check into your hotel. Afternoon, enjoy an excursion to

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Sravasti, a place where Lord Buddha spent his last 20 rainy seasons. Visit the
ancient villages of Maheth and Saheth, which have the remains of the Jetavana
Monastery. These Sravasti villages also have the ruins and relics of Jain
temples. Overnight stay will be at Sravasti.
Day 03: Sravasti - Lumbini
After breakfast, we drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Lord Buddha, in Nepal.
Arrive Lumbini and check into the Hotel. Afternoon, enjoy a visit to the location
where Lord Buddha is believed to be born. Overnight stay will be at Lumbini.
Day 04: Lumbini - Kushinagar
After breakfast, we drive to Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha breathed his last.
Arrive at Kushinagar and check into your hotel. After freshen up, visit the
Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa. Overnight stay will be at
Kushinagar.
Day 05: Kushinagar - Vaishali - Patna
After breakfast at hotel, we proceed to Patna by surface, enroute visiting
Vaishali. Vaishali is one of the important ancient historic cities of India, where
Lord Buddha preached his last sermon. Arrive at Patna and check into the Hotel.
Overnight stay will be at Patna.
Day 06: Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya
After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Bodhgaya visiting Nalanda and Rajgir,
enroute. While Rajgir was an ancient capital city, Nalanda is a famous Buddhist
site known for its ancient university. Arrive at Bodhgaya and check into the hotel
and relax. Overnight stay will be at Bodhgaya.
Day 07: Bodhgaya
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the sacred Mahabodhi Temple - where the
Buddha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree after years of search for the
truth and knowledge. Afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya visiting
Niranjana River, Sujata Village and many beautiful monasteries. Evening, visit
the Mahabodhi Temple for prayer. Overnight stay will be Bodhgaya
Day 08: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Varanasi. Arrive and check into the Hotel.
Evening free at leisure. Overnight stay will be at Varanasi.
Day 09: Varanasi - Delhi
Early morning visit to lively Ghats of the Ganges to enjoy the breathtaking view of
the sunrise and rituals performed by thousands on its banks. Enjoy an
unforgettable boat cruise on the Ganges, indeed a wonderful experience.
Afternoon, in time transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Arrive at Delhi and check
into the hotel. Overnight stay will be at Delhi.
Day 10: Delhi - Leh
Wake up early and board a morning flight to Leh. Arrive at Leh and check-in at
hotel. Rest of the day free at your leisure for the acclimatization, as Leh is at an
altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level. In the evening, enjoy a short walk
around Leh market. Overnight stay will be at Leh.

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Day 11: Leh
After breakfast at hotel, enjoy a full day excursion to the famous monasteries of
Leh. Visit the famous Thiksey Monastery to see the morning praying ceremony.
Further proceed to visit Hemis Monastery, one of the most famous and
enchanting monasteries in the Ladakh region. Return to Leh, enroute visiting
enchanting Shey Palace. Overnight stay will be at Leh.
Day 12: Leh
After breakfast at hotel, enjoy a full day excursion to Khardongla Pass, the
highest pass in the world at an altitude of 5,600 meters above the sea level.
From the top, enjoy the breathtaking view of snow-capped mountains and
valleys. Late afternoon return to Leh. Evening free at leisure. Overnight stay will
be at Leh.
Day 13: Leh - Alchi
After breakfast at hotel, we proceed for Alchi, enroute visiting Basgo Palace and
Likir Monastery. Arrive at Alchi and check-in at the hotel. After freshening up, visit
the amazing Alchi Monastery. Overnight stay will be at Alchi.
Day 14: Alchi - Lamayuru - Leh
After breakfast at hotel, we proceed for Lamayuru via Khalsti (passport checking
point). In Lamayuru, visit the enchanting 10th century Buddhist Monastery.
Return to Leh. Overnight stay will be at Leh.
Day 15: Leh - Delhi - Agra
After breakfast at hotel, in time transfer to domestic airport for flight to Delhi.
Arrive at Delhi and we straightaway drive to Agra. Arrive at Agra and check into
the hotel.
Day 16: Agra - Delhi
After breakfast, visit the Taj Mahal - the most beautiful monument in the world
and the magnificent Agra Fort. After lunch, we proceed to Delhi by road. Arrive at
Delhi and check into the hotel. Overnight stay will be at Delhi.
Day 17: Delhi - Tour Concludes
After breakfast at the Hotel, enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of old Delhi. Visit
and see the magnificent Red Fort, Jama Masjid (Biggest mosque in India),
Chandni Chowk Bazaar (oldest market of Delhi) and Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi
memorial). Afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing of New Delhi visiting India Gate,
President House, Parliament House and Laxmi Narayan Temple. Evening free
for Shopping. After dinner, in time transfer to international airport to board the
flight for your onward destination or way back home with sweet memories of
India. Overnight stay will be at Agra.

Tour Itinerary Arrangements

- Accommodation: All accommodation used by Trendsetters Travel is screened
for quality. The following criteria are of utmost importance for our hotel selection:
cleanness, safety, comfort & location. We will be able to secure excellent

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accommodation group rates on your behalf no matter what destination you
select.
-Flights: Since the most expensive component in traveling is usually the flights,
we take care to get as many quotations as possible for each tour. We have good
relationships with all major airlines and are able to secure the best available
group fares.
-Transportation: We only use good quality, modern air-conditioned executive
coaches. We include all necessary empty runs, driver’s accommodation and
meals.
- Meals: Our programs will include all breakfasts as standard. However we can
also include other meals (lunches and dinners) as per your requirements.
- Excursions: One of the most important aspects on each tour is to allow the
learners to see and experience as much as possible in the foreign country! Each
itinerary will include various excursions as per your requirements. Your
Trendsetters consultant will be more than happy to assess your needs and make
recommendations for suitable excursions.
- School visits / University visits: We usually include one or two school visits
or University visits to our academic tour itineraries. From experience we have
learned that this is often one of the highlights on a tour, especially if the learners
have the opportunity to interact with the foreign students. These visits do not
only broaden their horizons in terms of cultural exposure but it is often very
enjoyable to all tour participants.
- Matches: An important element of a successful sports tour requires fixtures
against teams with similar skills and of equal strength. Through our relationships
with local schools and clubs we will source evenly matched competition.
Our clients range from professional senior sides to social teams, universities,
clubs and schools. A typical international sports tour lasts 2 weeks and includes
3 to 6 fixtures (depending of the sporting discipline).
- Training sessions & coaching sessions: At Trendsetters Travel we realize
that the purpose of a sports tour is not only to compete in fixtures and have a
great time, but naturally to improve the team as a whole and to learn new tactics,
movements and skills. That is the reason why all our sport itineraries will include
training sessions at top facilities. In addition to this we have fantastic contacts
with many professional coaches in foreign countries and we would be pleased to
organize professional coaching sessions for your group.
- Host families / Billeting: Upon request, we can add a few nights of billeting
(staying with host families) in the foreign destination. The billeting does not only
add value to the group’s learning experience but would also expose the group to
the local customs and cultures and give them the opportunity to socialize with
their opponents and peers on a personal level.
- Special Interest Groups: We often encounter a group that has a special
interest or unique requirements. We find it challenging and rewarding to plan

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customized itineraries around your needs…even if your request is really
something out of the ordinary! We will arrange that art lesson for you in an
artist’s studio in the middle of the lavender fields of France, organize that
cooking lesson for you in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany or arrange
anything to satisfy your requirements, regardless of how outrageous and
eccentric they are.
- Guides: Trendsetters Travel includes a tour guide on all our tours to ensure
that the highest level of quality is maintained throughout the trip.
- Comprehensive group travel Insurance: It is compulsory to take out travel
insurance on all our tours. Trendsetters Travel strongly suggests that you
consider groups insurance instead of individual insurance to minimize
administration. We offer comprehensive group travel insurance through AIG
Insurance as standard on all our youth tours. However, the choice of suppliers
remains with the client. Please note that the AIG gold package that we offer
covers medical emergencies, baggage, third party liability and lost travel
documents.
- Tour Fundraising: We know that very few teachers or coaches have time to
devote to fundraising. Therefore we have partnered with an events company that
will be happy to assist you with any fundraising projects. The responsibility of
organizing an event or fundraising project will remain with this company and they
will take the burden from your shoulders while you can simply reap the benefits.
- Passports & Visa Requirements: Our tour quotation will clearly reflect if a visa
is necessary for the specific destination, and if so, what the costs of the visa will
be. In addition to this, we will give you the exact requirements for the visa
application as well as advice on the procedures, duration and the application
forms. However, with the majority of countries it is now compulsory to apply for a
visa in person and therefore we cannot take responsibility to obtain the visa on
your behalf. Likewise we can advice you on the most effective way to apply for a
passport, but unfortunately we cannot apply for a passport on your behalf.
-Safety & security: At Trendsetters Travel, we take the welfare of each and
every participant on our tours very seriously. Just as we work tirelessly to provide
once-in-a-lifetime experiences to teachers, coaches and learners, we are equally
committed to ensuring that all of our travelers return home safely. Our safety and
support infrastructure has been a cornerstone of our business and it is of utmost
importance to us.
- Tour presentation: Trendsetters Travel would be thrilled to do a
comprehensive presentation at your premises. From experience we have
learned that a presentation is very effective to get buy-in from the parents and
create excitement amongst the players as we include multi-media and pictures
from each destination and excursion. Since we offer this presentation free of
charge and with no obligation, it is a simple way to ‘test the waters’ even if you
are just considering an international tour.

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- Tour Costs: It is extremely important to us to quote within your budget
constraints whatever that may be. Our quotes will clearly display all the
inclusions and exclusions to avoid hidden costs and unpleasant surprises later
on. We offer value for money and give you the best price without sacrificing
quality.
- Service to our clients: Our company policy is to focus on the quality instead of
the quantity of tours. Each and every client is important to us and you can be
assured of service excellence throughout the process.
- Tour marketing: The likelihood of an international tour very often depends on
the amount of enthusiasm that the teacher or coach can create (and maintain)
within the group. For this reason, Trendsetters Travel would be happy to assist
you as much as possible in ways to advertise the tour, keep the group in high
spirits and motivated about the tour. Whether it is tour posters, pictures, the
multi-media presentation, tour competitions, tour riddles or whatever it takes to
maintain enthusiasm until you board your flight!
- Contract with school / club: The organizing teacher or coach will sign a
contract on behalf of the school / club. This ensures that all parties involved are
aware of the terms and conditions necessary to ensure that safety and
accountability are maintained throughout the trip. As soon as the contract is
executed and deposits are paid, we immediately begin organising the tour to
ensure that learners get the best tour possible. We purchase airline tickets, make
hotel deposits, and arrange all other elements of the trip so that the tour is not
coordinated in haste.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.
1. Define tour itinerary.
2. What are the main types of itinerary?
3. Explain escorted itinerary
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

1.4 Significance of Tour Itinerary

Tourism is concerned with pleasure, holidays, travel and going or arriving
somewhere. The activity of tourism is intimately dependent upon travel
motivations. In fact, to make travel possible, it is the tour Programme, which
plays most important role in travel motivation. Itinerary as a detailed tour program
that enables the destination to be reached. Many writers like Boorstin and
Baudrillard have said that tourism through guided groups yields better results in
terms of a destination success and customer delight. As a consequence all the
persons involved in guides tours or packaged tours viz. tourist entrepreneurs,
professionals and the local people have more responsibility towards tourists,

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destination and the host environment. The role played by itineraries can be
explained by the following diagram.

Role of Itineraries

Traveller

Departing Tourist Tourist

Generating Transit route regions Destination

According to Leiper, (1990) itineraries provide not only the information to the
travelers to reach the destination, but also the intermediate places which may be
visited enroute. Today’s travelers are accustomed to flexibility. With do-it-yourself
Regions
travel tools Returning
readily available andtourist
very much the Region
norm for booking leisure travel,
its understandable employees have come to expect the same when planning
business travel. They rely on the ability to do the research, know the options and
make informed travel decisions all on their own. And, they appreciate the ability
to change plans when the need arises. Itinerary brings added flexibility,
convenience and assurance to your employees throughout the travel planning
process:
Flexibility: Because travelers can calculate the costs of itinerary changes
with Online Ticket Exchange, they’re empowered to make informed decisions
while experiencing the flexibility to change travel plans as they see fit – all
without picking up the telephone.
Convenience: With Hold Trips, travelers experience the convenience of
shopping and reserving airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars even before trip
details are finalized.
Assurance: Pre Trip Approval is added assurance for travelers that their
making the right moves on behalf of the company – all facilitated online and
automatically.
Simplicity: Travelers can research costs and exchange tickets online with a
few simple clicks, hold itineraries without driving fees and receive prompt pre-trip
approval. This also brings simplicity to travel managers' day-to-day
responsibilities by automating features that typically required travel agency
intervention.
Compliance: Because travelers are working within an online system backed
by powerful rules engines, multiple checks and balances are automatically in
place to ensure policy compliance.

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Control: Travel managers experience more control over program process
with the ability to set and enforce policies online when it comes to exchanging,
holding and approving travel itineraries.
Cost Savings – More cost savings as more transactions are moved online
Employee Satisfaction – Travelers are empowered to make or change
travel plans as needed
Check your progress-2
Answer the following questions.
 Describe benefits of tour itinerary.
 Discus the significance of tailor made itinerary.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

1.5 Summary
In this Unit, we have familiarised you with certain details regarding the Itinerary
and Travel Plan: definition, differentiation, scope and Significance management
and day-to-day functions in a tour operator company. It is essential for a tour
operator to first gain knowledge about the market conditions and then acquires
product knowledge. The Unit also dealt with .certain aspects like defining
itinerary, types of itineraries scope and briefings, etc. which at the surface may
appear to you as something trivial but you must remember that these are all vital
issues as far, as customer satisfaction is concerned and cannot be taken lightly
in a tour operation industry. These are equally important for managers,
supervisory staff as well as employees. This is basic unit and in subsequent
units you should again more knowledge related with tour package, different
types of package related- special interest tour packages and so fourth.

Answer to Check Your Progress

1. 1) See sec. 1.2
2) See sec. 1.3
3) See Sec. 1.3
2. 1) See sec. 1.4
2) See sec. 1.4

1.6 Glossary
 Educational Tour itinerary - A tour designed around some educational
activity such as studying Renaissance art.
 Escorted Tour itinerary - A prearranged travel program, usually for a
group, escorted by a courier. In a fully-conducted tour, escort and/or guide
service is provided throughout; 2) A sightseeing program conducted by a
guide, such as a city tour.

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 Fam Tour itinerary - Familiarization tour for travel agents or journalists
planned and executed by a destination or region, usually in cooperation with
an international airline.
 Group Tour itinerary - A prearranged, prepaid travel program for a group
usually including transportation, accommodation.
 DMO Destination Marketing Organization – an organization dedicated to
developing and marketing tourism, typically defined by a geographic or
political area such as a town, city or region.
 Consolidator Someone who puts all the ground components of a package
together. For example, bus, activities, accommodation, programming
1.7 Review Questions
 Describe the tour itinerary concept. Discuss various types of itineraries
 Define tour itinerary. Explain the scope of tour itinerary.
 What do you mean by a tour itinerary? Discuss the significance of tour
itinerary.
 “Over r the years the concept and definition of itinerary has been
changes many fold” illustrate.
1.8 Suggested Readings
 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text,
Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and
Administration, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency ,
John Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., the Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., the Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S., and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall, UK. 1989.
 Holloway, J.C., the Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation
and Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel
agency and tour operators.

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UNIT 2: COMPONENTS AND ELEMENTS OF AN

EFFECTIVE TOUR ITINERARY
Structure
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Components of Tour Itinerary
2.3 Elements of effective tour itinerary
2.4 Summary
2.5 Glossary
2.6 Review Questions
2.7 Suggested Readings

2.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Explain the main components of tour itinerary
 Understanding of Elements of effective tour itinerary

2.1 Introduction
Now you can understand what is an Itinerary? What are the various types
of tour itineraries, and scope of tour itinerary? The unit-1 also described the
significance of tour itinerary. The second unit is devoted to understand main
components of tour itinerary and elements of effective tour itinerary. In fact, tour
package means the pre-arranged combination of at least two of the components
(transport, accommodation, and other tourist services) when sold or offered for
sale at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of more than 24
hours or includes overnight accommodation. This unit appraises the
understanding of students towards components of a tour itinerary and help them
to plan an effective tore itinerary.

2.2 Components of Tour Itinerary

Package holidays or all-inclusive travel has been very popular and is likely to
maintain its popularity in many countries such as India, USA, Japan, Ireland, the
UK and China According to the European Union's Package Travel Regulations
(1992), “package” means the pre-arranged combination of at least two of the
components (transport, accommodation, and other tourist services) when sold or
offered for sale at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of
more than 24 hours or includes overnight accommodation. For example, a
package holiday to India marketed and operated by travel agents and/or tour
operators usually consists of overnight accommodation in New Delhi, visits to

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one of the two theme parks and other tourist attractions, shopping and of course
the use of transportation services.
Different types of tourism components (activities) in package holidays are
provided by specific agents and enterprises that form a tourism supply chain
(TSC). A TSC comprises the suppliers of all the goods and services that go into
the delivery of the tourism products to tourists. Among these suppliers, tour
operators play a principal role as the intermediaries that bring buyers and sellers
together, package different tourism products/services into a single product, and
market the product to the targeted tourist segments. Enterprises in a TSC, on the
one hand, benefit from providing components of the package tours, as a
consistent demand for these products/services could be maintained
What should be included in a tour itinerary is still a debatable rather
based on the market or destination?
A “tour itinerary” is a group of products and services presented as a unit
and sold for one fixed price. Products and services may include accommodation,
transportation, sightseeing, and meals. Some tour itinerary may even include
helicopter rides, theatre tickets, interpretive centre entrance passes, picnics,
community events and hands-on learning experiences. There are no limits to
what can be included. Other points to consider, include:
 Tour itineraries are operated for a specific duration. itineraries may include
a complete two week or one week all inclusive, arrival to departure
itineraries , may be single day itineraries available for purchase once in
the area, or may simply be one component itineraries which lasts a few
hours;
 a tour itinerary may be packaged for one or two people travelling as
individuals, or for groups travelling together;
 itineraries make it easier to travel into a region, through rearranging and
prepaying for services needed en route to, or while visiting, a destination;
 itineraries may offer a benefit to the customer by including advantages he
or she would not normally receive if they were to purchase the travel on
their own;
 itineraries often provide better values than customers can get on their own;
 itineraries create a perception of value and security;
 itineraries assist in attracting new markets and give existing customers
value-added reasons to buy products and services; and
 Some itineraries are operated by seasoned tourism operators as well as by
businesses and individuals who are not directly operating a tourism
business.
Generally, a tour itinerary is used to identify the origin point, enroute
destinations and end destinations along with product / services required by the
tourists.
• Accommodation

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• Transport
• Transfers
• Additional components at the resort eg resort representative, excursions,
entertainment, car hire.
 Other services
Accommodations There's a hotel for every budget in India – from luxury resorts
to small cheap motels. India is well known for its cheap, clean middle-rung
motels and hotels which offer decent accommodation and good food.
Youth Hostels: Indian Youth Hostels (Hostelling International) all over India
are very cheap and have excellent facilities, though they might be a little away
from city centres. There are some state-run youth hostels, but steer clear of
them. A Youth Hostel card isn’t generally required, but you save on money at the
official Youth Hostels if you have one.
Government Accommodation: Restless British administrators were always
up and about, all over the country – even in the remotest of areas, especially in
the remotest of areas. The result is that they have left behind a string of
accommodation units like Rest Houses, Dak Bungalows, Circuit Houses, PWD
(Public Works Department) Bungalows, Forest Rest Houses all over the country
often in attractive locations. Well, they are still meant for the travelling
government officials, although many will take you in for overnight stays
particularly in far-flung areas
Tourist Bungalows: Tourist Bungalows run by the State Governments have
superb facilities and are a real good bargain. You can take your pick from rooms
with or without AC, single or double. Most have excellent restaurants and what's
more, they're pretty reasonable. It is pretty generally agreed that tourist
bungalows are the best places to stay while in India.
Railway Retiring Room: The most popular type of accommodation while on
transit in trains. They are just like any other hotel except they are at the railway
stations. To stay here you must have a railway ticket or an Indrail Pass. In case
you have an early train to catch, these rooms are extremely convenient and very
cheap.
Railway Waiting Rooms: When all else fails, nod the night away at railway
waiting rooms which come free provided you have a valid ticket.
Budget Hotels: Most suitable and preferred by backpackers, budget hotels in
India are dirt-cheap. In fact, in the smaller hotels, you may even try your
bargaining skills.
Luxury Hotels: Luxury hotels come in several categories in India, such as
the super deluxe, deluxe, five star, four star and three star, depending on the
facilities they offer. These hotels are generally limited to the major tourist centres
and the metro cities.
The Taj Group; the Welcomgroup, the Oberoi, Ritz, Casino and the Air India
linked Centaur Hotels and the ITDC group runs Ashok Hotels

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Home Stays: The greatest way to know India is to stay with an Indian family;
it can quite an eye opener for westerners. Such home stay accommodations are
organised in Rajasthan, Ladakh, Chennai and Mumbai in alliance with the
Tourism Development Corporations of the respective states. The tourist offices of
the cities have the exhaustive list of the families offering this service,
Others: YMCAs and YWCAs in big cities provide an alternative to other type of
accommodation. They are well equipped and affordable; however they also have
long waiting lists so book in advance. There are a few Salvation Army Hostels in
particular in Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai. Camping facilities are also available
for the outdoor types in outdoor type locations of course. Free accommodations
as well as meals are available, for a limited period like overnight stay, at some
Sikh Gurudwaras (temples).
Transportation
Tourism can be seen as the sum of the relationships resulting from travel
and stay of non-residence to the extent that the stay does not need a permanent
residence and does not come from a paid activity. It clearly shows the
relationship of two ideas— travel and stay, within the complexity of tourism and
of fixing at the same time the order of events. Hotels are not essential — they are
desirable, but if people can move on their own homes with them in the form of
tents and caravans, etc. or use supplementary accommodation. Every tourist
wants to travel to see some of the places of interest, quite apart from the place
he lands. He is anxious to see the number of places in the shortest possible time.
Transport is the key factor for the development of tourism. The means of
transport, and the supply of a service in making possible the travel to a place
rather than the place of residence are thus not only the ‘sine—quanon’ of tourists
movement, but also limit the tourist flow quantitatively — the capacity of the
means of transport decides the tourist volume and qualitatively the quality of the
transport service offered decides the type of tourists in the flow.
Transport is a necessary condition of tourism. Expansion of transport has
always proceeded the periods of great increase in travel and tourism.
The various forms of transports may be divided into three categories:
1. Air
2. Land
(a) Road Transport
(b) Rail Transport
3. Water Transport
Air Transport
Air travel is known as the baby of all the means of transport. Majority of
the tourists prefer to travel by air, especially for long distance journeys. The
principal method of travelling abroad either for the holiday purposes or on
business is by air. The tourist market has been characterised up to now by a
very high price elasticity of demand, The JUOTO (now W1O) puts the coefficient

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of elasticity at about 1.5 to 2.0. Therefore, a reduction of bob in air areas would
lead to growth of 17 to 22% in traffic.
Air traffic rights in international sectors are arranged bilaterally between
countries. Air services are either scheduled or non-scheduled, On scheduled
services, it is possible to travel as an independent passenger, as an inclusive
tour passenger or as a member of an affinity charter group. Fare structures are
calculated, following a chart of normal fares, one way fares, round trip fares,
round the world fares, circle trip fares, G.I.T. fares, IT fares, or special
distinguished areas. On unscheduled services, if is impossible to travel as a
charter group or a member of a split charter group.
International Carriers
International airlines or ‘Flag Carriers’ represent their country and normally
have the country’s flag painted on the airplane. The majority of the international
carriers are ruled and sponsored by the government of that country. The
international airlines and routes inquire agreements between the various
governments based on socio-economic considerations as well as the frequency
of flights from one nation to another, The IATA attempts to resolve policies and
fares applicable to the participating international air carriers. The India Flag
carrier is Air India.
Domestic Carriers
Several hundred airlines serve the world today. In India, there are many
airline companies providing air transportation. No air carrier serves every city in
our country. These airlines have permanent operating rights within the region.
These airlines are hired by the public and operate on a fixed schedule. The
domestic carrier operating between the large cities.
As a travel agent, it is frequently necessary to use several airlines to
complete a trip and since no airline serves every city, it becomes essential to
allow the major route structure and remember the general geographical regions
served. Air transport operation could easily he conveniently grouped under three
broad headings.
1. Scheduled air services
2. Non-scheduled air services as chartered services
3. Air taxi services

Scheduled air services

Air services in this category may be international or domestic. They
operate on definite routes, They require government licence for their operation.
These airlines operate on the basis of published time tables regardless of
passenger load factors. These air services can also be categorised as under,
(i) State owned or public
(ii) Private owned
In India, the public airline is the national flag carrier such as Air India and
Indian Airlines Corporation. In USA all the airlines are operated by the private

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sector. Similarly in India very recently we have East West Airlines, Jet Airways,
Sahara Airways, etc. which have been operating in private sector. According to
their network and relative importance within the air transport business air
services, carriers other than IA and IAC, may be identified as either second or
third force airlines.

Non-scheduled Air Services/Chartered Services

Chartered air services grew the exposure of scheduled services. They
reduce their price dramatically by setting a very high break even load factor and
by keeping overhead–low. These airlines do not advertise their routes to the
public and save on marketing costs, on operation cost, and on head office cost.
These airlines are not obliged to operate to a time table. They can choose to
withdraw their less fully booked fights. They have freedom to transfer their
passengers to other chartered airlines or consolidate their fights with other.
Air Taxis
Air taxis are privately owned aircraft. They accommodate small groups
comprising four to eighteen persons. Mostly these aircrafts are used by business
travelers. They are very convenient and flexible Routing can be tailor made for
passengers Small airfield close to destination could be used Flights can be
arranged or routines amended it short notice.
Air Brokers
These are the middlemen who act as intermediaries between aircraft
owners and their potential charter market. They act both in an advisory and a
sales capacity their main task is to find suitable aircraft at the right place both for
ad-hoc and series charters. They maintain close contact both with airlines and
with the chartered market. They play an important role in securing aircraft seats
at times of shortage. They are active intermediaries in tour operator’s flight
consolidations.
Cabotage Routes
Carriage on routes with the national territory of one country is known as
cabotage routes. This is normally restricted to the national carriers of the country
concerned, It has nothing to do with international agreements.
Road Transport
Road or motor transport plays an important part in the field of tourism in
India and European countries. Unlike the other forms of transport, the cost of
transport per kilometer has very little road effect on the amount of travel budget.
There are two types of vehicles required for tourists.
1. Tourist Coaches
2. Tourist Cars
Coach Travel
Coach travel is managed and operated by coach operators who offer a
wide range of tourist services such as
(I) Express coach routes:

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(a) Domestic
(b) International
(2) Private hire services
(3) Tour and Excursion operating
(4) Transfer services
Long distance coach services provide a cheap alternative to rail and air
travel. Young men and women have been attracted to the adventures of long
distance coach packages which provide at a tow price, transport plus minimal
food and lodging in route. Most coach companies specialise in certain sphere of
activities. Some of them operate and market their tour nationally/domestically.
There are other coach companies who specialise in serving hr needs of the
incoming tourists and tour operators by providing exceptional programmes,
transfer between airport and hotels or complete coach tour for overseas visitors.
Long distance coach operators attempt to tie up reservations for hotel
rooms in major tourist centres. The high level of car ownership, coach services
both nationally and regionally will flourish in corning years. Effective marketing,
package holidays linked to scheduled coach services and unlimited travel within
a specified period by coach have attracted wide spread demand among
prospective travellers.
Tourist Cars
The increase in car ownership has changed the travel habits. Families got
a new freedom of movement. Now, people prefer car travel over public transport,
specially because of flexibility and low cost. There is an increase in monitoring
holidays, day excursions and short-break holidays. This change has profound
affect on the travel industry. The tourist accommodation industry has responded
by developing motels, tourist hotels, road side cafes, restaurants and many
supplementary accommodation facilities and food and beverage units. Car ferry
services have expanded and there is a visitors boom all around.
Indian Railways
The Indian Railways have been frying to adopt themselves to the new
conditions of modern tourism The services have undoubtedly been largely
improved and adopted to the needs and wishes of the clientele, The different
fares introduced have been intended to stimulate the tourists, by many
advantageous conditions to make excursions and trips from the place of
vocation, with a view to encouraging tourists from overseas to travel by ham
during their stay in the country.
The Indian Railways has adopted number of measures in order to
promote both foreign and domestic tourism.
Travel As You Like
The ‘travel as you like’ tickets introduced by the railways offer a special
concession to overseas tourist. These tickets are valid for 21 days from the
commencement of the first journey. The special feature of the ticket is that the

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tourist can travel to any place in the country irrespective of the distance by
paying in foreign exchange.

Concessional Return Tickets

Both for foreign and domestic travellers, the railways issues during the
season, concessional return tickets for hill stations, at one-and-a-half single
journey fares. Overseas tourists who may stay in India for a short time and who
have not drawn up plans for extensive travel can also avail themselves of a 10%
concession for travel by air-conditioned class.
Group Tourism
Tourists coming in higher portion may also avail of the facility of special
trains with restaurant cars which run to desired schedules and with the desired
class of accommodation. On trains in which air-conditioned class accommodation
is not normally provided a special air-conditioned coach can be arranged for
parties of 12 to 14 tourists.
Home on Wheels / Palace on Wheels
The railways provides facility of special tourist cars for organised parties
of tourists. There are air-conditioned, first and second class tourist cars with
bathrooms, kitchens, sleeping and sitting accommodation. These rosy be called
as ‘homes on wheels’, tourists cars can be kept in occupation by tourists till their
itinerary is over. Some years ago railways with the cooperation of Rajasthan
Tourism Development Corporation introduced 'Palace on Wheel’.

Preparing of Itineraries
With a view to encouraging well planned and organised tourism by
individual or parties, the railways hove drawn up itineraries for standard circular
tours for which special tickets valid for three months are available at 3/4th the
normal fare in all classes, except air.
1. Buddhist pilgrims from abroad as well as from different parts of the country for
journeys to number of places of Buddhist interest on the North-Eastern
Railways
2. VIPs and mountaineering expedition travelling to and from Nepal
3. Upper class passengers for journeys to various hill stations
4. Upper class business tourists and high officials in private and public sectors

Indrail Pass
Travel as you like — ‘by any train you like’ — ‘from north to south arid
east to west’ See the bewildering variety of flora and fauna that India is, see its
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries; see its colourful people heralding
religious festivals and seasons with folk dances and songs, simple yet robust arid
vigorous; see its ancient monuments and temples; the footprints of history
Moreover, a tour itinerary should be client oriented which includes:

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Standard Components
As noted in the previous section, standard inclusions may vary between group
and FIT tours. “Typical” inclusions and “expected” services on a traditional tour
may include many of the following:
Meet and Greet
Generally conducted at an airport, port or entry point into a destination.
A professional local guide or company representative meets and greets members
of the group and gives them a brief run-down on what activities, transportation,
lodging, etc. to expect while in the care of your company. The fee for this service
is built in to the overall package cost or may be included in baggage-handling
charges.
Lodging Welcome
Conducted for groups by local hotel/resort staff.
While the group escort goes to the front desk to do administrative chores (i.e.,
update rooming lists, check special needs, ensure rooms are ready, and get
room keys), the welcome person leads the group to a small gathering area/room
and provides a brief welcome announcement to the group. No fee is charged for
this service.
Welcome Reception
While many properties offer a “welcome cocktail” designed to allow time for bags
to delivered to each room, a welcome reception provides groups with basic
information about the lodging and local environs. This includes location of ice
machines, gift shop, nearest convenience store, bar and soft service, things to
see and do, etc. Fruit punch and cookies (or something inexpensive and simple)
are served. This reception is kept brief (i.e., 10-15 minutes) and allows for the
smooth delivery of baggage to each room while the reception is taking place. The
minor cost of the refreshments is born by the hotel/resort.
Baggage-Handling
Often not included for FIT. These charges, based on a per-bag-in and per-bag-
out basis, are charged to the package organizer.
Extra Services
Extra services are low-cost or no-cost complimentary services and personal
touches that help to ensure that you get repeat business in the future.
Suggestions include:
 a full ice bucket in each room;
 fresh flowers in each room;
 a welcome fruit basket in each room;
 comfortable bath robes for each guest;
 photo film pick-up and delivery;
 self-help coffee, for late at night or early morning, supplied in the lobby;
 a discount coupon from a local or in-house gift store;
 a display of local cultural art and crafts;

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 a locally crafted farewell gift upon departure; and
 evening bed turn-down and “treat”.
Meals
Often, groups are made to feel like inferior customers. This can be avoided.
Preplanning will show that added effort was made to celebrate their arrival.
Suggestions include:
 printing restricted or single-item main course meals on a letterhead sheet,
that includes a special greeting for the group and the day’s date;
 arranging for the group to sit at regular-size tables (not group tables); and
 allotting a set dollar value for each meal and letting group members order
from the regular menu, accordingly. (Note: always include staff gratuities
in quotes).
Entertainment
Set up a special area for the group. You may wish to provide them with a few
complimentary activities, such as:
 playing cards and card tables;
 access to local films or video productions which highlight the local
flora and fauna, attractions worth visiting, local shopping opportunities,
etc.;
 information/education evenings where local “experts” are invited to
provide a presentation and answer questions;
 a talk about tomorrow’s tour (if applicable); and
 a scavenger hunt designed to encourage local awareness.
Sightseeing
Select your tours with your target markets in mind. For example, keep in mind
that seniors find it difficult to walk on uneven ground, require assistance getting in
and out of boats and enjoy the fresh air but need to keep walking to a minimum.
Both groups and FIT’s enjoy the “grass-roots”, local community perspective.
Allow time for shopping and resting and refreshing before dinner.
Farewell
A representative from each place of lodging and the local tour operator should be
on-hand as the group loads for final departure. A simple “thanks for coming” can
be enough, but a treat of candy, fruit or granola bar for the day’s journey is a nice
touch.
Creative Inclusions
Creative inclusions are components that add a perceived value to the tour.
Suggestions include:
 an evening presentation on provincial and/or local area history;
 slide shows showing local highlights;
 a local craft-making demonstration; and
 an evening presentation on local/indigenous foods and their
preparation.

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The Duration of a Package
Once target markets have been pinpointed and examined, a travel pattern will
emerge. Some markets have a propensity to purchase complete two-week travel
packages while others may enjoy one week of prearranged activities following by
one week of independent travel. Other target markets may enjoy the freedom to
plan their daily excursions on their own. In this case the tour package should
make available “vouchers” for the various options available, which the individual
tourist can purchase on-site and at the reduced “group rate”.
Tour operators have an ongoing need to locate product offerings of less than one
day to incorporate into established travel patterns. Businesses and communities
should be encouraged to participate in packaging by programming products or
events to fill these needs. Examples include: one-hour interpretative walks
through a local garden or easily accessible rain forest trail; a half-day nature hike;
or a half-day sightseeing excursion to local viewpoints.
Tourism Supply
 Attractions
 Culture and Heritage Attractions
 National Parks and Reserves
 Wildlife Management Areas and Concessions
 Conference Facilities
 Shopping and Entertainment
Intangible Assets
 Brand India
 Safety and Aesthetics
 Service Standards and Culture
Related and Supporting Industries
 Accommodation
 Transport Modes and Infrastructure
 Road Transport
 Air Transport
 Sea transport

2.3 Elements of effective tour itinerary

Effectively organizing all of the details of an executive’s travel plans requires a
travel itinerary template that you use consistently. Don’t ask your travelers if they
want one – JUST DO IT! They’ll thank you for it later. And in the mean time,
you’ll have saved them a lot of time and hassle in sorting through multiple
documents or scrolling through multiple emails to find the information they need
at the moment they need it while they are traveling. I know this because every
executive I’ve ever created one for initially comes to expect and/or demand them

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for future trips. I’ve done a fair share of traveling myself, and trips with an
itinerary are much more efficient.
Think Chronologically: If you haven’t done a lot of travel planning in the past,
one of the first things I encourage you to do is THINK CHRONOLOGICALLY.
What is the order of events for your traveler throughout their trip? This will help
you get all of the arrangements made that are required from the start (flights,
ground transportation, hotel, meals, meetings, etc.).
Using This Travel Itinerary Template: My template is designed to cover all of
the basic details that need to be included on an itinerary for a traveling
executive. Not every trip requires airline travel. Not every trip requires rental
cars. It may change from trip to trip and traveler to traveler. Remain flexible.
Customize this template to make it fit more specifically to your executive’s
specific travel needs.
Here are some tips to get you started:
 Fill all appropriate information for each trip.
 If you have executives that travel frequently to the same places, save
their past travel itineraries. Open the most recent version, update with
the new date and travel details without having to recreate the entire
document each time they travel. It’s a huge time saver!
 Print a final copy for your executive AND a copy for your file so you have
the same information if they need travel assistance while they are gone.
If appropriate, you can also print an additional copy for the traveler’s
family so they know where they’ll be and when as well.
 If your executives have e-tickets for their flights, print a copy of the flight
reservation from your travel agency or online booking service and staple it
to the back of the itinerary just in case there are any issues when they
check in at the airport.
Each time you need to create an itinerary, follow these steps to update the
template with your executive’s travel information.
1. Personalize the HEADER information on the template
 Include your executive’s name and your company name.
 Insert your company’s name/logo.
 Update the travel dates.
 Do this on the 1st page AND also in the header so it prints on any
additional pages of the document if your itinerary is more than 1 page
long.
2. Update/add all AIRLINE information:
 Delete all previous times on the itinerary template.
 Update all airline information requested on the template: dates, times,
flight numbers, airline 800 numbers, travel agency numbers, any
information that might be needed while traveling.
3. Update the GROUND TRANSPORTATION information:
 Be sure to include car service info or shuttle/taxi contact numbers.

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 List on the itinerary where the car service or shuttle will pick the
passenger up.
 Include the confirmation number.
4. Update the HOTEL information:
 Be sure there is a hotel contact number to reach the hotel.
 Include street address and any applicable driving directions necessary.
 Include the confirmation number and room rate.
5. MEETING INFORMATION in order of dates/times.
 Make sure to reference which time zone the time is listed in.
to find out which time zone abbreviations apply at various times of the
year.
 Include conference number dial in and pass code information in case their
flights are delayed and they need to join the meeting from their cell phone
until they arrive at the meeting location. (Trust me, it happens!)
6. Check each section of the itinerary for information that needs to be updated.
7. Treat the compilation of the itinerary as though you were the traveler. What
additional information would you want to know?
 Driving directions
 Restaurant options and/or locations
 Entertainment venues
8. PROOF READ, PROOF READ, PROOF READ the completed itinerary.
There are a lot of details here. Make sure you proof it well.
The best executive travel managers make complicated trips look easy.
Whether airline delays are likely, there’s a strong chance of missed flight
connections, or it’s going to be a tight transfer from terminal to hotel, itineraries
that can stand up to the unexpected all have something in common: they’re
detailed, confirmed, and include contingency plans.
Planning the perfect trip takes time, which is why the value of corporate travel
managers continues to climb in the era of technology. In the words “the ability to
engineer an effective, seamless itinerary requires more than just bells and
whistles.” From vendors to contingencies, we’ve put together an overview of just
what sets the perfect plan apart:
1. The Executive Travel Vendors
In a busy executive travel itinerary, one missing or broken piece can be a
disaster. Depending on the importance of the meetings scheduled, with top
clients. Corporate travel managers understand from experience that the risk of
questionable service associated with booking a new vendor simply isn’t worth the
potential damage to a travel itinerary.
2. The Documentation
Mobile technology has had a significant impact on corporate travel technology,
and proprietary apps that allow corporate travel managers to remotely manage
itineraries and risk management are being adopted by an increasing number of
major organizations. While details can vary significantly, many travel

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professionals are adopting programs that allow them to actively manage an
executive’s itinerary remotely. That way they can ensure there haven’t been any
disruptions to schedule.
3. The Connections
Connecting flights are the bane of many corporate travel managers’ existence.
There are few things in life or work more unpredictable than air travel, and
connecting flights can effectively double the chances that an executive doesn’t
reach his or her final destination as originally planned. Most travel managers
have learned to avoid connecting flights whenever possible, and schedule a
healthy cushion of time between connections when they simply can’t be avoided.
4. The Comprehensiveness
The best itineraries spell out how executives will travel from “door to door.” Will
the executive ground transportation service be greeting the executive at the
office with a discreet text message? How will he meet his Chauffeur in the
terminal? Details have been negotiated, established, and communicated so
there’s no confusion along the way.
5. The Flexibility
The best-laid travel plans don’t always go as intended and executive travel
managers have a plan in place in case a flight is missed or delayed. Whether
they need to contact the car service if the executive is bumped from the flight
entirely or they have any last-minute requests for the hotel vendor, their own
documentation includes the details that might be changed at the last minute if
necessary. The best travel itinerary planning includes a careful attention towards
flexibility and continual communication with vendors, so that executives can
focus on staying productive as they travel.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.
1. What are the main components of a tour itinerary?
2. How to plan a effective itinerary?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

2.4 Summary
It is clear that a tour itinerary provides basic, timely accurate and comparable
information to the tourists. A printed tour itinerary was first introduced by the
Thomas cook in 1856 when he started inclusive tour package. In this lesson we
learnt the tour designing process steps. No doubt, these steps vary from tour to
tour and company to company, however provide comprehensive information for
development and designing of tour package. In the next lessons we will discuss
in detail the concept of tour package and various tour packages.

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Answer to Check Your Progress
1) See sec. 2.2
2). See sec. 2.3

2.5 Glossary
 Aparthotel - the type of hotel rooms, close in design to the form of modern
apartments, including space for cooking (the cost of food is usually not
included in price)
 Apartments – the type of hotel rooms, close in design to the form of
modern apartments, including space for cooking (the cost of food is usually
not included in price).
 Upgrading - provision of accommodation services (rooms) with an increase
in the category of the room without paying additional fees by the tourist.
 Railroad/train cruise - train travel during a few days on a circular route
using the train not only for transportation, but also for the provision of
accommodation, food for tourist, etc. with stops along the route for
sightseeing.

2.6 Review Questions

 What is a tour itinerary? What are its main elements?
 Suppose your are requested to plan a religious tour itinerary , what would
the main components
 Draw a route map of adventure itinerary to Garhwal Himalaya.
 What should include to make an itinerary more effectives?

2.7 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business Of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.

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 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice.
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency
and tour operators.

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UNIT 3: INFORMATION AND RESEARCH

INPUT REQUIRED IN PREPARATION OF
TOUR ITINERARIES
Structure
3.0 Objectives
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Information and research input required in Preparation of Tour Itineraries
3.2.1 Research sources of information for addressing visitor inquiries
3.2.2 Essential travel itinerary information is paramount to develop a tour
package:
3.2.3 Benefits of adequate Information and research input
3.3 Summary
3.4 Glossary
3.5 Review Questions
3.6 Suggested Readings

3.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept Information and research input
required in Preparation of Tour Itineraries.
 Explain Research sources of information for addressing visitor inquiries
 Discuss Essential travel itinerary information is paramount to develop a
tour package:
 Describe benefits of adequate Information and research input

3.1 Introduction
Today, tourism business has been recognised as most professional and
customer oriented. In fact, tour operation of modern tourism business has
become so complex that it cannot be performed without accurate destination
information i.e. 3 A’s of tourism. Moreover, tour executives or tour mangers use
various sources of information in their day- to- day decisions or for the
preparation \ development of tour itinerary. Thus, managerial vis-à-vis practical
knowledge is the core competence that needs to be developed among the
tourism students. This unit is designed to prepare the students as tour planner or
manger so that they can understand what the main sources of information are
and what research input is required to design tour package.

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3.2 Information and research input required in Preparation
of Tour Itineraries
To be honest, the word itinerary makes me shudder. They are terrible,
constraining, time-consuming, usually impractical schedules with the goal of
making our travels easier. Except time after time, they will fail. That two-week trip
will either feel like a marathon or a disappointment. How do you balance seeing
enough, without trying to see too much? You don’t. That is the best part of travel.
You never know what the world is going to throw at you. You don’t know if it will
be pouring rain when you want to hike the Cinque Terre trail, or if the museum is
going to close for a private party, or if the president is going to die and the entire
city is going to take to the streets. The ultimate travel itinerary is one you are
willing to forget about at the drop of a hat. Some would even say the best
itinerary is the one that doesn’t exist.
This topic will provide you with research skills for collecting travel
information for an itinerary, based on the specific needs of your traveller. A travel
itinerary should provide accurate details for the traveller and support staff for:
 Departure dates  Flight numbers  Appointments
and times  Accommodation  Airport transfers
 Arrival dates bookings  Any other information
and times  Business contact requested by the
 Methods of traveller
transport - air,
bus, train, hire
car
 Airline
identification
All departure and arrival dates and times are shown in local time, ie the
date and time according to the place of arrival or departure. The internet provides
many sites for you to research and finalise arrangements for travel itineraries. If
your duties require you to organise travel on a regular basis, you will need to
access a range of information, either on the internet or from the following
suggested list of publications:
 Airline timetables  Insurance -  Modes of travel
 Accommodation health and travel  Facilities
directories  Passport available at the
 Information on visa applications/rene various venues
wals
 Time difference

Moreover, a tour planner needs to go depth and research various sources

of travel information to develop or design effective and innovative tour itinerary.

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3.2.1 Research sources of information for addressing
visitor inquiries
 the special issues of international tourists arriving in India; e.g.,
documentation, customs, health problems, language, currency
 List a range of resources available; e.g., online, guide books, pamphlets, 1-
800 numbers
 identify tourism regulatory agencies and explain their role in the industry
 provide, to visitors, basic information about India regulations related to:
 fishing, hunting and/or camping
 provincial and national parks
 liquor
 smoking
Describe the different types of travel plans and tours available to the traveller,
including:
 trip plans and itineraries
 day trips
 site tours
 inclusive tour charters
 special interest travel
Identify requirements for travel
 travel limitations related to:
 documentation
 criminal records
 travelling with children
 list various agencies that provide travel information related to health and
safety
 research travel advisories and insurance
 identify immunizations required for specific travel
Describe the components of an itinerary
 list the factors that a travel planner will consider when planning a tour,
including:
 age, needs, desired activities and agility of client
 budget
 season
 time and distance
 accommodation
 attractions
 geography
 risk assessment
 mode of transportation

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 language
 currency
 food preferences
In nutshell, a tour planner gets information on the following aspects:

Before the visit:

Understand the participants in the group.
…. Where the participants are are from?
…. What positions do the participants hold?
…. Do the participants know about or sell your product?
…. How do they sell your product?
…. Do they have potential tosell your product?
Know the itinerary:
…. Arrival time:
…. Departure time:
…. Coming from:
…. Going to:
…. Visited:
…. Primary contact info:
…. Staff briefing provided:
…. Media kit ready (product info/rate/contact information)
…. Gift
During the visit:
…. Make visitor feel welcome
…. Introduce self
…. Exchange business cards
…. Outline tour
…. Escort group
…. Introduce key staff
…. Present information kit (Provide CDs or videosif available)
…. Offer to send information post tour
…. Provide time to answer questions
…. Make follow-up list
…. Ask group for feed-back
…. Collect contact information from group
After the visit:
…. Add participants to database
…. Send thank-you letter or email
…. Follow-up on requests for information/opportunities
…. Follow-up on any product/service upgrades
Travel Documents

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A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or
international treaty organization to facilitate the movement of individuals or small
groups 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
1) Passport - Valid for at least 6 months from your travel date.
2) Visa - Valid visa for the country you are visiting. You will also require a
Transit Visa if you are transiting for more than 12 hours. Please check
Transit Visa rules for the country of transit.
3) Travel insurance - It is advisable to carry valid Medical & Travel
insurance when traveling internationally.
4) Foreign Currency - It is not allowed to carry more than US$ 10,000 as a
cash or travellers check.
5) Air Ticket - Confirmed return air ticket. A one-way air ticket will be
accepted only for students or working professionals (Student Visa or Work
Visa holders), as well as dependents of the working professionals.
During the tour itinerary designing process, a tour planner must consider
the various tour documents required for the travel to a particular tourist
destination such as:
1. Route Instructions (Cue Sheets) and Route Map:
 Spiral-bound booklet that fits into the map-holder of your handlebar bag;
includes detailed, easy-to-follow directions.
 Large Scale map with your route highlighted.
2. Pre-Trip Preparation Guide. Provides in-depth coverage of a variety of topics
including:
 Tips for preparing physically, mentally & spiritually for your tour.
 Tips for packing, including a packing checklist.
 Information regarding French language and culture.
 On the road cycling tips and safety guidelines.
 Details regarding transportation via train from your gateway city to your
tour's starting point.
3. Quick Reference Guide. This handy booklet fits in your handlebar bag for ease
of access while on the road, providing information at a glance on the following
topics:
 All Diverse Directions support services
 Emergency instructions
 Security and safety guidelines
 Instructions for changing a flat tire
 Rail tips
 Pre-ride checklist and pre-ride stretches

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 Essential French Vocabulary
4. Sights Overview: Brief descriptions of notable sights along your route,
complete with hours of operation (where applicable.)

3.2.2 Essential travel itinerary information is paramount to

develop a tour package:
- Flight Airline and Number
- Flight Confirmation Number
- Hotel Name and Address
- Hotel Confirmation Number
- Car Rental Address
- Directions to Airport
- Directions to Hotel
- Directions to Car Rental Company
- Airport Transportation Information and Hours of Operation
- Things to Do
- Emergency Contact Information
- Subway Map and Hours
- Local Taxi Information
- Local Maps
- Average Local Weather
- Photos of Where You Are Going
- Excerpts from Travel Blogs
Here’s a few tips for when you need a plan, but don’t want your trip to end
up like one of those seven-day, fourteen-country bus tours.
Stretch the Schedule
There is never enough time. Let me say that again. There is NEVER
enough time. I don’t care if you have five years to travel. You’ll want ten. The
key is to stretch the schedule as much as possible. Have two weeks of vacation?
Add weekends. Plan it after a holiday. Take sick days. Book a night flight.
Whatever you can do to make your trip longer. Figure out the maximum amount
of time you have first.
Do Research
Before you start putting down places and dates on a calendar. Research
your destination. Document it well. Read travel guides. Talk to friends. Consult
travel forums. Figure out what looks fun and what should be avoided. Don’t forget
to look for important events like festivals or holidays in your destinations. They
can be both awesome experiences, and logistical headaches.
Make a good long list of what you’d like to see and do. And write
down how long you’ll need to do it. Be realistic and always consult an expert for
information. Then put the list in order by priority.

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Get a Map
Now that you have a list of places to visit, get out the atlas. (Or head to Google
Maps). Get a sense of where everything is, and how long it takes to get between
locations. Check road conditions, and seasonal closures.
Plan a Route
Looking at your map, figure out the best way to get between your
destinations. Are you flying in and out of the same city? Or can you go one way?
Does public transportation go to the places you want to see? Or do you need to
rent a car or fly? Consider short flights for efficiency, but recognize they aren’t
flexible with dates.
Add in Travel Time
Don’t forget that going from place to place takes time. Airports take time.
Trains take more time. International flights can take days out of your life.
Remember that public transport often doesn’t have a schedule. It goes when it
goes. And that may have nothing to do with your itinerary. Flying to a new
destination in the morning, then taking a train to a tourist site, then a bus to your
hotel all in one day is exhausting. Count on travel days being an entire day. Don’t
try to plan sightseeing on the same day.
Build in Flexibility
Unfortunately, the world doesn’t revolve around you. But don’t feel bad, it
doesn’t revolve around me either. Something will go wrong. Planes will be
delayed. Streets will close. Hotels will go out of business. There will be a festival
or a riot or an election or maybe even a parade. You will have to cancel,
reschedule, adjust, move and start over.
Get used to it and just go with it Have time in your itinerary to deal with
changes and delays. It’s just another part of traveling.
Build in Rest Days
It is important that rest days aren’t considered the “flexibility” time. Rest
days are for resting. Doing laundry. Writing in journals. Taking naps. Drinking
beer. Or recovering from drinking beer.
Ask Advice and then Ignore It: Travelers love to give advice. Look at me; I
have a whole website full of advice. Listen to what others have to say. Call up old
friends that have done similar trips. Post on forums like Lonely Planet’s
Thorntree. Ask what to do, where to stay, how long you should be there. Make
sure to seek out others with similar travel styles. If you’re the adventurous type
that likes camping and mountain climbing, don’t take advice from travelers who
like art museums and five-star hotels. Once you have all this information, ignore
it. Well, most of it. It’s your trip, your adventure. You have to make your own
decisions and create your own adventures.
Rental Vehicles: The Contractor shall reserve commercial vehicles for travelers,
if requested.

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Related Services: Health Requirements. The Contractor shall provide travelers
with advice on necessary health requirements, including types of inoculations
and vaccinations whether required or suggested for foreign travel.
Ticket Delivery: The Contractor shall provide delivery of tickets, itineraries, and
boarding passes (if applicable), and other travel documents, as determined
necessary. Tickets shall routinely be provided no earlier than five days in
advance of travel unless the Indian. Government requests otherwise. The
Contractor shall deliver tickets only to employees designated by the India
Government.
 Travel reservations, issuance and delivery of tickets for air, advance seat
assignments; ;
 Arranging charter flight services as per the specification agreed by the
U.S. Government.
 Reservations for lodging accommodations;
 Commercial automobile rental services;
 Assistance in obtaining passports, visas, and advice regarding health
requirements;
 Detailed travelers' itineraries;
 Management information and billing reports derived from the booking
database;
 Reconciliation of travel charges incurred through the Government's Central
Billing Account (CBA); and,
 Information pamphlets for Government travelers who use the contract.
Tourist guide system that used mobile computing technology on wireless
infrastructure to present tourists with tour-related information that could be tuned
to fit multitude of circumstantial contexts. Further, Electronic Travel Planner is a
system that constructs an entire vacation by piecing together structured
components of types “tour”, “lodging”, and “transportation”. Tours typically
contain places to visit and activities to perform within a single day and general
area, i.e. between lodgings and transports.
Integrating Analysis and Synthesis is the only prior work that we have
found to be addressing both the mining of itinerary data and its synthesis. Built as
an itinerary recommender system for users, they treat scenic landmarks
photographed by a user as defining that user’s interests.
Trip planners can also provide a large amount of information to
developers and planners related to the origins, destinations, and timing of trips,
and on the use of the trip planner software. Map based trip planners show that
people using map based trip planners employ a mixture of methods when
determining their origins and destinations, including clicking on the map, entering
a landmark or intersection, or any combination of those for both the origin and
destination

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Text-Based Trip Planners: Many times the input and output of the trip planner is
a text-based interface. The user enters his/her address at the origin and
destination and time requirements including day of travel in text fields. These
time inputs can include the time at the origin or the time at the destination. The
information is sent to the web server, which sends it to a routing algorithm. The
completed itinerary is returned to the web server and back to the browser.
Map-Based Trip Planners: To incorporate maps into this process, identifies the
two major functions of a map-based trip planner. The first function is that the
planner must make indicate that on-line, map-based trip planners have three-tier
architecture. The first tier of the architecture contains a user interface on the web
browser, which is the client-server tier. The second tier is a web server, which is
the server tier. The third tier is an application server that contains a GIS
application server and/or a database server, which is the application tier.
Due to the advancements of computing, communication and storage
technologies, automatic transit trip planners have been implemented in recent
years. Transit trip planners accept the origin, destination and expected
departure/arrival time inputted from users and find proper routes using available
transit services. Transit trip planners are generally web based. Some notable
transit trip planners provided by transit agencies and companies include Bay
Area 511Transit Planner (5), Chicago RTA Transit Planner (6), Google Transit
Planner (8), Houston MTA Transit Planner (9), Los Angeles Metro Transit
Planner (10), New York City Transit Planner (11), and Seattle Metro Transit
Planner (12). Deutsche Bahn (7), Transport Direct (13), and ENOSIS (20) are
some notable planners in Europe. Google Transit Planner also provides the
routes outside of US if the required data is available.
After the analysis above, it is reasonable to summarize the following features
of a common user’s itinerary planning for a new place.
1. The description of the demanded destination is usually a category but not a
exact geographical location, such as “a famous attraction”, “a well-known snack
bar”,etc.
2. Users demand precise information of each place they want to go such as
exact geographical location, the traffic route, the shortest and average taxi time
between any two locations.
3. Users are interested in knowing other people’s review about the places.
4. Some of the users’ demands have multiple optimizing objects, which are
clearly expressed and possible to be mathematically described, such as least
time cost on the traffic; some are very vague and hard to be described
mathematically, such as the most famous location available.
5. Categories of location points: It saves classification information of places. In
this paper, we use hierarchy categories provided by foursquare;
6. Traffic information networks: It preserves the shortest travel time and the best
path between any two arbitrary semantic location points of a city. We get
semantic locations, which paid close attention by users, from public transit

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agencies, and mining taxi history data to obtain accurate shortest path
information.
7. Repositories of location points: We crawling all location points, which are
provided by different users and evaluation by millions of users, of the target city
from location based social networks. This collaborative evaluated information can
more objectively indicate the popular degree of location points.
3.2.3 Benefits of adequate Information and research input
This kind of front-end user, if used by you can render following benefits:
a) It gives you ability to make multiple, simultaneous enquiries for a holiday using
only one set of data entry stream;
b) It enables you to have effective link between front and back office system and
thus gaining improvement in managing customers and providing customer
service;
c) You can speed up your booking process by taking full advantage of high
network speed of this front-end intranet facility;
d) It allows you automatic search on preferred supplies system, i.e., matching
your commercial needs with that of supplier in line with existing business
practices;
e) When you are handling higher value sales in your presentation it enables you
to make images and video clips;
f) When you are using this facility cost of sale is known to both principal as well
as tour operator;
g) It generates detailed and accurate management statistics regarding booking
transactions;
h) Because of the use of the interface platform principal and travel agent are able
to give better support to the retailers in the form of customer specific sales and
marketing information as well as customer service; and
i) Its use allows both principals and tour operators to maintain their market
penetration whilst enjoying the benefits of the technological change.
j) Information brokers to pass information from product suppliers to customers;
k) Transactions processors to print ticket or forward money;
l) Advisors to provide value-added information to their customers, assisting them
in their choices of specific products and destinations.
To sum up, we are witnessing a rapidly changing scene in travel information
driven by technology advances and an increasingly competitive market place.
We are facing new issues and challenges more particularly related to the use of
intranet and internet facilities which need to be carefully addressed for
developing a healthy, reliable, accurate itinerary information system in tour
operation industry.

Check your progress

Answer the following questions.

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1. What are the main sources of information from a tour itinerary?
2. How route map used for effective itinerary?
3. List main benefits of information sources.
4. Give essential travel itinerary information to develop a tour package:
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit
3.3 Summary
This unit explains you the various information aspects related to itinerary
planning. The unit began with an understanding of various elements of
information in tourism industry and the factors governing better information and
research input required preparing effective itinerary. In summary, there is a lack
of integration between Touristic data mining and synthesizing those mining
results to form itineraries such that the users can easily adopt and leverage. We
need more appropriate information sources to construct innovative itineraries to
serve wider spectrum of tourist requirements. Data mining in Itineraries may
incorporate temporal constraints such as opening hours of museums, places
especially nice at sunset, areas popular on weekends, etc.
Answer to Check Your Progress
1) See Sec 3.2.1
2) See Sec 3.2.2
3) See Sec 3.2.3
4) See Sec 3.2.4

3.4 Glossary
 Affiliated Online Booking Networks :An online network of operator websites
coming together through a central coordinating website, e.g., for
accommodation in a district or tourism region
 Bandwidth: A measure of capacity, referring to the amount of data which can
be transferred simultaneously across an Internet connection: the wider the
bandwidth, the larger the carrying capacity, and the faster the uploads and
downloads.
 Cache: Copies of previously accessed web pages and related files are stored,
in a cache, either on your computer or on computers operated by an ISP
(Internet Service Provider). On subsequent visits to these web pages the files
are retrieved from the cache rather than downloaded from the web server
again. This reduces the time taken to deliver the web page to you.
 Cascading Style Sheets: A programming language used to define the style,
such as font, size, colour, spacing, etc. of web documents. It is recommended
by the WC3 (World Wide Web Consortium).
 Content Management System (CMS): System that allows a website owner to
edit their content without requiring any knowledge of web programming. Also
known as CMS.

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 Database: A structured collection of records or data that is stored in a
computer or on a server. Content management systems save a website's
content in a database.
 ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): A digital service that provides
fast data transmission over the existing copper telephone wiring system,
requiring a modem and 'dial up' access. It preceded ADSL.
 ISP (Internet Service Provider): A company which provides access to the
Internet. For a fee, the service provider gives you a software package,
username, password and if in a dial-up area an access phone number.

3.5 Review Questions

 What precautions you shall take while engaging or handling providers of
various travel services in your tour operation enterprise?
 Highlight the challenges being faced by the players of tourism industry
while developing and sustaining relationships.
 Illustrate Research sources of information for addressing visitor inquiries.
 What are essential travel itinerary information is paramount to develop a
tour package?
 Elaborate benefits of adequate Information and research input
 How would you use travel information sources for designing tour
itinerary?
 List various sources of informational available for a tour operator in India.

3.6 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business Of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, PH, London, 1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S., and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.

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 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency
and tour operators.

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UNIT 4 SYSTEMATIC APPROACH FOR ITINERARY

PREPARATION: CONSTRAINTS AND GREY AREAS
INVOLVED IN PREPARATION OF INNOVATIVE
ITINERARIES
Structure
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Systematic Approach for Itinerary preparation
4.3 Constraints and Grey areas involved in preparation of innovative Itineraries
4.4 Summary
4.5 Glossary
4.6 Review Questions
4.7 Suggested Readings

4.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of Systematic approaches for
Itinerary preparation;
 Explain the main constraints for preparation of innovative Itineraries ,
 Discuss the Grey areas involved in preparation of innovative Itineraries \

4.1 Introduction
Tour itinerary present analytical problems because of the great diversity of
routes that travellers follow and the varying significance of destinations along
those routes. Most of the approaches or models that have been proposed to deal
with this complexity have focused either on the total number of travellers from
one country to another, or on the overall pattern of entire trips. An alternative and
complementary approach is to examine the relative location of a destination
within the larger itinerary pattern. Depending on their location within the overall
trip itinerary, places can exhibit characteristics of one or more destination types:
Single Destination, Gateway Destination, Egress Destination, Touring
Destination, or Hub Destination. This unit helps the students to plan a systematic
tour itinerary while considering constraints and Grey areas involved in
preparation of innovative Itineraries.

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4.2 Systematic Approach for Itinerary preparation
Tour itineraries, travel gateways and transportation hubs are key concepts in
tourism and travel. On the surface they are easy to understand. A tour itinerary
consists of a route with one or more stops that a traveller takes. A travel gateway
is a place that provides access to (and often travel services for) a destination
place or region. A transportation hub is a place where more than one route for a
transport medium (usually air or rail) converges and emanate. These concepts,
however, have only rarely been critically examined and are only marginally
understood from theoretical and empirical standpoints. The basic approaches
/models that have been developed have primarily focused on the general flow of
travelers from one destination to another and variations in the overall form or
pattern of itineraries. Both of these approaches focus on the route, with only
secondary attention given to itinerary stops en route. Using empirical data from a
targeted survey of international visitors to Hong Kong, the research presented
here models variations in itineraries based on the impact that these have on a
single destination.
Planning an itinerary is one of the most time-consuming travel preparation
activities. For a popular touristic city, it involves painstakingly examining the
hundreds of Points-of-Interest (POIs) to select the POIs that one likes, figuring
out the order in which they are to be visited, and ensuring the time it takes to visit
them, and to transit from one POI to the next, satisfies the user’s time budget.
Package holidays or all-inclusive travel has been very popular and is likely to
maintain its popularity in many countries such as India, USA, Japan, Ireland, the
UK and China According to the European Union's Package Travel Regulations
(1992), “package” means the pre-arranged combination of at least two of the
components (transport, accommodation, and other tourist services) when sold or
offered for sale at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of
more than 24 hours or includes overnight accommodation. For example, a
package holiday to India marketed and operated by travel agents and/or tour
operators usually consists of overnight accommodation in New Delhi, visits to
one of the two theme parks and other tourist attractions, shopping and of course
the use of transportation services. Different types of tourism components
(activities) in package holidays are provided by specific agents and enterprises
that form a tourism supply chain (TSC). A TSC comprises the suppliers of all the
goods and services that go into the delivery of the tourism products to tourists.
Among these suppliers, tour operators play a principal role as the intermediaries
that bring buyers and sellers together, package different tourism
products/services into a single product, and market the product to the targeted
tourist segments. Enterprises in a TSC, on the one hand, benefit from providing
components of the package tours, as a consistent demand for these
products/services could be maintained

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There are increasing numbers of travelers seeking high-quality, authentic
experiences relating to nature, history, and culture. Ecotourism and heritage
tourism are considered among the fastest growing segments of travel throughout
the world. Another trend is that more travelers are on their own -- FITs or free
and independent travelers. They generally seek out their own activities and
develop their own customized itineraries, largely determined by special interests.
From birding to spelunking, and archeological digs to scuba diving, travelers are
motivated more than ever in finding opportunities to learn while on vacation, to
seek new experiences, and to find inspiration.
In fact, itinerary development has become the crux and central point for the
success of the tour company. Theoretically, there are two approaches for
itinerary development. The first deals with approaching vendors without
identifying himself. The reasons supporting this approach being that the tour
planner makes reservations independently from the vendor companies as tourist
or as tour planner to discover how the “average tourist” is treated by them. It
helps him to classify vendors into categories ranging form extremely good to
extremely bad. That is, under this approach tour planner starts the ‘tour’ as a
tourist who is not distinguished from the other tourists. It provides a major
advantage to the tour planner in the form of an opportunity to evaluate vendors
and their services from the standpoint of general public (tourists). However, the
approach has pitfalls of being both expensive and time consuming.
The second approach means a tour planner makes contract with all potential
vendors in advance to put together all ingredients. When the ‘FAM tour’ is
conducted in this manner, the tour planner puts all possible components of tour
together and develops final tour itinerary. Obviously, tour planner receives much
more than the average tourist would have received. Mostly vendors provide the
tour planner more convenient and comfortable facilities during his visit. However,
this approach is not free from disadvantage of giving the planner a skewed
viewpoint in respect of all ingredients of the tour. The tour operator industry
practices show that the combined approach is most often used by tour planners
to develop an itinerary. The tour planner undertakes all possible attributes of the
tour first as an unidentified individual traveler and repeats each tour ingredients
as an identified tour planner. Thus, a tour planner will have a much more realistic
view at the time of itinerary preparation. More significantly, before designing and
planning an itinerary, the tour planner must try to find the answer to three key
questions- ‘How much customer demand is in the market? ‘How practical is the
tour?’ & ‘How profitable is the tour?’
Let us first know the meaning of the term itinerary planning. Roday, Biwal, Joshi
,(2009) have defined itinerary planning as the linking of all the journey points of
the traveler’s journey, i.e. from the origin point, and in between stopping points
for sightseeing at the destination and back to the point of origin. This is not
always the case as sometimes the tourist may not come back to the point of
origin.

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 Itinerary planning is one of the major functions of any travel agency.

 The travel agencies sell readymade package tours to their clients or may
design customized itineraries as per the requirement of the client.
 Itinerary planning has to be done carefully as many details need to be
considered like sightseeing, time taken, meals, weather, monument
information, the timings of the monuments and its closure.
1. Palace on Wheel Tour Itinerary
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations Covered: Delhi - Jaipur - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Ranthambore -
Udaipur - Bharatpur - Agra
Day 1: Delhi
Delhi is a heady amalgam of the quaint charisma of the bygone years and the
exhilarating ride on the wings of technology. The city has always been the center
of politics and hence has several edifices of great historical significance.
Day 2: Jaipur
Jaipur- the 'Pink City' was founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the late 17th
century. The city offers an amicable blend of traditional lifestyles and modern
ways.
Day 3: Jaisalmer
Fascinating, enchanting and amazing - that is the city of Jaisalmer! A visit to the
Patwon ki Haveli is a must on any traveler's itinerary.
Day 4: Jodhpur
Jodhpur, founded by Rao Jodhaji in the mid-15th century, offers fascinating
tourist attractions like Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace)
and Sukh Mahal (Pleasure Palace).
Day 5: Ranthambore
Sawai Madhopur is the town at the entrance of Ranthambhore National Park,
which is famous for its lush environs,
clear lakes, meandering rivers and various wild species.
Day 6: Udaipur
the "City of Lakes", Udaipur, was founded in the mid-16th century by Maharana
Udai Singh. Lake Palace is the major attraction of the city.
Day 7: Bharatpur & Agra
The famous bird sanctuary at Bharatpur is a haven to more than four hundred
varieties of exotic birds. The fascinating city of Agra boasts of Taj Mahal - poetry
etched in marble.

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Day 8: Delhi
The journey ends in Delhi.

2. Tour Itinerary [Shimla- Manali - Chandigarh]

Tour Itinerary: Code Him/va/13
Day 1 Pick up From Delhi & Drive to Shimla
Arrive at New Delhi airport or any railway station like New Delhi / Delhi / Hazarat
Nizamuddin, Meet n greet by Hamara Holiday executive or vehicle driver at Rly.
Station or Airport and drive to Shimla (8 hrs), Arrive at Shimla and check in at
hotel and overnight stay at Shimla hotel.
Day 2 Sight Seeing (Shimla & Around Shimla)
Enjoy Breakfast at hotel and depart for sightseeing of Kufri. Kufri is 12 kms from
Shimla, Kufir is famous for awesome hill views, and one can visit mini zoo, Poney
and Yak Ride .at Kufri. After lunch ( own cost) enjoy sight seeing of Shimla
places like Shimla mosques built in year 1830, Christ Church built in year 1844,
The Gaiety Theatre, The Grindlays Bank built in year 1912, The Scandal Point
and The famous Shopping Plaza of the North The Mall & ridge.Dinner &
overnight stay at Shimla hotel.
Day 3 Shimla to Manali Drive
Take breakfast & check out from Shimla hotel and drive for Manali ( 265 Kms / 7
hrs ), Reach Manali at evening , Check in at Manali hotel , time free for leisure ,
dinner & overnight hotel at Manali hotel.
Day 4 Manali Local Sight seeing
after breakfast at Manali hotel, depart for half day local sight seeing tour covering
places like Hadimba Devi temple, Manu temple, Vashisht Bath, Van Vihar and
evening shopping at the local market (Mall). Overnight stay & dinner at Manali
hotel.
Day 5 Manali (Rohtang Pass or Snow Point visit)
After breakfast at Manali hotel , depart for Rohtang pass ( 51 Kms / 2 Hrs) which
is located at height of 13050 Feet above sea level and is gateway for Ladakh
from Manali, Generally Rohtang pass open in mid May and closes in mid
November , depending up on snowfall , If Rohtang pass is not open sight seeing
will be done for available snow point like Gulaba , Kothi or Marhi or Solang
valley. Solang valley is heaven for adventure lovers, and paragliding. Zorbing,
skiing can be done on extra cost. (Subject to availability). Return back to hotel,
dinner & overnight stay at Manali hotel.
Day 6 Manali to Chandigarh Drive
Check out from Manali hotel after breakfast and drive to Chandigarh (320 Kms /
8 hrs). Chandigarh is first planned city of modern India, Chandigarh was
designed by French architect Le Corbusier. The city Chandigarh was named
after the goddess of power, Mother Chandi, Temple Chandimandu is dedecated
to goddess Chandi at new city, Dinner & overnight stay at Chandigarh hotel.

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Day 7 Chandigarh to Delhi Drive & Drop

After breakfast, check out from Chandigarh hotel & drive to Delhi 265 Kms / 5
hrs, arrive Delhi and drop at railway station or airport.
To model how an itinerary appears from the perspective of a single destination
we need the following:
1. A point representing the trip origin, along with any non-destination transit
stopovers to and from the origin;
2. A point representing the destination of interest to the analyst;
3. A point representing one or more other destinations of interest to the traveller;
and
4. The linkages in between these points.
In accordance with accepted norms of international travel data collection,
travelers would be required to spend at least one night in a place for it to be
considered a destination in the model proposed here. Transit points are not
considered destinations. Because destination points and itinerary lines all have
specific geographic locations, they also have specific and measurable
relationships with the home location of travelers.
However, those itineraries suffer from two main drawbacks. First, they are often
not tailored to one’s own interests. Second, suggested itineraries may not fit
one’s particular time budget. Someone who visits a place for a very short time
frame, e.g, in the case of a layover in a city, or a very long time frame, e.g., in the
case of a month-long backpacking trip, is unlikely to find an itinerary suggested
by those services, satisfactory. Constructing a personalized itinerary for a user is
a big challenge because, even with a relatively small number of POIs, the
number of possible itineraries can be combinatorial large.
More specifically, the systematic approach of itinerary planning process
involves the following interactions.
1) It starts with a user providing a time budget and a starting point of the itinerary
(usually corresponding to the hotel where the user is staying);
2) At each step, the system presents the user with a small fixed number of POIs
that are most probably liked by the user, based on feedback provided by the user
so far;
3) The system also recommends highly ranked itineraries to the user based on
the feedback;
4) The user provides her feedback on suggested POIs to indicate whether or not
she is interested in them, and the process continues;
5) The user can also choose to pick one of the recommended itineraries, at
which point, the process stops.
Designing such an interactive system is a non-trivial task and raises both
semantics and efficiency challenges. We provide a brief overview of those
challenges here.

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Check your progress – 1

Answer the following questions.

1. What novel approach of interactive itinerary?
2. Discus Main destination ratio (MDR).
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

4.3 Constraints and Grey areas involved in preparation of

innovative Itineraries
Tourism implies a movement of people in time and space, from their place of
usual residence to the destination (or destinations). Surprisingly, the analysis of
tourism mobility within a single destination and among destinations has not been
taken adequately into account; despite a deeper knowledge of tourism
movements is a fundamental pre-requisite for logistics, for the management of
economic, social, and environmental impacts of tourism.
The majority of models/ approaches of pleasure trip behaviour is, in fact, based
on the hypothesis that tourists visit a single destination, even if this hypothesis is
almost un-reliable. The main reasons for this lack are attributable both on the
difficulties associated to the collection of information on multi-destination trips
and on the lack of clarity on what should be meant for "multi-destination" trip.
Ministry of Tourism, official statistics on tourism does not provide any information
on multi-destination trips and on trip itineraries, neither from the supply side
(statistics on guests arrivals), nor from the demand side. This implies that to
analyze the phenomenon ad-hoc surveys need to be implemented. Regarding
the lack of clarity of the term "multi-destination" trip is attributable to the strong
dependence of this concept to the definition of destination itself, from the
geographical scale undertaken. The importance of analysing multi-destination trip
behaviour is also related with the relevance of this phenomenon for regional
tourism development. The multi-destination vacation experience will require
longer than average stays and will, in general, attract those with active lifestyles
and more discretionary time and income. Individual destinations will have the
opportunity to explore new markets in a cost effective manner and to develop a
more competitive product.
At the regional level, regional tourism organizations can exploit the potential
for profitable diversification and rebranding of a destination/region. For these
reason, one of the key-issue is related with the identification of factors affecting
the choice of making a multi-destination trip. These are usually distinguished in:
physical factors (related to the destination morphology and logistics); human
factors (motivations, socio-economic features, etc.), and time availability and
budget. Regarding physical factors some authors highlighted the importance of
"cumulative attractions" in a multi-destination trip can exert more interest than the
case in which each attraction is visited separately in different trips. On the

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contrary, independent tourists tend to explore more deeply the destination and
they have more possibilities to change itineraries during their trip. Finally, all
tourists’ movements are influenced by time availability and budget. Time has, in
fact, a strong influence on spatial touristic movements toward the destination and
among several destinations .The mode of transportation chosen, and budget
availability would have an influence in the way in which vacation time is spent.
Moreover, some people can choose to visit many places, whereas other people
can decide to visit less places, spending more time in them. Summarizing, the
knowledge of factors affecting tourist’s mobility is an essential pre-requisite for
the management and planning of effective tour itinerary.
on basis of current performance, Indian Tour operation Industry can be
termed as ‘successful’, but being ‘successful’ is very different from being
‘competitive’ and there are critical challenges which are negatively dictating and
adversely affecting its competitiveness. Moreover, an innovative itinerary is
pivotal for a successful tour operation therefore a tour planner has to consider or
understand various constraints and grey areas in preparation of innovative
Itineraries such as:
 Arrivals by country of residence or nationality. These are the most
common data available to researchers and are the most widely used for
basic market studies and simple comparisons. These data are gathered at
most borders by immigration officials, and estimated for suborder areas
through sampling. Studies using these data sources have typically
demonstrated a hierarchy of routes, centered on major regional
destinations, which are strongly connected to one another, and smaller
radial ties to places lower in the network hierarchy. While highly influenced
by local and regional economics, politics, transportation infrastructure and
geography, the resulting patterns tend to reflect the Central Place tourism
and recreation hierarchy.
 Main destination ratio (MDR). The MDR was proposed by Leiper (1989)
as a way to address the limitations of arrivals by country data. To improve
the level of data aggregation the MDR adds the main destination of
travellers. It provides an improvement over simple destination arrival data
and, where it is available, it could quite easily be added to the annual global
arrival data compiled by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
 Full itineraries. Full itinerary data are collected in one of two ways: (1)
travelers are asked to list, preferably in order, all of the stopover places on
their itinerary; or (2) travelers are asked to trace their travel route on a map,
preferably indicated stopover points as well. This level of data aggregation
clearly provides the most detail, though the method of data collection can
influence the forms of analysis that are possible. Map traced paths, for
example, are more suited to network.
 A problem with conventional travel itineraries is that they often don’t provide
an overview of the relationship between various events of a trip. The only

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relationship which can be viewed in these types of itinerary is that various
events follow one another sequentially in time. As part of a Collaborative
Information Gathering (CIG) software, a graphical visualization tool has
been developed to assist travel agents and their clients with the process of
collaborative creation and viewing of travel itineraries remotely over the
Internet.
 High Exit Barrier; Difficulty in trial – One characteristic of services is that
it is hard to escape from the consequences of a poor choice (of service and
service provider). Hence, they are over cautious while deciding on the
tourism services (choice of destination, transporters and hotels etc).
 Word-Of-Mouth (WOM) – WOM is crucial in selling of (tourism) services
because usually the choice of destination is affected by WOM publicity.
Here, it is important to realize that tourists tend to believe more on
information from independent sources and less on promotions.
 Highly infectious industry – Tourism Industry is very sensitive to
environmental changes and it gets affected by them and reacts very fast to
them.
 High Social Cost – Tourism takes a toll on the resources (especially
natural resources), and a large part of the revenues brought in by tourism is
required for sustaining the resources, so the profitability of tourism industry
is suspicious, especially in countries where proper ‘sustainability’
mechanisms are not in place.
 Intermediary Conflicts - Components of the tourism industry have
different commercial objectives, strategic interests and operational
procedures, so as channel partners protect and advance their own
interests, often at the expense of their partner’s gains, several intra-channel
conflicts emerge inevitably.
 Tourists rates the overall experience – visitors tend to rate their overall
experience at the destination and in the process they credit tourism industry
for the performance of industries and sectors, which are not directly related
to tourism. If ‘anything’ is not according to tourists’ expectations, it might go
against the tourism industry, because the negative WOM will be generated
for the destination.
 Sensitizing the diverse Human Resources – It is an industry where even
the behavior of general public affects the overall experience of tourists, and
people associated with this industry vary significantly in their background,
education, occupation and experience etc (an hotelier is totally different
from a taxi driver), so having a ‘common program’ addressing everyone in
this industry is inviting failure and neither it is easy to have so many
different / customized programs.
 Collapsing Hotel Infrastructure – India has approximately 150000 hotel
rooms, which are insufficient to meet the existing demand, let alone
catering to new demand. Moreover, concentration of hotels is causing an

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acute shortage of rooms in remaining areas which are no short of tourist
destinations and attract a lot of tourists.
 High Operating Costs – Indian hotels suffer from high operating costs and
this ultimately reflects in their higher prices. The biggest sufferer is the
‘budget tourists’ and even for those who can pay, when the facilities are not
according to the prices it leads to dissatisfaction and also makes the
destination unattractive for tourists.
 Transportation Chaos – increasing number of airlines (from 2 to 10 in last
4 years) has rapidly increased the number of passengers, resulting in a
virtual collapse of facilities at Indian airports. Moreover, there is no
supervising authority, maintaining and monitoring the quality and standards
of services delivered by airlines making an unpleasant experience a rule,
rather than an exception.
Indian Railways, another popular mode of transportation suffers from
conditions worse than the airlines (in terms of reservations, punctuality,
cleanliness, facilities etc). Since India welcomes tourists mostly from
developed countries these problems convert their trip into a ‘mission’ and
few return with good memories.
 Unfriendly Government Policies – Till recent past, Tourism was
perceived as an elitist activity in India and hence high tax rates and less
budgetary provisions were the fate of its tourism industry. The table below
refers to some main provisions affecting tourism.
 Travellers’ use of the Internet has grown: One of the most important
recent technology advances, the Internet, may be viewed as an opportunity
by some travel service providers while appearing threatening to others. The
Internet’s increased popularity has had a major impact on the travel
industry over a relatively short period of time. On-line agencies have had a
huge impact on the travel market. A very popular service is ‘dynamic
packaging’; where consumers put together their own holiday packages by
purchasing their flight, hotel, or car rentals separately. We need to define
the Itinerary Scoring Semantics, which dictates how an itinerary should be
scored based on the user feedback.
 Aggregate trip generation: Improvements in destination attributes can be
expected to increase total trips within tourist destination - a generation
effect. However, when the multinomial logit responds to an attribute
enhancement at one destination it reduces the visitors to all others. To the
extent that this reflects the limited total number of tourists, it is realistic but
there should also be some generation effect. An added module is
introduced to reflect such generation, at least to overcome inappropriate
reductions at many destinations in response to enhancement of one of
them.

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Check your progress- 2
Answer the following questions.
1. What main grey area in innovative itinerary?
2. Discuss main constrains in itinerary development.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit
4.4 Summary
Although travel itinerary data is not difficult to collect, it does present
analytical challenges because of the great diversity of routes that travelers follow
and the different scales that can be applied in defining destinations. Most of the
models/ approaches that have been proposed to deal with these issues have
focused either on general flow from one country to another, or on the overall
pattern of entire trips. An alternative and complementary approach is to examine
the relative location of a destination within the larger itinerary pattern. From a
market study perspective, this approach could prove more valuable in
understanding the different ways that travelers perceive and experience a
destination as part of their itinerary and how a destination.
In summary, we understand the novel approach of interactive itinerary
planning based on user feedback and itinerary expected scores; formally define
the optimal itinerary construction problem, which is one of the two core problems
in interactive itinerary planning. We also understand that designing innovative
itineraries based on user feedback and time budget.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Answer to Check Your Progress-1
1) See sec. 4.2
2) See sec. 4.2
Answer to Check Your Progress-2
1) See sec. 4.3
2) See sec. 4.3

4.5 Glossary
 Airline reporting conference (ARC): a consortium of airline companies,
who by agreement, provide a method of approving authorized agency
locations for the sale of transportation and cost-effective procedures for
processing records and funds to carriers. Not all airlines are ARC companies.
 All-inclusive: A form of package holiday where the majority of services
offered at the destination are included in the price paid prior to departure (e.g.
refreshments, excursions, amenities, gratuities, etc).
 circle trip: a journey with stopovers that returns to the point of departure

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 incentive tour: (1) a trip offered as a prize, particularly to stimulate the
productivity of employees or sales agents, or (2) the business of operating
such travel programs
 incidentals: charges incurred by participants of a tour, but are not included in
the tour price
 Inclusive tour itinerary: tour in which all specific elements – transportation,
airfare, hotels, transfers, and other costs – are offered for a flat rate. An
inclusive tour does not necessarily cover all costs such as personal items and
telephone.
 Independent contractor: a person contractually retained by another to
perform certain specific tasks the other person has no control over the
independent contractor other than as provided in the contract. In the context
of group travel, a tour manager is often retained by the tour operator, or tour
brochure designer/writer might be hired in this capacity.
 Independent tour: an unescorted tour sold through agents to individuals. For
one price, the client guaranteed air travel, hotel room, attraction admissions
and (typically) a car rental.

4.6 Review Questions

 Describe the meaning and concept of Systematic approaches for
Itinerary preparation ;
 Explain the main constraints for preparation of innovative Itineraries ,
 Discuss the Grey areas involved in preparation of innovative Itineraries

4.7 Suggested Readings

 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text,
Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Alan A. Lew and, Bob McKercher (2002) Trip destinations, gateways and
itineraries: the example ofHong Kong, Tourism Management 23 .
 Oppermann, M. (1995). A model oftravel itineraries. Journal of Travel
Research, 33(4), 57–61.
 Pearce, D. (1987). Spatial patterns ofpackage tourism in Europe.Annals
of Tourism Research, 14, 183–201.
 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Foster.D.L. The Business Of Travel Agency Operations and
Administration, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.

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 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation
and Practice, Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel
agency and tour operators.

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BLOCK 2
Types of Itineraries
Today, Tour operation business has become more volatile and has been facing
numerous challenges in the tourism market place. In fact, tourists are becoming
more sophisticated and demanding innovative tour product. Thus , in order to
catering their needs and requirements tour operators are developing and
designing the pre-planned, tailor made and Flexihol tour itinerary. Many tour
businesses are finding that the only way to gain a competitive edge is through
the effective and efficient management of tour package. This block will give you
the necessary background about the tour itinerary: pre-planned, tailor made and
Flexihol tour itinerary. This block comprises the following units:
Unit- 5 focuses on Pre-designed, Tailor Made and Flexible Itineraries:
scope and Differentiation. This unit describe the meaning and concept of pre-
tailor tour itinerary, explains the Flexihol tour itinerary and finally discuss the
difference between pre-planned and Flexihol tour itinerary
Unit 6 of the course entitled “Tour Manager’s / Executive’s and Tour
Escort’s Itinerary: definition and Case examples”. Moreover, the unit focuses on
definition, meaning and scope of tour Escort. Describes significant role played by
the tour escorts in both inclusive and escorted tours and discusses the main
responsibilities of tour escort in the changing tourism marketplace.
Unit -7 deals with discussion of Common Interest and Special Interest
Itineraries: Salient features and case models. In this unit you will learn about the
Common Interest and Special Interest Itineraries – Concept, meaning and salient
features. Further, the unit describes common Interest and Special Interest
Itineraries- case models.
Unit -8 we will describe about the unique features of MICE centric
Itineraries: Case examples. The unit also discusses meaning, concept and
sample MICE tour Itineraries.

Block Objectives: After studying this block, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of pre-tailor tour itinerary,
 Explain the Flexihol tour itinerary ,
 Discuss the difference between pre-planned and Flexihol tour itinerary
 Describe definition, meaning and scope of tour Escort.
 Identify significant role played by the tour escorts in both inclusive and escorted
tours.
 Explain the main responsibilities of tour escort in the changing tourism marketplace.
 Describe the meaning and concept of special interest tourism;
 Explain the unique futures of special interest tourism,
 Discuss the Common Interest and Special Interest Itineraries
 Describe the meaning and concept of MICE
 Explain the features of MICE,
 Discuss the sample MICE itineraries

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UNIT 5 PRE-DESIGNED, TAILOR MADE AND

FLEXIBLE ITINERARIES: SCOPE AND
DIFFERENTIATION
Structure
5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Tour Itinerary - Pre-designed
5.3. Tailor Made Itinerary
5.4. Flexible tour itinerary
5.5 Difference between Flexihol itinerary and pre-planned tour itinerary
5.6 Summary
5.7 Glossary
5.8 Review Questions
5.9 Suggested Readings

5.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of pre-tailor tour itinerary,
 Explain the Flexihol tour itinerary ,
 Discuss the difference between pre-planned and Flexihol tour itinerary

5.1 Introduction
Planning an itinerary of activities that satisfies a traveller’s desires is a
complex task. While there exist numerous online resources to help find travel
activities, parsing through all the information available and creating a plan is
difficult and time consuming. Alternatively, travel agents and concierge services
can provide recommendations, but provided plans tend to be generic and
touristy. Furthermore, none of these sources are available on the fly. If a traveler
unexpectedly has an extra day to spend or a previously planned activity is
closed, there is no immediate assistance available to them. This unit
familiarizes you with the pre-planned, tailor made and Flexihol tour itinerary. The
students will be able to design these itineraries.

5.2. Pre-designed tour itinerary

A pre-design itinerary consists of accommodation, transportation
advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other
services may be provided such a rental car, activities or outings during the
holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country, and may also

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include travel between areas as part of the holiday. Package holidays are a form
of product bundling.
Further pre-designed itineraries are normally conducted by a tour director who
takes care of all services from the beginning to end of the tour. In fact, these
itineraries include the flights, hotels, transportation, transfers to the airport /
hotel, most meals and some sightseeing. These are often conducted by motor
coach and usually no more than three nights are spent in each location visited.
They are usually fast-paced and prices include most everything.
According to Morrison (1989), Pre-designed tour itinerary is a trip
planned and paid for a single price in advance, which covers a broad range of
items from commercial transportation and accommodation to meals and
sightseeing, sometimes accompanied by an escort or a guide. Middleton (1994)
describes it as an inclusive form of travel, organized by intermediaries or
middlemen; in which the tour represents a bundle of tourism goods and services,
marketed as one particular product or brand and sold at an inclusive price.
According to Holloway (2000) describe the pre-design itinerary as itineraries put
together by a tour operator or other supplier, usually incorporating at least three
elements, transportation, accommodation and transfers, although some
packages may include additional services such as excursions.

Sample Tour Itinerary

1. Pre-planned tour itinerary to Forts & Palaces of Rajasthan
Group / 15 Days / 13 Nights
The princely states of Rajputana, now Rajasthan, were once the domain of
courageous warriors and lavish ruling dynasties. Following a tour of Delhi and
Agra, this journey travels into the heart of Rajasthan and explores many of the
region’s magnificent forts and palaces, atmospheric cities and stunning desert
scenery.
Day 1 – To Delhi: Fly from London to Delhi with Jet Airways / Virgin Atlantic. (N)
Day 2 – Delhi: Late morning arrival and transfer to the Maidens Hotel (or similar)
for 1 night. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi to see the Red Fort, Jama Masjid etc. (N)
Day 3 – To Agra: Morning tour of New Delhi to see India Gate and the former
viceregal residence, both fine examples of British imperial architecture. Continue
to the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and the Qutb Minar tower.
Afternoon drive to Agra and stay for 2 nights at the Radisson Hotel Agra (or
similar). (B)
Day 4 – Agra: Early morning visit to the Taj Mahal, arriving in time for sunrise.
After breakfast, visit the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah and Agra Fort. Optional
excursion to see the Taj Mahal at sunset (payable locally). (B)
Day 5 – To Jaipur: Drive to Jaipur and stay 2 nights at Alsisar Haveli (or similar).
En route, visit Emperor Akbar’s deserted 16th-century sandstone city of Fatehpur
Sikri. (B)

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Day 6 – Jaipur: Morning visit to the ancient palace of Amber Fort. Optional visit
to the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, where you have the opportunity to learn
how to handprint your own scarf. Afternoon tour of the City Palace and the Jantar
Mantar astronomical observatory. (B)
Day 7 – To Bikaner: Transfer to Bikaner, once a major trading centre on the
caravan route linking central Asia with north India. Stay 2 nights at the Laxmi
Niwas Palace, the former residence of the maharaja of Bikaner. (B)
Day 8 – Bikaner: Morning visit to Junagarh Fort. Afternoon at leisure. This
evening, stroll through the old town of Bikaner, which has some of India’s best
street architecture. (B)
Day 9 – To Jaisalmer: Drive to Jaisalmer for an overnight stay at Fort Rajwada
(or similar). Afternoon tour of Jaisalmer Fort, often referred to as the Golden Fort
due to the colour of its sandstone walls. (B)
Day 10 – To Manvar: Drive to Manvar in the Thar Desert. Following a visit to
local villages, continue to the tented camp (see page 64 for details). Evening
Rajasthani dinner and music amid the sand dunes, followed by an overnight stay
at the camp. (B, L, D)
Day 11 – To Rohet / Luni: Drive to Jodhpur and visit the majestic Mehrangarh
Fort. Continue to the village of Rohet / Luni and stay 2 nights at Rohetgarh Fort /
Fort Chanwa. (B, D)
Day 12 – Rohet / Luni: Morning at leisure. Afternoon 4x4 safari to visit the
Bishnoi tribal villages. (B, D)
Day 13 – To Udaipur: Drive to Udaipur via the exquisite Jain temples at
Ranakpur. Evening arrival at the LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace / Fateh Garh (or
similar) for a 2-night stay. (B)
Day 14 – Udaipur: Morning tour of the City Palace and Jagdish Temple.
Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day 15 – To London: Transfer to the international airport and fly to Delhi to
connect with the Jet Airways / Virgin Atlantic flight to London. (N)

2. Journey from the Golden Temple

Group | 10 Days / 8 Nights
Starting from the holy city of Amritsar, home of the Golden Temple, this tour
travels through the foothills of the Himalaya to Shimla, the summer capital of
‘British India’. Along the way, the diversity of north-west India is explored with
visits to Dharamsala, and its Buddhist temples and monasteries, and the
wonderful Kangra valley.
Day 1 – To Amritsar: Fly from London to Amritsar, via Delhi, with Jet Airways. (N)
Day 2 – Amritsar: Arrive and transfer to the Ista Amritsar / Ranjit’s Svaasa for 2 nights.
(N)
Day 3 – Amritsar: Morning visit to the Golden Temple, Jallianwallah Memorial and Ram
Bagh Gardens. Afternoon transfer to Wagah on the India-Pakistan border to see the
Sunset Retreat ceremony. (B)

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Day 4 – To Mcleodganj: Morning drive to Mcleodganj in Dharamsala. As headquarters
of the Tibetan government in exile, this former British hill station has a strong Tibetan
feel. Afternoon tour of Namgyal monastery, seat of the Dalai Lama. Stay overnight at the
Surya Resort (or similar). (B, D)
Day 5 – To Taragarh: Morning drive to Taragarh, via the Norbulingka Institute, a centre
for Buddhist teaching and work. Stay 2 nights at Taragarh Palace, owned by the royal
family of Jammu and Kashmir. Set on a 6-hectare forested estate and surrounded by tea
gardens, the palace has magnificent views of the snowcapped Dhauladhar Mountains.
(B, L, D)
Day 6 – Taragarh: Day at leisure, with optional guided walks in the Kangra valley. (B, L,
D)
Day 7 – To Shimla: Full-day drive through the foothills of the Himalaya to Shimla. Stay 2
nights at the Oberoi Cecil hotel. (B)
Day 8 – Shimla: At leisure. (B)
Day 9 – To Delhi: Take the narrow gauge railway to Solan and drive to Kalka to connect
with the express train to Delhi. Stay overnight at the LaLiT New Delhi (or similar). (B)
Day 10 – To London: Fly to London with Jet Airways. (B)

Pre-designed tour itinerary has many benefits for tourists:

Tour Manager
Upon arrival in your destination your group will be met by one of our carefully
selected tour managers, who will accompany the group throughout the tour
ensuring nothing gets in the way of your holiday of a lifetime.
Scheduled Flights
We use only scheduled airlines for international and almost all internal flights,
and we can offer excellent upgrade rates.
Expert Local Guides
For all group departures, a representative is available to assist with check-in
and any seat requests you may have during the main check-in period.
Comfortable Land Travel
All land transfers are by air-conditioned buses of a size appropriate for the group.
Airport Representatives
For all group departures from international airport, a representative is available
to assist with the check-in process and any seat requests you may have.
First Class Accommodation
We generally use first class 4 and 5-star hotels, or the best available, on all our
tours.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.

1. Describe pre-plan itinerary
2. Explain benefits of pre-plan itinerary.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

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5.3. Tailor Made tour Itinerary

A Tailor-made Tour means that a tour is designed specially for you, and
meets every of your need. None of the pre-designed tours are fixed in Tailor-
made tour. You can have your trip specially tailored to your heart's desire to gain
a greater individual attention and the maximum flexibility and comfort. To take a
Tailor-made tour, you would please send us a message to tell us what you want
to do, to see, how many people of your group or family, your hotel request, meal
requirement, personal interest, or special travel activities and language service if
necessary! The more information’s the more suitable tour we can design for you.
Or you can easily use the Tailor Made Form to tell us your request.

What does “tailor-made programme “Mean?

A tailor-made programme is an itinerary created just for you, in which we include
everything you wish to see and do during your trip. The programme can be as
long or as short as you wish. A tailor-made programme can include
accommodation, meals, guide service in a given city and even excursions
outside of cities. The standard of accommodation and length of the tours are up
to you. When we send you our first proposal, you’re free to add or remove
anything you wish in order to make it suit your individual requirements
The joy of a tailor-made itinerary is that your holiday is designed around your
requirements and you are not restricted to the set itinerary of a group departure.
 Do you like the look of one of our suggested itineraries but would like to
stay at alternative accommodation or include a few extra days and extend
your holiday?
 Are you going on holiday to relax rather than spend your time packing
and unpacking, moving from one place to the next?
 Are you celebrating a special occasion - perhaps your honeymoon, a
special birthday or an anniversary? Why not enjoy each others company
in privacy without being part of a larger group?
 Are you travelling abroad to stay with friends or family and wishing to add-
on a safari, a cruise, or even some self-drive exploration?
 Maybe you only want to be away for a long weekend, or perhaps you
have an extended amount of time to enjoy travelling and would like us to
help with part of it?
 If you have a limited amount of time, group departure dates often don't fit.
 You may well want a private vehicle, or the very best naturalist the region
has to offer.
Moreover, A tailor made holiday and travel service is like a personal planning
service. You tell us what you want (either in detail, or give us some parameters
to work within), and then we arrange services to fit your wishes for your
holiday. We also advise you on improvements which you might want to consider.

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When we plan a trip for you we ask questions to help us really understand what
you are hoping for from your holiday. This way we can get as close as possible to
your requirements both financially and as regards the whole holiday experience.
The kind of questions we ask are:
 How many people are travelling? Are there any children in the party?
 How long and roughly when do you what to travel?
 Where might you want to go, or what kind of experience are you hoping
for?
 Is there anything specific you want to see or do?
 What type of accommodation do you like (eg from luxury hotels to
camping)
 Roughly what budget would you like us to try to keep to for you?
All of Himachal
12 Days / 11 Nights
1N Chandigarh - 2N Shimla - 3N Manali - 1N Dharamshala - 2N Dalhousie -
2N Amritsar
 Day 1 Chandigarh
Arrive at Chandigarh and proceed to your hotel. On arrival one can visit
the Pinjore Garden or the Rock Garden. Overnight in Chandigarh. (D)
 Day 2 Chandigarh - Shimla (Approx time 9 hrs.)
Proceed to Shimla. Arrive in Shimla and proceed to your hotel. Overnight
in Shimla. (B,D)
 Day 3 Shimla-Kufri-Shimla
Today enjoy your visit to Kufri- winter sports capital, visit Scandal point
and Shimla Church. Overnight in Shimla. (B,D)
 Day 4 Shimla - Manali (Approx time 10 hrs.)
Proceed to Manali. Evening free at leisure, one can enjoy shopping at
Mall road. Overnight in Manali. (B,D)
 Day 5 Manali-Rohtang Pass or Snow Point-Manali
Today enjoy scenic beauty of Himalaya. Visit Rohtang Pass or Snow
Point. Free time to enjoy snow. Overnight stay at the hotel in Manali.
(B,D)
 Day 6 Manali-City Sightseeing
Today visit ancient temples like the Manu Mandir, Hadimba
Temple,Gayatri Mandir and Vashista Kund. Overnight in Manali. (B,D)
 Day 7 Manali -Dharamshala (Approx time 7 hrs.)
Proceed to another scenic town of Himachal- Dharmashala. Evening visit
Dal Lake, Dalai Lama monastery and Bhasunag Temple. Overnight at the
hotel in Dharmashala. (B,D)
 Day 8 Dharamshala- Dalhousie (Approx time 6 hrs.)
Today depart for Dalhousie. Arrive at hotel, Evening free for leisure or you
can enjoy nice walk around this small town. Overnight stay at the hotel
Dalhousie. (B,D)

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 Day 9 Dalhousie-Khajjiar-Dalhousie
Enjoy full day excursion trip to Khajjiar surrounded by dense Deodar
forests, small temple with a golden spire and golf course. Visit the Ajit
Singh Smarak and satadhara Sparkling springs. Evening at leisure.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Dalhousie. (B,D)
 Day 10 Dalhousie - Amritsar (Approx time 9 hrs.)
Today proceed to Amritsar. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day is
free for leisure. Overnight at Amritsar. (B,D)
 Day 11 Amritsar
Today morning visit Golden Temple. Evening Enjoy Wagha Border.
Overnight at Hotel. (B,D)
 Day 12 Amritsar – Hometown
Today depart from Amritsar by train or flight to hometown. (B)
Tour Concludes

Check your progress-2

Answer the following questions.
1. Explain tailor made tour itinerary.
2. Discuss advantages of tailor made tour itinerary.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

5.4 Flexible tour itinerary

Flexihol offers you tailor-made international holidays and travel packages
with a wide range of sightseeing tours and experiences to suit your individual
taste and budget. Flexihol Holidays include Romantic Getaways, customised
holidays to Europe, Far East, Australia & New Zealand, Africa, Middle East and
America. Customised holidays to exotic islands, rail Europe holidays and instant
holidays for short-durations are also available. Flexible itineraries are known by
different names such as Flexihol, freedom, fusion holidays offered by different
tour companies.

Sample of Flexible Itineraries

Day 1- Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi and meet the representative at the arrival hall and transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon proceed on a tour of Delhi. In Old Delhi visit the majestic Red
Fort, the historical Chandni Chowk, besides Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana. In New
Delhi visit the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the one-time imperial residence of the British
viceroys; the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers
martyred during the Afghan war; the Laxminarayan Temple, built by the Birlas,
one of India’s leading industrial families; Qutab Minar, built by Qutub-ud-din
Aibek of the Slave Dynasty; and the lotus-shaped Baha’i Temple.

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Day 2- To Mandawa
Morning drive to Mandawa. Arrive Mandawa and check - in at hotel. From this
hotel you can take a walking tour of the painted houses in this region belonging
to some of the leading business families of the country.
Day 3- To Bikaner
Morning drive to Bikaner. Arrive Bikaner and check – in at hotel. Afternoon
sightseeing tour of Bikaner including The Junagarh Fort, built by Rai Singh
between 1588 and 1593, has a 986-metre-long wall with 37 bastions. Also visit
the government-managed Camel Research and Breeding Farm is only one of its
kinds in Asia.
Day 4- To Jaisalmer
Morning drive to Jaisalmer. Arrive Jaisalmer and check – in at hotel. Afternoon
excursion to Sam Sand Dunes in the evening for a spectacular sunset and also
enjoy a camel ride.
Day 5- In Jaisalmer
Morning sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer including Sonar Fort, housing a fourth of
city’s residents. Also visit Patwon Ki Haveli is one of the most exquisite havelis
with a beautifully latticed façade. Salim Singh Ki Haveli is just three centuries old,
and is still lived in. Its arched roof is held up by well executed brackets in the
form of peacocks, Nathmalji Ki Haveli built by two architect brothers.
Day 6- To Manwar
Morning drive to Manwar. Arrive Manwar and check – in at tented camp in the
middle of desert. Explore the surroundings and the village on own.
Day 7- To Luni
Morning drive to Luni. Arrive Luni and check – in at Palace Hotel. Afternoon
enjoy a jeep safari to the Bishnoi Villages or horse ride around the Fort & village.
Day 8- In Luni
Day return excursion to Jodhpur. Visit The Mehrangarh Fort situated at an
altitude of about 125 metres is spread over an area of 5 sq. km and has seven
gates. The Jaswant Thada is a white marble memorial built in memory of
Maharaja Jaswant II in 1899. The Umaid Bhawan is a majestic building that
presently functions as a hotel and museum. The Mandore Gardens, situated
about 8 km from Jodhpur, has cenotaphs of the Jodhpur rulers. The Government
Museum and Zoo are located in the pleasant Umaid Gardens.
Day 9- To Mount Abu
Morning drive to Mount Abu. Arrive Mount Abu and check – in at hotel. It is a
pilgrimage center for Jains and Hindus, noted for its beautiful Dilwara Jain
Temples.
Day 10- In Mount Abu
Morning sightseeing tour includes visit to Dilwara Temples, the best Jain
temples in the country. Gaumukh Temple, Achalgarh Fort, Toad’s Rock, Sunset
Point, Trevor’s Tank; Nakki Lake said to have been carved out by the gods with
their nails, is a favorite spot for boating.

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Day 11- To Udaipur
Morning drive to Udaipur. Arrive Udiapur and check – in at hotel. Afternoon free
to take a walking tour on your own through the narrow lanes and back streets of
Udaipur upto the Washing Ghats at the lake Pichola. Visit one of the fine
downtown restaurants for an optional dinner.
Day 12- In Udaipur
Morning sightseeing tour of Udaipur visiting The City Palace and Museum is
considered as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Pratap Memorial has the
bronze statue of Maharana Pratap, the legendary warrior king of Udaipur.
Jagdish Temple which was built in 1651 AD. Saheliyon Ki Bari is a small
ornamental garden. Late afternoon enjoy a two hour boat-ride on Lake Pichola
visiting many Ghats (banks) of washing, bathing etc and enjoy excellent views of
the Lake Palace and City Palace.
Day 13- To Pushkar
Morning drive to Pushkar. Arrive Pushkar and check – in at hotel. Later visit
Pushkar Lake which is believed by the Hindus to be as old as creation, has been
a place of pilgrimage through the centuries. There are 52 bathing Ghats built
around the lake.
Day 14- To Samode
Morning drive to Samode. Arrive Samode and check – in at Palace hotel. Explore
the surroundings of Samode on own.
Day 15- To Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur and check – in at hotel. Morning excursion
to Amber Fort, situated just outside the city, you can have the unique experience
of traveling on elephant back to and from the top of the hill on which the fort is
situated. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jaipur including, City Palace in the heart
of Jaipur is known for its blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Not far
away is the Central Museum. Jantar Mantar, is the largest of the five
observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh. The Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds
was constructed for the royal ladies to watch the royal processions without being
seen.
Day 16- To Delhi
Morning drive to Delhi airport. You will be assisted by a representative to airport
to board flight for onward destination. End of our services……………
Inclusions:
 Accommodation in all the hotels on single/twin/triple sharing basis, as per the
list above.
 Breakfast on all days.
 All prevailing taxes like Luxury tax in all hotels and Expenditure tax
 All transfers to or from hotels, city tours, excursions, drives by an air-
conditioned transport.
 Services of an English speaking local guide.
 Inter state road tax, toll tax, driver’s allowance, parking etc.

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Exclusions:
 Any lunch, dinner, snacks, mineral water etc. unless mentioned in the
itinerary.
 Entrance fee to any monuments or camera fee.
 Any airfare or airport tax
 Tips, gratuities.
 Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks or any other expenses of
personal nature.

5.5 Difference between Flexihol itinerary and pre-planned

tour itinerary
A flexihol tour is run exclusively for you, your own families or friends with no
other strangers. Alternatively, we can customize an itinerary in line with your
specific wishes. In particular, you will benefit from the following advantages.
1. Start the tour on any date at your convenience.
2. Choose the tour length as long as your schedule and budget allow.
3. Plan the tour with hotels and sightseeing spots that you are specifically
interested in.
4. You may order the dishes you want with our specially arranged A La Carte
Meals.
5. Experienced guides and skillful drivers in each city offer services are
provided for your exclusive use.
6. Luxury & comfortable private car or minibus operates for your party only.
7. Travel at your own pace that flexibly fits your travel style.
8. Ideal for people who need special assistance, such as the elderly, people
with disabilities or families with small children
Organized Small Group Tour
Small group tours with guaranteed departure dates are best for those who are
eager to see the most popular sights in India at a comparatively low price. What
could travelers get from the small group tour? A favorable price is only a small
part of it. Let's see more details as follows.
1. The group tours have fixed departure dates and itineraries that can not be
changed.
2. Private tours added prior to or after the group tour are welcomed.
3. Special treatment from the guide and driver make you feel like part of a
friendly family.
4. Share a clean and safe limousine with other group companions.
5. Enjoy the diversity of our A La Carte Meals with other travelers.
6. Good chance for you to meet and make new acquaintances from all over the
world.
7. The maximum group number is 18 persons, but we guarantee departure even
with 1 person.

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8. Enjoy a worry-free vacation with our careful arrangements from the very
beginning to the end.

Check your progress- 3

Answer the following questions.
1. Explains the concept flexible itinerary.
2. Describe benefits of flexible itinerary.
3. What are the main difference between flexible itinerary and pre-planned
tour itinerary?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

5.6 Summary
The tour itinerary is influenced by the selection of various factors. There
appears to be a difference between first-time traveler who tends to demand more
intensive itineraries, and more experienced travelers who appear to prefer a
more relaxed itinerary with more days at destination. Thus these opposite desires
will influence the tour planning philosophy and itinerary planners will have to
consider the target market for a particular destination in order to achieve the
correct balance between the number of destination visited and the number of
days at destination. Indeed, this concept is especially problematic for itinerary
planners as many tourists both first timers and more experienced and therefore
the itinerary must satisfy both.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Answer to Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 1.2
2) See sec. 1.2
Answer to Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 1.3.
2) See sec. 1.3.
Answer to Check Your Progress - 3
1) See sec. 1.4
2) See sec. 1.4
3) See sec. 1.5

5.7 Glossary
 tour broker: a person or company which organizes and markets tours
 tour catalog: a publication by tour wholesalers listing their tour offerings
 tour conductor: see tour manager/director
 tour departure: the date of the start by any individual or group of a tour
program, also used in referral to the entire operation of that single tour

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 tour consultant: individual within an agency selling and advising clients
regarding a tour. The consultant is sometimes a salesperson with particular
expertise in escorted tour sales.
 tour escort: the tour company staff member or independent contractor who
conducts the tour. Often called the tour manager or tour director. It is
technically a person that only escorts the group and does not have charge of
the commentary portion.
 tour leader: usually a group leader, also see escort
 tour manager: a person employed as the escort for a group of tourists,
usually for the duration of the entire trip, perhaps supplemented by local
guides. The terms tour director, leader, escort,

5.8 Review Questions

 Discuss the emerging trends of tour itineraries.
 Elaborate what factors to be considered to prepare tailor made itinerary.
 Explain difference tailor made itinerary and flexible tour itinerary.
 Suggest a pre-planned tour itinerary to Himachal Pradesh for 10 days.
 What are the main benefits of flexible tour itinerary?

5.9 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management, Prentice
Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business Of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London, 1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook (ed.)
Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency and
tour operators.

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UNIT 6: TOUR MANAGER’S/EXECUTIVE’S AND

TOUR ESCORT’S ITINERARY: DEFINITION AND
CASE EXAMPLES
Structure
6.0 Objectives
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Tour Manager- Concepts and meaning
6.3 Tour Manager- itineraries
6.4 Summary
6.5 Glossary
6.6 Review Questions
6.7 Suggested Readings

6.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe definition, meaning and scope of tour Escort.
 Identify significant role played by the tour escorts in both inclusive and
escorted tours.
 Explain the main responsibilities of tour escort in the changing tourism
marketplace.

6.1 Introduction
The term ‘tour escort’ is also used to describe the tour manager, tour
conductor, tour director or courier in Europe. Indeed, some tour companies prefer
to call their tour leader a ‘tour escort’ to stress their employee’s sightseeing
commentary skills. However, in practice the role of the tour escort is different
from that of the tour leader. A tour escort is ‘one who conducts a tour’, or one
with ‘a broad based knowledge of a particular area whose primary duty is to
inform’. Tour escort should ensure that the clients are enjoying their tour and
meet their guests’ needs. Their responsibilities can be very demanding—
assuming the role of leader, educator, and being the first to rise in the morning
and the last to go to bed at night. They can work full- or part-time, and during the
“High Season” they can be gone up to 150 days at any one time or depending on
the requirements.

6.2 Tour Manager/ Escort- Definition, Meaning and Scope

A person who manages an itinerary on behalf of the tour operator ensuring the
programme is carried out as described in the tour operator's literature and sold to
the traveller/consumer and who gives local practical information. Further, tour

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managers may or may not be tourist guides as well. They are not trained or
licensed to work in specific areas unless they have the proper requirements or
legal right, depending on the region. The tour escort manages the group’s
passage over a multi-day tour and has intense contact with the tour participants.
This person may be an employee of the tour operator, a professional tour escort
hired by the tour operator or a representative of the organization sponsoring the
trip. The term ‘tour leader’ is also used to describe the tour manager, tour
conductor, tour director or courier in Europe. Indeed, some tour companies prefer
to call their tour leader a ‘tour guide’ to stress their employee’s sightseeing
commentary skills. However, in practice the role of the tour guide is different from
that of the tour leader. A tour guide is ‘one who conducts a tour’, or one with ‘a
broad based knowledge of a particular area whose primary duty is to inform’. To
avoid confusion, the term ‘tour leader’ will be used in this paper to indicate the
person who actually escorts the tour participants throughout their journey. The
person conducting a tour needs a variety of skills and faces many challenges.
The tour leader is a psychologist, diplomat, flight attendant, entertainer, news
reporter, orator and even translator and miracle professional. To be successful at
this job is not easy. Many authors have stated that keeping the tour participants
happy and making certain that all services are provided as contracted are the
main responsibilities of the ‘escort’. They also suggested ‘ten dos and ten don’ts’
for escorting a tour. To act professionally and demonstrate leadership, a tour
escort should never become personally involved with a tour member, since this
may result in losing control of the tour. Undoubtedly, the tour leader is under
considerable pressure during the service encounter. It requires patience and care
to accomplish the task. Further, strategies for managing a tour group, suggesting
that the ‘tour manager’ must be fair; praise a tour group’s behaviour; exceed the
client’s expectations; be firm when facing disruptive behaviour; encourage client
‘adulthood’; exercise leadership; and be flexible. Many studies have
demonstrated that the tour leader is a crucial factor in achieving customer
satisfaction who sells the next tour. It is also pointed out that a tour leader’s
performance is a key factor in differentiating a tour operator from its competitors.
The tour leader’s performance within the service encounter not only affects the
company image, customer loyalty and word-of-mouth communication but can
also be seen as a competitive factor. But customers’ satisfaction with the tour
leader’s performance does not necessarily mean that customers will be satisfied
with the tour operator. What is happening during the service encounter between
the tour escort and the customer is essential.
Some evidence demonstrating the tour escort’s shortcomings included:
• Unfamiliarity with the local language – the tour leader could not help
customers to order food;
• Non-familiarity with some hotels arranged for the journey;
• Lack of enthusiasm to help tour participants under certain circumstances;
• Unwillingness to hear advice;

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• Inadequate knowledge in interpretation;
• Inadequate communication skills, which resulted in misunderstandings with
some of the group members.
Thus, a tour escort is a person who accompanies a tour departure to return,
as guide, troubleshooter etc, a person who performs such functions only at the
destination.

Check your progress - 1

Answer the following questions.
1. Trace the historical development of tourist manager
2. Define the term tourist escort.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

6.3 Tour Manager- Itineraries

 South India Temple, Hill Station, Art & Architecture with Mumbai &
Matheran Hill Station
Duration: 17 Nights / 18 Days
Places to See: Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore -
Rameshwaram - Madurai - Kodaikanal - Ooty - Mysore - Bangalore - Hyderabad
- Mumbai - Matheran
Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai airport, meet & greet with our office representative. Assistance
and transfer to hotel check in (hotel check in/ out time 1200hrs afternoon, early
check in subject to availability of rooms).
PM: city tour of Chennai, visit the San Thome Cathederal, built on the site of a
16th century Portuguese basilica which is said to be the tomb of the apostle
Thomas, who is reputed to have brought Christianity to India in the 1st century
AD. The tour also includes St Thomas Mount, the Little Mount Shrine, the Fort
St George, St Mary's Church, and the Fort Museum which has a collection of
objects from the tenure of the East India Company in Chennai including letters
from Robert Clive. The Marina Beach is the second longest in the world. Walk
along the surf-kissed edge, coast along the Drive, relax in your shorts, take the
kids to the aquarium, sip coconut water, but worshippers of the sun, beware!
You’ll offend everyone if you bring out your bikini. Rumours of sharks and sharp
eddies keep all but the bravest away. The academy of classical dance and
music, Kalakshetra or 'Temple of Art’ is in Thiruvanmayur. Run on the ancient
lines of gurukul education, it frequently presents recitals of classical music and
Bharatnatyam in town. The Government Museum and Art Gallery has objects
of art, sculptures and carvings from the Chola, Pandya, Pallava, and the
Vijayanagar periods. Overnight at hotel.

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Day 02: Chennai – Mahabalipuram [130Kms/ 3hrs approx]
Breakfast at hotel drive to Mahabalipuram, en-route visit Kanchipuram. The Land
of Thousands Temples is a small, rural town about 75-km from Chennai in the
state of Tamil Nadu. With the Sankara Mutt acting as the hub of Hindu activities
and the temples, Kanchipuram is one of the most highly visited pilgrimage spots
in India, and can rightfully be called the "Kanchipuram was under the Pallavas
from the 6th to 8th century AD and later became the citadel of the Cholas,
Vijayanagar Kings, the Muslim and the British. It has been a center of Tamil
learning, cultural and religious background for centuries. Kanchipuram has
magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty bearing eloquent testimony to
its glorious Dravidian heritage.
On arrival check in to hotel. PM Visit the Cave Temples which excavated by
scooping out the scarp of the hill. The scooping work starts from front to back.
The cave temple is usually divided into inner & outer mandapas, distinguished by
the difference in levels. The front mandapa will have pillars & plasters numbering
4,6,8,10. The inner mandapa contains single, triple or five cells. The cave temple
with little modification is categorized as Mamalla style. The pillars under this style
are slender & taller with squatting lion at their base. The pillar is divided into
distinct parts known as kalasa, tadi, kumba, padma etc. Monolithic Temples are
locally known as Rathas. They were executed by chiseling out the exterior face
of the boulder. Work started from top to bottom. The pyramidal vimana with
sikhara at the top is an important feature of this style. It can be rightly said that
these monolithic temples must have paved the way for the structural temples with
elaborate architectural & sculptural details in the subsequent stage. There a total
number of 8 monolithic temples found in Mamallapuram. The five rathas in one
place, Ganesha Ratha, Valayankuttai Ratha & Pidari Rathas. Five Rathas, a
small hill sloping from south to north has been segmented into five divisions &
converted into monolithic temples. The heights of the segments have been
cleverly used for temples with single tier to three-tiered vimana. Each monolithic
temples shows different kind of sikhara. The five rathas are Dharmaraja Ratha,
Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha and Nakul Sahadev Ratha. Shore
Temple, The Shore Temple on the Bay of Bengal was constructed in the 7th
century during the rule of King Narsimha-Varman II Rajasimha (c. 690-728).The
Shore temples is a temple complex consisting of two Siva temples and a carving
of Anantasayana Vishnu. The temple facing east is entered by a small gopura.
On plan, it consists of a small sanctum & a front mandapa & is a two-tired
vimana. The sanctum is housing a linga. The Somaskanda panel consisting of
Siva & Parvati with baby Skanda is on the back wall of the sanctum. The dhara
linga & Somaskanda panel on the back wall of the sanctum are the features of
the Pallava temples only. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry 110Kms/ 3hrs approx]
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Pondicherry. On arrival check in to hotel.

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PM: Sightseeing of Pondicherry, The name Pondicherry has been derived
from the Tamil word Puducheri signifying 'the new settlement'. It was a French
settlement that comprised Pondy, Yanam, Karaikal, and Mahe. Amazing is the
fact that different districts of Pondicherry fall under different states. The capital
Pondicherry is situated in the state of Tamil Nadu at a distance of around 200 km
from Chennai. While Karaikal is also a part of Tamil Nadu, Mahe is located in
Kerala, and Yanam is in Andhra Pradesh. There is a strong influence of French
culture on Pondicherry town, especially on it's architecture, a result of the
centuries-old relations this place maintained with France. Today, Pondicherry is
more famous because of its relation with Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo selected
this peaceful and harmonious place to make his abode in the second decade of
this century and remained there till his death. A political revolutionary before
coming to Pondicherry, he became one of the most famous sages of modern
times produced by India.
Shree Aurobindo and The Mother, his most eminent disciple, set up the
Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville in 1926. Together they explored the possibilities
of yoga and meditation as a path to salvation. At the Ashram residents continue
to practice their teachings and run a lot of the cultural activity in Pondicherry.
There is an educational centre, which occasionally hosts lectures, screens films
and holds play performances. The sun, surf and sand are best at the beaches a
little outside town. Called Serenity, Quiet and Reppo they manage to live up to
their name. The town beach has a 4-meter high statue of Mahatma Gandhi and
French World War I memorial. There is a 150-year-old lighthouse also. The
French Institute is in a stylish colonial building. It has some remarkable old
French books that are very rare. The Romain Rolland library has over 60,000
volumes and overlooks the sea. Along with the ‘kepis’ capped cops and its
streets being called ‘rue’, it is the churches that help the town retain its European
charm. The church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception or Notre Dame
de la Conception is almost 300 years old. The church to Our Lady of Angels is
famous for an oil painting that was gifted by Napoleon III. The most magnificent
however is the grand gothic Sacred Heart Church with 3 stained glass panels of
the life of Christ. Just outside town is a copy of the Basilica at Lourdes. Many
temples around Pondicherry are dedicated to Ganesh, the half man half
pachyderm god who is the Destroyer of all Obstacles. The oldest ones date back
to the 10th century Chola Empire. The Vinaynagar Manakula temple has a
golden dome and a collection of 40 beautiful friezes. The temple to the local
goddess Drowpattiamman has a fire festival in July-August.
The Botanical Gardens are pleasant for a stroll and the aquarium has a
collection of exotic ornamental fish. The Pondicherry Museum has a really
eclectic collection of this, that and the other. It has an art collection, Pallava
sculptures, handicraft, weaponry, archaeology, geology and the old French
Governor Dupleix’s bed, an old palanquin and such interesting odds and ends!
The Jawahar Toy Museum has a collection of dolls dressed up to represent

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every state in India. Also visit Auroville is something of an avante garde
community 10 km from Pondicherry. It was instituted by The Mother in 1968 as
an experiment in international living. The aim was spiritual regeneration and
communal harmony. Over 1200 people are divided into several communes like
‘Forecomers’, ‘Grace’, ‘Sincerity’ etc with each commune engaged in a separate
field of research. Casual tourists aren’t encouraged but anyone with a genuine
interest in the philosophy is welcome. Auroville is sprawling so the biking there,
around and back will be heavy work. Mopeds might be a better idea. Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 04: Pondicherry - Tanjore (190Kms/4hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel drive to Tanjore. On arrival check in to hotel. PM: Sightseeing
of Tanjore or Thanjavur was the ancient capital of the Chola kings whose
origins, go back to the beginning of the Christian era. Power struggles between
these groups were a constant feature of their early history, with one or other
gaining the ascendancy at various times. The Cholas' turn for empire building
came between 850 and 1270 AD and, at the height of their power. Probably the
greatest chola emperors were Raja Raja who was responsible for building the
Brihadishwara Temple (Thanjavur main attraction) and his son Rajendra-I whose
navy competed with the Arabs for controls of the Indian Ocean trade routes and
who was responsible for bringing Srivijaya under Chola control.
Thanjavur District is the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. The Big Temple and the other
famous temples in the district are known all over the world. Thanjavur was the
cultural capital of the country in 1790. Thanjavur gained prominence during the
period of Chola Kings, who made it as their capital. Thereafter, it was ruled by
Nayaks and Maratta Kings, who nurtured art and culture. The cultural, the
architectural and the scholarly pursuits of these rulers are reflected in the great
monuments like Grand Anaicut, Big Temple and Serfoji Mahal Library etc. in the
district. Thanjavur rose to glory during the later Chola reign between the 10th and
14th Centuries and became a centre of learning and culture. It is the
headquarters of Thanjavur district, the 'Rice Bowl' of Tamil Nadu. It is also known
for its exquisite handicrafts, bronzes and South Indian Musical Instruments.
The main tourist attractions of Tanjore are Brihadeshwara Temple & Fort: built
by great Chola king in the 10th century it is an outstanding example of Chola
architecture and is listed in world heritage. On the top of the apex of 63 metres
high, a dome is said to be constructed from a single piece of granite, weighing an
estimated 81 tones. Thanjavur Palace & Museum: the palace near the temple is
a vast building of masonry built by the Nayakas around 1550 and partly by the
Maratha. The palace houses an art gallery, a library and a hall of music. The art
gallery occupies the Nayak Durbar Hall. It has a superb collection of Chola
bronze statues from the 9th to 12th centuries. The Saraswati mahal Library is
next door to the gallery. Art Gallery: In the Palace there are a number of granite
and bronze statues of the Chola period. Visiting Times: 9.00 - 13.00 hrs and
15.00 - 18.00 hrs. Saraswathi Mahal Library : In another section of the Palace

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is the library where over 30,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in India and
European languages are preserved.Visiting Times: 9.00 - 13.00 hrs and 14.00 -
17.00 hrs.Wednesday Holiday. Schwartz Church: (In the Palace garden) built in
1779 AD by Rajah Serfoji in token of his affection for the Rev.C.V.Schwartz of
the Danish mission. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05: Tanjore – Rameshwaram (240kms / 5hrs approx)
After breakfast at hotel drive to Rameshwaram, check in at hotel. Rest day free
and easy for personal activities relax etc. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06: Rameshwaram
Breakfast at hotel, visit Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple; this temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva constitutes the main attraction of the town of Rameswaram. Situated
near the sea on the eastern part of the island, this temple is mostly known for its
staggering structure, magnificent corridors and spectacular sculptures. It has
been built under the patronage of a number of rulers from the 12th century. The
most premier aspect of the temple is its corridor that is world’s longest one and
stretches about 197 meters in East-West direction and 133 meters in the North-
South direction.
The temple is even more appealing to the devotees because of the legend
associated with it. It is believed that Lord Rama, after having killed Ravana had
decided to offer Lord Shiva a prayer of gratitude for having guaranteed his
succeeded in the war. He instructed Hanuman to fetch the lingam from Kailasa
within a certain time, but Hanuman was delayed and Sita had to prepare one of
sand, before the auspicious hour. It is said that this is the same Lingam of Sri
Ramanatha in the temple. What acts as a supplementary to enhance this aura of
myth and supernaturalism in the temple are the 22 wells, the water of which are
believed to have medicinal properties? Also water from every well tastes different
from the other. Satchi Hanuman Temple; Very near to the Sugreevar temple is
the Satchi Hanuman Temple, which is located about 3km from the main temple
of Lord Ramanathaswamy. Legend has it that this temple enshrines the very spot
where Hanuman had given Rama the good news of the welfare of his wife Sita
with a stchi or an evidence of the Choodamani, or a jewel that Sita possessed.
This is also a favorite destination for the devotees.
Rest day visiting the numerous other temples or relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Rameshwaram – Madurai (168kms/ 3-4hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Madurai check in at hotel.
PM visit, Meenakshi Temple: This temple is the city's main attraction. This
temple is nearly 2000 years old placed in the heart of the old town - a splendid
example of Dravidian architecture. A striking feature of the temple is the
astonishing structure know as “Ayiramkaal Mandapam” or the Hall of Thousand
Pillars and each pillar features high, ornate, bold sculptures that look life like. The
present temple was designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak and subsequently
built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak. There are four entrances to the temple
with an area of six hectares. Each of its 12 towers has the height of 45 to 50

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meters. The Potrama Raikulam or the Golden Lotus Tank is the place where the
Tamil literacy society, called Sangam used to meet to decide the merits of the
work presented to them. The temple museum has 985 richly carved pillars and
each one surpasses the other in beauty.
Tirumalai Nayak Mahal: This Indo-Saracenic building was built in 1636 by the
ruler whose name it bears. The imposing edifice is famous for the “Stuccowork”
on its domes and impressive arches. The Sorgavilasam (Celestial Pavilion),
measuring 75m x 52m, constructed entirely of brick and mortar without the
support of a single rafter or girder, is a marvel of indo-Saracenic architectural
style. Among other striking features of the palace are the massive white pillars,
several of which line the corridor that runs along the courtyard. Connected by
high decorated arches, these pillars measure 20m in height and have a
circumference of 4m. Elsewhere, there are polished black stone pillars of varying
heights. It was King Thirumalai Nayak’s grandson who demolished much of the
fine structure and removed most of the jewels and woodcarvings in order to build
his own palace in Tiruchirapalli. Gandhi Museum: The 300-year-old palace now
converted into Museum has a picture gallery, a library of personal memorable of
the Mahatma Gandhi and an exhibit of South Indian handicrafts and village
industries.
Vaniyur Mariamman Teppakulam: This enormous temple tank is fed by water
from the Vaigai River. Mariamman Teppakulam is a beautiful square tank spread
over a huge area of almost 16 acres, located about 5Kms East of Meenakshi
Temple. The tank is the scene of the colourful float festival held in
January/February to celebrate the birth anniversary of King Thirumalai Nayak,
who built this tank. The deities of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are placed in a
float, called “Teppam”, decorated with flowers and illuminated with hundred of
lights. This float is taken around the tank to the sound of traditional music. On the
Northern side of the tank a temple is dedicated to Mariamman, a famous village
deity of Tamil Nadu. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 08: Madurai – Kodaikanal (116kms/ 2-3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kadaikanal, check in at hotel.
Later visit Star Shaped Lake - one of the major attractions of this quaint little hill
station. Situated at the heart of the main town area, it is also a favourite evening
spot for the locals as well. It is the legacy of former Collector, Sir Vere Levinge,
who formed it by damming the valley where three streams flowed. The entire lake
area is spread over an area of about 60 acres. Here you can also try out some
boating courtesy the Boat Club that is located here. Moreover, small horse rides
can also make a good pastime in the early evenings.
Solar Observatory - one of the only three solar observatories in the world that is
more than 75 years old. Built at an elevation of 2343 meters, the Solar
Observatory was built at the highest point of the town. You can have a look into
the solar system by booking your tickets for the scheduled shows.

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View Point - from where you can have a thrilling view of the entire Kodai valley.
The hill station best view points are Pillar Rocks, Green Valley View point and the
Dolphin/’s Nose. You must not miss a visit to these places as they are known for
their natural marvel and beauty. You could also find some of the locally made
products here to take along as the memorabilia of your visit. Overnight at hotel.
Day 09: Kodaikanal – Ooty (256kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Ooty check-in at the hotel. PM Sightseeing of Ooty;
situated in Nilgiri Mountains near Tri Junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and
Kerala. Oty is the only hill station in India which attracts visitors during all
seasons. It has built up a famous as the `all-seasons -hill resort' and the `queen
of hill stations'. It is one of the most popular hill resorts in southern India at an
elevation of 7216 ft. Above sea-level, her moods change with every season, but
each of her moods is hospitable to the visitor. Nestling among the hills at a point
where the Eastern Ghats meets the Western Ghats, the district headquarter town
of Udhagamandalam sprawls along a beautiful plateau. The Eastern Ghats are
mighty and attractive while the Western Ghats have wooded loveliness. Nature
unfolds itself in and around Ooty in a myriad of profiles, each one with a
distinctive grandeur and individuality.
The first inhabitants of this land were a tribe called Todas who had been living
here long before the British came in the early nineteenth century. But the credit
for modernising Udhagamandalam and making it accessible goes to the British
who constructed the first railway line in the area and made it the summer capital
of the Madras Presidency. Todas antedated all explorers to the Nilgiris by a great
margin of time. Mr. John Sullivan discovered Ooty in 1820. He built a permanent
house at Nilgiri Hill and this was the beginning. Soon several other British officers
built their summer houses. Horses, pony bullock cart and Tonga were
transportation modes at that time. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Ooty – Mysore – Bangalore (260kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Bangalore, en route visit Mysore Palace built in 1911-
12. The piece of harmonious synthesis of the Hindu and saracenic styles of
architecture with archways, domes turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are
magnificent. The palaces and royal garden of Mysore, ‘The Jewel of Karnataka’,
provide glimpses of its past grandeur. Thus the Maharaja’s Palace is one of the
largest in the country, embellished with stained glass and domes and turrets
giving it an ethereal air. We enjoy our afternoon sightseeing tour visiting
Chamundi Hill lies just outside the city and is topped by a temple to Chamundi,
the Rajas chosen diety. Half way up the hill, sits a huge granite statue of Nandi,
the bull, Lord Shiva’s vehicle, and the route is dotted with other minor shrines.
Late visit to Maharajas Palace, completed in 1912, dominates the centre of
Mysore. The building is a synthesis of Hindu and Sarancenic architecture,
designed by Henry Irwin, a British architecture.
Srirangapatnam fort the stronghold of Tippu Sultan. Tippu made a last minute
ditch Against the British in 1799 before surrendering his kingdom. Among the

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many fort buildings still intact, are Tippu’s Airy summer palace and his tomb at
the Darya Daulat Bagh (garden). Daria Daulat Bagh: Built in 1784, this Summer
Palace was one of Tipu's favourite retreats. It stands on a raised platform at a
height of 1.5 metres. The Bagh is situated on the banks of Cauvery river has
treasured the paintings, engraving, arms that depict the Valant victories and
Struggles of Tipu Sultan. The structure made of teak, this Indo-Saracenic
structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes. The corridors
showcase murals which describe Tipu’s ordeals in the battlefield against the
British.
After sightseeing of Mysore continue drive to Bangalore. On arrival check in at
hotel Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Bangalore – Hyderabad (flight)
Breakfast at hotel, half day city tour of Bangalore 'Garden City' visiting the Lal
Bagh Garden: Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added
horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries.
The garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and
enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. Also see the
Government buildings Vidhana Soudha: This splendid neo-Dravidian granite
building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon Park is the home of
the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the
Cabinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana
Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight
worth viewing.
The Bangalore Palace & Fort: The Bangalore Fort was built by Kempe Gowda
and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is the well preserved 16th century
Ganapathi Temple. The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887
on the 400 acre space. Inspired by the Windsor castle, this palace was built in
the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, foiled windows, battlements and
turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam, this summer
palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for its carving and
paintings. Tippu’s Summer Palace: The palace was first a mud-brick defense
built by Kempegowda in 1537. Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan later rebuilt it
1791. The two-storied structure (replica of the Daria Daulat in Srirangapatnam)
served as Tipu's summer retreat. An inscription on the wooden screen describes
the palace as the 'abode of happiness', almost mocking the ruins that surround it.
Though the palace still has elegant teak pillars, most of the painted decorations
have been destroyed and it is in very bad shape.
Afternoon transfer to airport to board flight for Hyderabad. On arrival meet with
our office representative, assistance and transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Hyderabad
Breakfast at hotel, full day city tour of Hyderabad a 400 year-old metropolitan city
teeming with bustling-bazaars and Muslim monuments. Hyderabad: founded on
the River Musi five miles east of Golconda, in 1591-92 by Muhammad Quli Qutb

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Shah. In the 16th century the city grew rapidly along the banks of river Musi.
Many buildings sprang up along the River Musi and Golconda was the capital of
the Qutb Shahi rulers. Hyderabad, under the Nizams, was the largest princely
state in India. Area wise it was as big as England and Scotland put together. The
State had its own currency, mint, railways, and postal system. There was no
income tax. Soon after India gained independence, Hyderabad State merged
with the Union of India. On November 1, 1956 the map of India was redrawn into
linguistic states, and Hyderabad became the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
AM visit Charminar: an imposing monument, which reflects the glory of the
Qutub Shahi dynasty. It is a massive square structure, 56 m (183.72 ft) high and
30 m (98.42 ft) wide. This monument is built entirely of granite and lime mortar. It
has 4 minarets one on each of its corners. These fluted minarets are attached to
the main building and rise towards the sky to a height of 56 m (183.72 ft). Each
minaret of the Charminar has a double balcony. A small bulbous cupola crowns
each of these beautiful minarets, which is decorated with petal like formations. A
short pointed spire crowns all the minarets. This beautiful colossus in granite,
lime, mortar and, some say, pulverized marble, was at one time the heart of the
city. This great tribute to aesthetics looks sturdy and solid from a distance but as
one moves closer, it emerges as an elegant and romantic edifice proclaiming its
architectural eminence in all its detail and dignity. Grand Mecca Masjid: oldest
masjids in the city & the biggest. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building it
in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangiah Choudhary.
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed the construction in 1694. It took 77 years
to come up as the magnificent edifice we see today.
PM excursion to visit Golconda Fort: of the most magnificent fortress complexes
in India, once famous for its diamond mines. The history of Golconda Fort dates
back to the early 13th century, when this south eastern part of the country was
ruled by the Kakatiyas. It is built on a granite hill 120 metres high, and is
surrounded by crenellated ramparts constructed of large masonry blocks
weighing several tonnes. The massive gates are studded with large pointed iron
spikes to prevent elephants from battering them down. The outer wall
surrounding the entire township of Golconda, is about 11 kilometres long, and is
strongly fortified. In its heyday, the 10 kilometre long road from Golconda to outer
Hyderabad, was a fabulous market selling jewellery, diamonds, pearls and other
gems, which were famous all over the world. Qutub Shahi Tombs: Quite close
to the Golconda fort are the tombs of the seven Qutub Shahi rulers in the Ibrahim
Bagh. The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single story while the larger
ones are two storied. In the center of each tomb is a sarcophagus which overlies
the actual burial vault in a crypt below. The domes were originally overlaid with
blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remain. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: Hyderabad – Mumbai (flight)

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Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival meet
and greet by our office representative assistance and transfer to hotel. Rest day
free and easy for personal activities relax etc. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14: Mumbai
Breakfast at hotel, full day for visiting Essel World the hottest destination for the
ones who are all set to have fun.
Mumbai’s only international style theme park and scintillating amusement center
that is located close to Gorai Beach, Essel World is the place to be for all in love
with racing their adrenaline to the maximum. Essel World has a special place in
the hearts of Mumbaikars and also people across the country. This is beacuse it
is the oldest amusement park in the city. Many people from contemporary age
have grown alongwith Essel World. Though being one of the first amusement
park, it is new in style and concept. Essel world is an international-style theme
park and amusement park that has defined the parameters of modern fun. It
constantly adopts new progressive technologies to redefine itself. Outside the
city limits you could hire special ferries to reach the park that sprawls over 64
acres of green landscape. With over 34 thrilling and scintillating rides, games and
amusements, EsselWorld is a guaranteed spot to pep you up. There is
something for all; the entire fun extravaganza includes Children’s Rides, Adult’s
Rides and Family Rides. You would also love to try some of the coin-operated
games, like Crazy Shuttle, Derby Racer, Aqua Blasta, Water Lazer etc. Some of
the freaky rides of the park are Crazy Cups, Road Train, Riki’s Rocking Alley,
Tilt-a-Whirl, Zipper Dipper, Highway Cars, Hedge Maze, Fun Net, Haunted Hotel,
and Prabal – the Killer. Essel world offers economical packages for weekends
and season specials. Opens everyday from 11:00 hrs to 19:00 hrs, Essel World
is a great amusement park where fun never stops. The wide array of restaurants
offers delicacies from local over and above international cuisines. The Wet World
at Esselworld seems to be the stomping ground during summers, when people
come here to relax themselves in the soothing showers of water. Rain pool,
Splash pool, Croc pool and Lazy River are the prime attractions of this water
park. The amusement park has been styled on international patterns and
frequently implements new technology, in form of machineries and environment,
to redefine itself. Water Kingdom is the twin park of Essel World. While providing
nonstop, fun amidst adventurous rides and 30,000 species of flora, both of these
amusement centers allure over 1.8 million people annually. In a nutshell, Essel
World is the best place to get entertained ceaselessly in Mumbai.
Day 15: Mumbai – Matheran (85kms/ 2hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, AM city tour visit the Gateway of India: Mumbai's most
famous landmark, The Gateway of India, is situated at Apollo Bunder. It was
designed by George Wikket. It was built to commemorate the visit of King
George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. Through this magnificent monument,
numerous viceroys and governors were welcomed to India as they disembarked
from their steamers, hence the name. Prince of Wales Museum; Barely a

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stone's throw from the Gateway of India is the Prince of Wales Museum, a
magnificent, but somewhat strange structure, built in a confluence of Gothic and
Moorish styles, and crowned by a sparkling white dome. It boasts a good
collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some
priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. There is an entire gallery devoted to Buddhist
tankha scrolls and another to Tibetan bronzes, but the chief attraction here is the
collection of over 2000 miniature paintings from the various art schools of India.
Next to the Museum is the Bombay Natural History Society, which has an
extensive collection of local flora and fauna.
PM drive to Matheran, check in at hotel. Rest day free and easy for personal
activities relax etc. Overnight at hotel.
Day 16: Matheran
Breakfast at hotel, sightseeing of Matheran one of the most exquisite and
beautiful hill stations placed at an altitude of 800m above sea level and situated
at a distance of 100km from Mumbai, the major tourist attractions of the place are
its 38 vantage points that offer breathtaking view of the whole place and its
nearby areas.
Echo Point; this is a crucial point that offers a panoramic view of the whole
place. As the name suggests, Echo point is well-known for allowing you to enjoy
your echoes. This has made the place very popular amongst locals as well as
tourists. Charlotte Lake; this lake is the main source of water supply in Matheran
and a major point of the place. It is located at a distance of 1 km from the main
market and looks idyllic during the monsoons, but dries up during the summers.
Louisa Point; Located on a plateau, this famous lookout point offers a
spectacular view of the ruined forts of Prabal and Vishalgarh. The famous "Lion's
Head" (a rock resembling a lion's head) is located close to it. Alexander Point; It
is a famous point located 1 km towards the north of the place. This point provides
splendid views of the Garbut Point, the Chowk valley and the Ulhas River, and is
a favorite among the sightseers. King George Point; during the monsoons, water
from the nearby Charlotte Lake overflows and forms various waterfalls around
the place. This is the point that beautifully captures these waterfalls and hence is
a popular point during the season of showers. Sunset/Porcupine Point; Located
at a distance of 4 km from the main market, this point is famous for its views of
the setting sun. This point offer views of a dark forest below. Prabalgad can also
be seen from this point.
Monkey Point; It is a well-known point, famous for the large number of
mischievous monkeys that throng the place. The point also offers a mesmerizing
view of the verdant plains below. More Tourist Attractions; Other important points
are Heart Point, Malang Point, Honeymoon Hill, Lords Point, One-tree Hill,
Olympia, Paymasters Park, Artists Park, Mount Barry, etc.
Overnight at hotel.

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Day 17: Matheran - Mumbai (85kms/ 2hrs)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Mumbai check in at hotel.
PM visit Hanging Gardens; laid out in 1881 these formally laid out gardens
have a notable collection of hedges shaped like animals. Perched at the top of
Malabar Hill, on its western side, just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park, these
terraced gardens, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens, provide lovely
sunset views over the Arabian Sea. The park was laid out in the early 1880s over
Bombay's main reservoir, some say to cover the water from the potentially
contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of Silence. Marine Drive; which runs
along the shoreline, starting at Nariman Point and up to Malabar Hill. This is a
windswept promenade, flanked by the sea and a row of art deco buildings.
Looped between the concrete jungle of Nariman Point, Mumbai's Manhattan, and
the leafy green slopes of Malabar hill, Marine Drive was once called the queen's
Necklace, strung with glittering street lights like an enormous strand of imperious
jewels. It is also one of Mumbai's busiest roads, an important artery for the heavy
suburban traffic heading downtown. Cars whiz continually past the two mile
stretch, past huddled lovers, children and babies in perambulators. Like other
seafronts, this is where most of south Mumbai comes to breathe in some fresh
air. Overnight at hotel.
Day 18: Mumbai – Departure
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board flight for your onward destination.

Check your progress - 2

Answer the following questions.
1. Discuss the role of tourist escort.
2. What are the main responsibilities of tourist escort?
3. Explain the professional ethics in tour escorting.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

6.4 Summary
In this short unit, the focus was on the role, responsibility and professional
ethical obligations of tour escort, with the stress on definitions of tour escort,
code of conduct and code of practice. This is all in consideration for the working
environment both in Western countries and even Asian countries. At the end of
the unit, students understand the concept of tour escort, role and their
responsibilities in the tourism industry.

Answer to Check Your Progress

1) See sec. 6.2
2) See sec. 6.3
3) See Sec. 6.3

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6.5 Glossary
 Travel & tour guide - escort tourists around places of interest such as
historic buildings, museums and other sight-seeing tours and point out
interesting information.
 Resort representative - usually work in overseas holiday resorts, taking
care of holiday makers and act as a contact point for information and
assistance. They also hold welcome meetings for guests, help to arrange
trips, entertainment and accompany tourists on transfers to and from the
airport.
 Tour manager - accompanies tourists on group tours and ensure that the
holiday run smoothly. Duties include keeping holiday makers informed,
liasing with hotels, travel agencies and officials at tourist sites.
 Travel consultant - provide customers with information and advice on
holidays and arrange holiday bookings.
 Tour Conducting is about managing tours, it involves traveling with
groups while staying with groups, controlling and entertaining people
dealing with problems and at times guiding tours. The tour conductor can
be with that group, depending on the type of tour for two to three weeks.
 Tour escort: a person who accompanies a tour departure to return, as
guide, troubleshooter etc, a person who performs such functions only at
the destination
 Tour Guiding is usually for a shorter length of time. It refers to the
specific activity at a sight or an attraction for a scheduled portion of time.

6.6 Review Questions

 What is a tour Escort? Describe historical growth and development of
tourist escort in India.
 Illustrate the significant role played by the tour escorts in both inclusive
and escorted tours.
 Explain the main responsibilities of tour escort in the changing tourism
marketplace.
 What do you mean by professional ethics? Discuss the tour escorts’
professional ethics.
 Write a note on Escorting services in India.

6.7 Suggested Readings

1. Black, R. & Weiler, B. (2005) Quality Assurance and Regulatory
Mechanisms in the Tour Guiding Industry: A systematic review. Journal of
Tourism Studies. Vol. 16 No. 1, 24-36. 5.

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2. Cohen, E. (1985) The Tourist Guide: the Origins, Structure and Dynamics
of a Role. Annals of Tourism Research. Vol. 12, 5-29.
3. Pond, K. L. (1993) The Professional Guide: Dynamics of Tour Guiding.
New York: VanNostrand Reinhold.
4. David Bowie and Jui Chi Chang (2005),Tourist satisfaction: A view from a
mixed International guided package tour, Journal of Vacation Marketing
,Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 303–322.
5. Swarbrooke, J. (1999) Sustainable Tourism Management. New York,
CABI Publishing. 25. Weaver, D. (2002) Ecotourism. Australia,
6. John Wiley & Sons. 26. Weiler, B. & Ham, S.H. (2001) Perspectives on
the Future of Tour Guiding, In: Lockwood, A. & Medlik, S. (eds.) Tourism
and Hospitality in the 21st Century. Oxford, Butterworth-Heinemann. 27.
7. Weiler, B. & Ham, S.H. (2002) Tour Guide Training: A Model for
Sustainable Capacity Building in Developing Countries. Journal of
Sustainable Tourism. Vol. 10 (1), 52-69. 28.
8. Bruce Prideaux, Gianna Moscardo, and Eric Laws (2006) Managing
tourism and hospitality services: theory and international applications
,CAB International, UK.

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UNIT 7: COMMON INTEREST AND SPECIAL

INTEREST ITINERARIES: SALIENT FEATURES AND
CASE MODELS
Structure
7.0 Objectives
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Common Interest and Special Interest Itineraries – Concept, meaning and
salient features
7.3 Common Interest and Special Interest Itineraries- case models
7.4 Summary
7.5 Glossary
7.6 Review Questions
7.7 Suggested Readings

7.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of special interest tourism;
 Explain the unique futures of special interest tourism,
 Discuss the Common Interest and Special Interest Itineraries

7.1 Introduction
It is easy to attract visitors when you have plenty of resources, nice
accommodations, powerful selling techniques, many supporting sectors and of
course reliable government support. The challenge starts when you lack most of
the above and what you have is only a handful of beautiful natural resources,
breathtaking sceneries, goodwill and a great desire and pride to show those
visitors what your country is made of. Rich natural resources, a breathtaking
coastline, rich flora and fauna, historical, cultural and religious heritage, which all
combined together within the same small country; represent a big advantage for
India. This Unit attempt; to fiuniliarise you with the special interest tourism along
with the basic knowledge and requirements of special interest tourists. It also
develop an understanding of preparation of special interest tour itineraries.

7.2 Common Interest and Special Interest Itineraries –

Concept, meaning and salient features
While we are all aware that India is blessed with a high diversity of
resources and good opportunities for the development of tourism, we cannot say
this sector is generating the expected results. Rich natural resources, a

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breathtaking coastline, rich flora and fauna, historical, cultural and religious
heritage, which all combined together and represent a big advantage for India.

Special Interest Tourism - Definition and Trends

A widely known and accepted definition of tourism is travel for leisure,
business or recreational purposes. In 1994 the United Nations defined three
forms of tourism with regard to a specific country: (UN, 1994)
a) Domestic tourism;
b) Inbound tourism; and
c) Outbound tourism.
The first one involves residents of the same country traveling only within the
same country; the second includes non-residents traveling into this country and
the third one involves residents traveling in a foreign country. By combining these
three basic definitions the United Nations created three main categories of
tourism: internal tourism which is a combination of both domestic and inbound
tourism, national tourism comprising domestic tourism and outbound tourism and
international tourism which includes inbound and outbound tourism.
According to Read (1980), in Hall and Weiler (1992), the
conceptualization of the term ‘Special Interest Tourism’ (SIT) emerged during the
1980s and can be seen as the predecessor of ‘Niche Tourism’. Early discussion
of SIT set the context for the development of niche tourism markets, and was
seen to be a prime force associated with the expansion of tourism and the
motivation around which tourist activity was planned and advanced.
Special interest tourism comprises different special interest travel forms
which have become known as niche markets over the years and gained
popularity among the actors of the tourism industry. While there is not a limit to
these niche markets some of them have become more sustainable and
considered categories of special interest tourism. These main categories along
with a short description for some of them are:
a) Adventure tourism
b) Religious tourism;
c) Cultural tourism;
d) Rural Tourism;
e) Ecotourism;
f) Culinary tourism;
g) Wildlife tourism;
h) Heritage tourism;
i) Medical tourism.
 Adventure tourism: According to travel-industry-dictionary adventure
tourism is “recreational travel undertaken to remote or exotic destinations for the
purpose of exploration or engaging in a variety of rugged activities”. Programs
and activities with an implication of challenge, expeditions full of surprises,

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involving daring journeys and the unexpected. Climbing, caving, jeep safaris are
examples of adventure tourism.
 Religious tourism: Is that form of tourism where groups of people or
individuals travel for pilgrimage, leisure of missionary purposes.
 Cultural Tourism: “Cultural tourism is a genre of special interest tourism
based on the search for and participation in new and deep cultural experiences,
whether aesthetic, intellectual, emotional, or psychological” (Stebbins,1996,
p.948). This definition incorporates a variety of cultural forms, including the
history, religion(s), art, architecture and other elements that have contributed in
forming of the specific culture of the visited region.
 Rural Tourism: According to Eurostat (1998) rural tourism “regards the
activities of a person travelling and staying in rural areas (without mass tourism)
other than those of their usual environment for less than one consecutive year for
leisure, business and other purposes (excluding the exercise of an activity
remunerated from within the placed visited) ”.
 Ecotourism: According to The International Ecotourism Society (1990)
ecotourism is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment
and improves the well-being of local people”. While these definitions are helpful
to support our idea and our choice of case studies, they would not be enough to
understand special interest tourists. Instead we should focus especially on whom
these tourists are, their characteristics and interests. Special interest tourists are
generally adults or third age persons, adolescents and children (members of
family or school groups), with the following characteristics:
• Spirit of adventure;
• Curiosity and
• Sharing experiences.
Their intention is to travel to destinations which are environmentally and culturally
rich, well conserved, seldom frequented and places where one can still enjoy the
luxury of tranquillity.
Special interest tourists enjoy activities in contact with nature, beauty of a
conserved natural area, the pleasure of watching the fauna in its natural habitat,
of exploring, discovering and learning, overcoming obstacles and feeling the
pleasure of overcoming them. Furthermore they like to discover how easy it is to
read a map, navigate a river and learn climbing techniques, diving, horse riding,
canoeing, driving cattle, packing and carrying a rucksack. For that tourist the
physical effort involved is a small price to pay for enjoying the view of a
mountain, camping next to a lake of still clear water or watching an eagle soaring
in the wind. Above all there is the pleasure of sharing experiences with friends
and relatives. Thus, Special interest tourism may be defined as a form of tourism
which involves consumers whose holiday choice is inspired by specific
motivations and whose level of satisfaction is determined by the experience they
pursue.

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Salient features of Special Interest tourism

Special interest tourism contributes to the economy and helps to raise several
niche markets. Special interest tourists express an aspiration for real experiences
and authenticity which allow them lively recognition with host communities in a
non-exploitative manner and tourists’ involvement with special interest activities
becomes a platform to provide the way of finding personal fulfilment. SIT is
ethical and sustainable tourism as the tourist experiences are not gained at the
cost of damaging the qualities, if a society which made the experience possible.
 C o m p e t i t i o n ( p l a y / s o c i a l t o p u r e s p o r t / s e r i o u s orientation
in sport tourism), – f o r m a l i t y ( i n f o r m a l t o f o r m a l i n
e d u c a t i o n a l tourism and eco-tourism), – depth of interest
(shallow to deep in eco-tourism and cultural tourism).p e r c e i v e d
t o r e a l / s o f t t o h a r d i n a d v e n t u r e tourism.
 social orientation (programs/courses/family/friends toppers/teams/solo),
 environmental/physical orientation (natural/unstructured to
developed/structured),
 local to global (familiarity and proximity to novel and exotic),
 Access (cost, time, equity and low to high).
 Frequency of participation (measures prior experience with activity,
familiarity of setting).
 Skills, knowledge, setting attributes—low to high,
 Locus of control/autonomy (perceived to real
competence).
 Importance/enjoyment (attraction),
 self expression/sign,
 Centrality.
 Risk probability
 Choosing one activity/product over other options.
 Risk consequences
• Making poor choices
• These categories overlap in many cases.
• Cycle tourism may involve aspects of ‘green’ tourism, rural tourism,
travelling for health and wine and food tourism.
• It’s helpful to be able to imagine a range of special interest tourism
categories, though.
• One of these that we shall look at now is ‘dark tourism’.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.
1. Define the concept of special interest tourism

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2. Identify main features of special interest tourism,
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

7.3 Common Interest and Special Interest Itineraries- Case

Models
Discover Bhutan Tour
Tour Type: Special Interest
Duration: 09 Night / 10 Days
Destination Covered: Delhi, Paro, Thimpu, Punakha, Paro
Accommodation Type: Luxury Hotels
Tour Customizations: Customizable & Extendable
Detailed Itinerary
Days 1: Arrive Delhi
Upon arrival you are met and transferred to your prebooked Hotel.Upon arrival at
the hotel you are received with a traditional welcome. Rest of the Days is relaxing
and for free activities.
Over night at Hotel.
Days 2: Delhi
This morning we visit Old Delhi, built in the 17th century by Shah Jehan the
Magnificent (who also built the Taj Mahal). First we will be visiting the famous
Jama Masjid mosque with its 9,000 sq. ft. courtyard, three domes and two
minarets, and then proceed to the massive complex known as the Red Fort.
Afternoon we'll visit Lakshmi Narayan Temple, a Spectacular structure that's just
60 years old, and then proceed via India Gate and the Governmental building to
Qutab Minar, the 240 foot tower built in 1190 to commemorate the arrival of Islam
in India, the Bahai Temple with its nine pools on an elevated platform, and the
Crafts Museum, which replicates and Indian street with over 50 artists and
craftspeople at work. Over night at the Hotel
Days 3 : Delhi - Paro (By Flight)
Your flight this morning takes you to the majestic mountain retreat of Bhutan.
This hidden treasure of the Himalayas, known as The Dragon Kingdom, is still
home to an ancient style of life. Remote, mysterious and truly special, Bhutan's
pure and genuine cultural heritage is a priceless gem in the treasure - house of
the subcontinent. The beautiful terraced valley where the medieval town of Paro
nestles is home to many of Bhutan's oldest temples and Dzongs. These are
centuries - old repositories of cultural treasures and works of art. Visit Parl
Market and town this evening. A stroll down main street is a very Pleasant
experience. Over night at the Hotel.
Days 4: Paro
Our Tour of Paro starts with a drive to view the Takstang Monastery (Tiger’s
Nest) from a distance. Later visit Kila Gompa. Afternoon visit the Ta Dzong Fort.

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Now the National Museum of Bhutan which displays antique thankha paintings,
textiles, weapons and a very interesting collection of postage stamps. Later drive
to the Rinpung Dzong built during the 17th century. Which is now used as an
administration center and school for monks. Over night at the Hotel
Days 5: Paro - Thimpu ( By Surface)
You are Driven through spectacular mountain views and peaceful countryside to
Thimpu, Bhutan's capital. Enroute, visit a Bhutanese farm house, traditionally
built entirely without nails. Over night at Hotel,
Days 6: Thimpu
Your tour of Thimphu includes the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of its
1627. It now houses the Dzongkha Language and Religion University. Protection
of their unique and precious heritage in this last remaining stronghold of
Himalayan .Buddhism is now a priority of the government. Also visit the great
Tashichho-Dzong - or Fortress of the Glorious Religion - the center of
government and religion. Stroll to Changgankha Monastery, and visit the
handicrafts emporium to shop where a wealth of artistic skills are displayed.Over
night at the Hotel
Days 7 : Thimpu - Punakha ( By Surface)
After breakfast we continue our drive towards Punakha -The first stop after
leaving Thimpu is Dochula Pass at 10,500 ft., offering breathtaking views of the
Himalayan Range and the valleys below. Punakha holds the title of winter capital
because of its more temperate climate. Bhutanese monks and the leader still live
in Punakha during winters. Punakha Dzong was strategically built at the
confluence of the phochu and mochu Rivers in 1637 by the first Shabdrung of
Bhutan, Ngawang, Namgyel.Over night stay at hotel.
Days 8: Punakha - Thimpu ( By Surface)
This morning you will be againg transfered to Thimpu , upon arrival checkin at
your Hotel . Afternoon stroll the lively SunDays Market where folk from outlying
areas come to stock up on most of their goods. Dressed in colorful traditional
garb, these remote mountain dwellers descend upon the market place, creating a
photographer's dream as they barter among themselves and socialize with
friends. Later visit the memorial chorten built in memory of the late King Jigme
Dorji Wangchuck. Over night at the Hotel.
Days 9: Thimpu- Paro ( By Surface)
After breakfast we will Leave for Paro . Upon arrival check in at your prebooked
Hotel . Rest of the Days free for personal activities.
Days 10: Leave Paro
Transfer to international airport to board flight for onward Journey .

Cultural Central India Tour

Duration: 14 Days
Destinations : Delhi- Jaipur-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra-Agra-Gwalior-Orcha-
Khajuraho-Allahabad -Varanasi- Delhi

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Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Meeting and Assistance at the airport and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02: Delhi
Morning after breakfast enjoy combined city tour of Old & New Delhi visiting Red
fort, Jama Masjid, Rajghat,Lotus Temple, India Gate, President house etc.
Entrances to Monuments are not included (only guide with driver). Overnight at
hotel.
Day 03: Delhi- Jaipur
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Jaipur. Jaipur is the Gateway to Rajasthan.
Also know as Pink city, as all buildings have a pink tint to them. It is an
unselfconsciously medieval city, with stately palaces, colourful bazaars (market)
and a fort brooding over the city. Graceful women in swirling skirts and viels of
red, yellow, orange and magenta, laden with silver jewellery, straight tall men in
Turbans and luching carts drawn by camels, do nothing to dispel the illusion. On
arrival checkin at hotel for overnight stay.
Day 04: Jaipur
Morning after breakfast guided excursion to Amber fort, enjoy elepant ride over
there. Afternoon city tour of Jaipur visit City Palace museum, Observatory and
Palace of Winds. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 05: Jaipur-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra and transfer to your hotel. Enroute visiting Fatehpur
sikri- named as The Abondoned city. Built by great Mugal Emperor Akbar, as his
capital but after few years abondoned due to scarcity of water. The whole city is
built of Red Sand Stone. Afternoon visit Taj Mahal-The Eternal symbol of India
and Agra, built in white marble. Taj Mahal was built by Mugal Emperor
Shahjahan for his Empress Mumtaz Mahal. 20,000 workmen worked for 22 years
to complete it. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Agra-Gwalior-Orcha
Morning after breakfast drive to Orcha. Enroute visit Gwalior Fort- also known as
Gibralter of Asia. On arrival in Orcha checkin at hotel. Orcha is famous for its
temples. Its a small town. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 07: Orcha-Khajuraho
Morning breakfast at the hotel and drive to Khajuraho-temple city of India. On
arrival in Khajuraho checkin at hotel. Khajuraho is famous for its 11th century
temples which are still very prominent and dominating the city. Overnight stay at
hotel.
Day 08: Khajuraho Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for guided city tour of
Western and Eastern style of Temples. Whole temple walls in western style of
temples are embosed with erotic sculptures and idols. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09: Khajuraho-Allahabad
After breakfast drive to Holy City Allahabad. Also famous for confluence of three
rivers Ganges, Jamuna and Saraswati. On arrival in Allahabad checkin at hotel
for overnight stay.

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Day 10: Allahabad-Varanasi
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to City of temples and holy river ganges-
Varanasi. On arrival checkin at hotel. Rest of the day free for your independent
activities. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11: Varanasi
Early morning boat excursion on the holy river ganges to see the bathing ghats
and cremetion site. Watching people bathing and worship-ping at the ghats is
one of the most extraordinary
experiences of a visit to India. Later visit the Bharat Mata Temple, Durga temple,
Tulsi Manas mandir, Banaras Hindu University which has an art gallery.
Day 12: Varanasi- Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel Full day free. Evening transfer to railway station to board
overnight sleeper train for Delhi. Overnight on board train
Day 13: Delhi
Arrive Delhi in the morning and transfer to hotel. Full day free for your
independent activties. Do you last minute shopping? Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 14: Delhi Depart
Intime transfer to airport to connect your flight back home.
Includes:
--03/04 star twin sharing hotels with daily american breakfast
--All transfers, city tours and intercity travel by non-airconditioned transport
--2nd AC sleeper class Train tickets Varanas-Delhi
--English speaking guides during city tours
--Elephant ride in Jaipur
--Boatride in Varanasi
Excludes:
--Monument entrance fees during city tours
--Expenses of personal nature like, food, laundry, telephone calls, drinks etc etc.
--All other expenses not mentioned under "includes" heading.

Traditional Healing – Medicine & Culture

Place to Be Visited: Hanoi, Ha Long, Saigon
(7 DAYS – 6 NIGHTS)

HIGHLIGHTS
 Meet the friendly locals and taste delicious food every day at atmospheric
restaurants;
 Discover Hanoi’s historical and culture highlights;
 Visit the best traditional hospital and meet with the finest traditional
doctors;
 Explore limestone islands and emerald green waters of Ha long Bay;
 Discover Saigon’s historical and culture highlights, China town included;

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 Explore the only traditional medicine museum of Vietnam.

ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi (Welcome Drink & Dinner)
Pick up at Noi Bai airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital
city. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
In the morning, visit the Institute of Acupuncture and meet with one of the best
specialists of Acupuncture. In the afternoon, visit the capital city and its cultural
centers, including the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. Enjoy a
traditional folk show and an ancient water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 3: Hanoi (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
In the morning, visit the National Hospital of Traditional Medicine, the leading
hospital in its field for the whole country of Vietnam. It is the largest
establishment for treatment, research, and training in traditional medicine. The
hospital has a total of 22 departments with two main centers that are divided in 3
main sections including clinical, para-clinical and functional section. You’ll visit
the various departments and you can meet with some of the best traditional
specialists. In the afternoon, enjoy shopping activities in the city center.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
In the morning, transfer with guide to Ha long (170km). Upon arrival, get on
board a private boat for a stunning cruise in Ha Long Bay (4 hours), a World
Heritage site recognized by UNESCO. Visit some magical grottoes while relaxing
in the best scenic beauty of Vietnam. Enjoy a traditional lunch with the freshest
and finest seafood. After lunch, Board the superb emerald cruise for a one night
stay in Ha long Bay. Overnight on Emeraude cruise.
Day 5: Ha Long - Hanoi – Saigon (Breakfast, Dinner)
Transfer from Ha Long to Hanoi Airport for the flight to Saigon with stop at arts
and crafts factory. Pick up at Tan Son Nhat airport and transfer to the Hotel. See
the Ao Dai dancing show (closed on Tuesday). Overnight in Saigon.
Day 6: Saigon (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
In the morning, visit the newly opened FITO Museum; it is the first and only
traditional medicine museum in Vietnam. This attraction has numerous ancient
items depicting a complete history of traditional medicine. Some of these objects
are more then 3000 years old. The museum has important documents in the
pharmaceutical, acupuncture, gynecologic, pediatric, ophthalmologic, and
nourishment fields. During your visit, you can see the worshipping rooms and
meet with the herbal doctors; you can watch the wide collection of kettles used
for cooking medicine, and see a documentary film on Vietnamese traditional
medicine. Furthermore, you can shop for souvenirs in the museum or else go to
the traditional pharmacy for your own special preparations. In the afternoon,

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enjoy a classic city tour including Cho Lon (China town), the post office, the
cathedral and the presidential palace. Overnight in Saigon
Day 7: Saigon (Breakfast, Dinner)
In the morning, you are free at leisure for shopping activities at Ben Thanh
Market. Transfer to the airport for departure in the afternoon/evening.
 COCONUTS & BEACHES TOUR
Duration: 06 Nights / 07 Days
Day 01: Arrive Cochin
Greet on arrival at the Cochin International Airport. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon
proceed for city tour, visiting the historic city of Fort Cochin -Ancient capital of the
Dutch, Portuguese and finally the British. A walking tour of Fort Cochin would be
ideal or otherwise an "Auto Rickshaw"can be another choice. Visit will include the
old Spice Market at Mattancherry, the antique shop on Jews Street, the
Synagogue, Dutch Palace and, the Church of St. Francis where the mortal
remains of Vasco Da Gama was buried before it was shifted to Portugal. Return
to your hotel for Overnight stay.
Day 02: Cochin / Periyar
Morning after breakfast, drive to Spice Village at Periyar (185 Kms/5 Hrs drive),
which lies in the shade of Cardamom Hills and is a beautiful area of tranquil
winding roads, tea gardens, rubber estates and spice plantations. Check-in at the
Hotel. Afternoon, visit to the National Park. After that Boat safari in lake Periyar
and try to catch a wild elephant. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 03: Periyar / Kumarakom
After breakfast, visit tea and spice plantations or do a soft trek with escort in the
jungle. Afternoon drive to Kumarakom (135 kms / 3 Hrs drive). Check into the
hotel for overnight stay.
Day 04: Kumarakom]
Morning visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary -spread across 14 acres, The
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an ornithologist's paradise is a favorite haunt of
migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. A visit to the
bird sanctuary, set within the lush acres of wooded land nearby, acquaints you to
the variety of migratory birds that flock in thousands, some from the Himalayas,
some even from as far as Siberia. Afternoon visit to the marvelous mangrove
forests, coconut capopies and pulsating paddy fields sprinkle with enchanting
waterways and canals decked with white lilies. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 05: Kumarakom / Marari Beach
Drive to Marari Beach -a sleepy fishing village located between the port city of
Cochin and Alleppey. Check into the hotel. Afternoon cruises on the backwaters
nearby, visits to traditional coir-making units etc.
Day 06: Marari Beach
Full day to explore the beach.
Day 07: Marari - Cochin

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Drive to Cochin (60 Kms / 1½ Hrs) and transfer to airport to connect flight for
onward destination. (Hotel Checkout 12:00 Hrs)
Check your progress- 2

Answer the following questions.

1. How develop nature based tours?
2. What is eco-tour package?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

7.4 Summary
This Unit has given you an idea about the utility of special interest tourism.
Now you’re familiar to design special interest tour package not only for domestic
tourists but also for the international tourists. Special interest tourism is one of
the most interesting tourism sectors in India which has a great potential to
successfully develop this type of tourism. It started slow but nowadays more and
more tour operators and other tourism stakeholders are showing interest toward
it. Investments in this sector are growing and resourceful but unknown locations
are coming into existence. Bringing tourists into the yet-to-be discovered Indian
cultural landscape, where folk legends and history are combined into mystical
scenery has become a primary goal for the economic development of many
regions in India. Forests and natural reserves are rapidly becoming tourism
products due to the wider interests of tourists and their involvement. The building
of environment-friendly resorts and hotels across the world represents the growth
of ecotourism markets and the tourist’s awareness for the preservation of
environment in sustainable ways the tourism development in India can be
described as exceptionally successful. Tourism development is now seen as a
realistic chance by the regional and national administration.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Answer to Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 7.2
2) See sec. 7.2
Answer to Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 7.3
2) See sub sec. 7.3

7.5 Glossary
 Geotourism - tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character
of the place being visited - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and
the well-being of its residents.

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 Ethnic Tour - A tour designed for people of the same heritage traveling to
their native origin or to a destination with ethnic relevance.
 Special Interest Tour - A tour designed to appeal to clients with a special or
common interest. Most such tours provide an expert tour leader and usually
visit places and/or events of special interest to the participants.

7.6 Review Questions

 Elaborate the growth and development of special interest tourism India.
 Identify main special interest types of tourism.
 Suggest 5 days tour itinerary for international tourists who wanted to visit
Himalayas.
 List the major tour operators involved in special interest tourism in India.
 What are the unique features of special interest tour package?
 Illustrate present trends of special interest tourism in India.

7.7 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text,
Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and
Administration, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency ,
John Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation
and Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel
agency and tour operators.
 Weiler, B. and Hall, C.M. (1992) Special Interest Tourism, London:
Belhaven

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 Alpine, L. (1986). Trends in special interest tourism, Speciality Travel
Index.Fall/Winter, 83-84.
 Backman, K. F. & Potts, T. D. (1993) Profiling Nature-Based Travellers:
Southeastern Market Segments. South Carolina: Strom Thurmond
Institute.
 Press.Campbell, L. (1999). Ecotourism in rural developing economies.
Annals of Tourism Research 26, 534-553.
 Ceballos-Lascurain, H. (1996).Tourism, Ecotourism and Protected
Areas.Cambridge: IUCN.
 Hall, C. M. (1989). Special interest travel: A prime force in the expansion
of tourism? Cited in R. Welch, (ed.), Geography in action. Dunedin:
University of Otago Press.
 Douglas, N., Douglas, N. & Derrett, R. (2001).Special Interest
Tourism.Sydney: John Wiley & Sons.
 Drita Kruja and Albana Gjyrezi, (2011)The Special Interest Tourism
Development and the Small Regions , TURIZAM ,Volume 15, Issue 2 77-
89

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UNIT 8: UNIQUE FEATURES OF MICE CENTRIC

ITINERARIES: CASE EXAMPLES
Structure
8.0 Objectives
8.1 Introduction
8.2 MICE- Concept, meaning, features
8.3 The Indian MICE Industry
8.4 MICE Itineraries: Case examples
8.5 Summary
8.6 Glossary
8.7 Review Questions
8.8 Suggested Readings
8.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of MICE
 Explain the features of MICE,
 Discuss the sample MICE itineraries

8.1 Introduction
The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is
one of the key drivers of tourism destination development and an important
generator of income, employment and foreign investment. Beyond economic
benefits, the MICE industry presents opportunities for knowledge sharing,
networking and capacity building, making it an important driver for intellectual
development and regional cooperation. In Asia and the Pacific, one of the fastest
developing regions in the world, some countries and cities are already leading in
MICE tourism, having recognized the potential of this industry to bring economic,
social and intellectual benefits. With ever more exhibition grounds,
accommodation units and entertainment facilities being constructed throughout
the region, Asia and the Pacific is strongly positioning itself as a world leader in
the MICE industry. Thus, this unit is about MICE and agreeing tour itineraries.
You should be able to understand the concept of MICE and agree the main
features of MICE tour and agree the main routes and timings. You should know
and understand the logistic factors involved in MICE Itineraries.

8.2 MICE- Concept, meaning, features

India has always been a unique conference destination with its vast array of
scenic, heritage, art and crafts, architecture, nature and wildlife, cultural, culinary,

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spiritual and therapeutic attractions. The steady growth trajectory of the Indian
economy has made it a commercial hub and a desirable conference destination.
Improved infrastructure with new airports and hotels, improved air, road and rail
transport are all adding to this. There are about 40 international and several
domestic airlines operating in India. An excellent railway system connects the
major cities to tourist destinations. Creativity and the rich cultural heritage help in
conceptualising unique events that are truly unique and one-of-a-kind. Socialising
with erstwhile Royalty in their palaces, participating in an actual Indian wedding,
yoga and meditation, therapeutic sessions are some of the out-of-box events that
can be planned and executed. The traditional warmth and hospitality, the colors
and pageantry, the richness and diversity makes India very attractive for
international conferences. According to UNWTO, MICE will be the fastest
growing segment in a total of 1 billion International tourist arrivals worldwide in
2012. Currently Asia account for 16 % of world meetings. This rather less than
charming acronym which gained prominence in 90s, stands for - “Meetings,
Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions”, its clientele the business, corporate,
organizational and event based categories of groups, associations,
organizations, & conglomerates. As inbound MICE grow in India, its outbound
MICE market was estimated around USD 550-600 million in 2011. This resulted
in an outbound trip volume of 6.2 million, with around 1.5-1.8 million travelling
outbound only for MICE tourism. It is estimated, by 2020 Indian outbound tourist
will be 50 million compared to 12 million today. While China’s current outbound of
50 million will increase to 150 million. MICE tourism is a term that encompasses
four different components of the corporate meeting’s market-meetings,
incentives, conventions and exhibitions-which are all separate activities.

Definition of MICE
In ‘Meetings Industry Terminology’, IAPCO (the International Association of
Professional Congress Organizers) provides the following definitions for MICE:
Meeting: General term indicating the coming together of a number of
people in one place to confer or carry out a particular activity. Frequency: can be
on an ad hoc basis or according to a set pattern, for instance annual general
meetings, committee meetings etc.
Incentive: A meeting event that is part of a programme offered to
participants to reward a previous performance.
Conference: Participatory meeting designed for discussion, fact-finding,
problem-solving and consultation. As compared with a Congress, a conference is
normally smaller in scale and more select in character - features which tend to
facilitate the exchange of information. The term ‘conference’ carries no special
connotation as to frequency. Though not inherently limited in time, conferences
are usually of a limited duration with specific objectives.
Exhibition: Events at which products and services are displayed.

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According to International Meetings Industry Glossary (1993) a
conference as “an event used by any organization to meet and exchange views,
convey a message, open a debate or give publicity to some area of opinion on a
specific issue.

MICE – Feature
The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is
one of the key drivers of tourism destination development and an important
generator of income, employment and foreign investment. Beyond economic
benefits, the MICE industry presents opportunities for knowledge sharing,
networking and capacity building, making it an important driver for intellectual
development and regional cooperation. The main Features of MICE are as:
 Beyond the Season: MICE tourism cuts beyond the two seasonal tourism
peaks in the country, and definitely adds a third for hot climate India, from
where MICE operators and delegations prefer to plan their business &
conferences as a getaway from the heat as well.
 Will be back: MICE tourist tends to refer visits to family and friends and
often come back as leisure tourists.
 Low on environmental impact: It is experienced that MICE tourist are
groups which are more responsible due to the nature of their agenda, and
minimize adverse effects due to the all around guidance of the service
providers
 Destinations: MICE tourist are not just limited to Delhi but have a compact
range that includes, destinations within short driving distances of the capital,
such as Shimla, Chandigarh , Agra , Jaipur and so many.
 Social Media: Connectivity and social media have added to the surge.
Internet World Stats reported, internet users world wide have grown at a rate
of 480 % between 2000 and 2011. Currently the number of users stands at a
staggering 2.095 billion, out of which 44% are in Asia, figuring 922 million.
 Benchmarking: Benchmarking the success and failures of other Asian
destinations can help in picking up performance gaps and plan for it, and
increase the competitiveness.
 High end services: State of the art conferencing facilities, with conference
halls, cutting edge audio visual presentations, video conferencing live
streaming and web casting, interactive post-event video uploads, language
interpreters, event coordinators, end to end solutions and services with
support activities of registrations, payments, accommodations and software
systems
 Destination Image: The image of a destination or its branding is a
necessary influence in the decision- making process of venues. Therefore it
is the destination brand that creates an image in the mind of the customer. A

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brand can simplify decisions, reduce purchase risk, create and deliver
expectations.
 International Air links: Regular flights connecting major cities; Business
class and first class air travel. Airlines include five star service providers
such as Qatar Airways Gulf Air, and regular business & economy fliers as
Thai Airways, Korean Airlines, Air China, Jet Air, Indian Airlines, Air Arabia,
& Biman Bangladesh. Domestic flights are also available
 Exotic Sights & Adventure: From Jungle Safaris to guided Heritage tours
or adventure activities such as Paragliding, Ultra light aircrafts, Boating,
Elephant jungle rides. Rafting and Bungee jumping for the adrenaline shot
 Leisure & Well Being: Golf, Health Clubs & Spas
 Commitment: Tourism services are an experience, which evolve from
exchange between the tourist and the service providers. Hotels & venues
need to give a tangible evidence of facility which might be the structure of
the building, the décor, the ambience, the food, that suggests quality,
commitment and delivery.
 Providing stimulus to global economic growth by creating forums for new
product development, exchange and marketing;
 Facilitating academic, technical and professional advancement by
encouraging the global development and exchange of research, knowledge,
standards and procedures;
 Supporting communities by facilitating access to global knowledge and
expertise and attracting new investment potential;
 Enhancing and supporting transportation, hospitality and tourism
infrastructure by creating an economically important rationale for non-leisure
travel;
 Promoting international cooperation and collaboration by encouraging and
sustaining business and professional networks, and
 Supporting economic transition by facilitating retraining and professional
development on a global basis.

8.3 - The Indian MICE Industry:

MICE tourism is nothing but business tourism. MICE stand for: Meetings,
Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions. "E" sometimes refers to as Events and
"C" sometimes refers to as Conventions. According to the International
Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO), Meeting is the
coming together of a number of people in one place, to confer or carry out a
particular activity. This can be on an ad hoc basis or to a set pattern. For
example, annual general meetings, committee meetings etc. Incentive is part of a
program which is offered to its participants to reward a previous performance.
Conference is a participatory meeting designed for discussion, fact finding,

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problem solving and consultation. It is smaller in scale as compared to a
congress which is usually of limited duration with specific objectives. Event is
something at which products and services are displayed; for example, a career
fair, an automotive exhibition etc.Unlike the other components of MICE tourism,
incentive tourism is conducted purely for entertainment, rather than for
professional or educational purposes.
The MICE industry is “at the high-quality, high-yield end of the tourism
spectrum”, international surveys suggest the segment tends to spend between
two to four times more than the leisure tourist. Although different categories with
in the segment such as corporate buyers, entrepreneurial buyers, association
buyers, and public or governmental sector buyers signify different levels of
spending. The 2010 International Meetings Statistics Report, by Union of
International Associations (UIA) ranked Singapore as the top convention city in
Asia, a position it has retained for 23 consecutive years. The MICE industry,
which rakes in billions of dollars in tourism receipts for Singapore, is expected to
reach S$10.5 billion by 2015.
According to UNWTO, MICE will be the fastest growing segment in a total
of 1 billion International tourist arrivals worldwide in 2012. Currently Asia account
for 16 % of world meetings. This rather less than charming acronym which
gained prominence in 90s, stands for - “Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and
Exhibitions”, its clientele the business, corporate, organizational and event based
categories of groups, associations, organizations, & conglomerates. As inbound
MICE grow in India, its outbound MICE market was estimated around USD 550-
600 million in 2011. This resulted in an outbound trip volume of 6.2 million, with
around 1.5-1.8 million travelling outbound only for MICE tourism.
It is estimated, by 2020 Indian outbound tourist will be 50 million
compared to 12 million today. While China’s current outbound of 50 million will
increase to 150 million. During the PATA Travel Mart at New Delhi 2011, John
Kaldowski , PATA’s Head of Tourism Strategy described the growth of outbound
tourism from China and India - “These two giants last year generated more than
US $ 65 billion in tourism receipts globally (excluding international transport) and
were responsible for close on 53 million arrivals to Asia Pacific destinations” On
the same occasion Surekha Poddar, Executive Director of Consumer Research
Nielsen India cited recent surveys and mentioned India ranked at number one in
global consumer confidence indices, with a rating of 126 compared to the global
rating at 89. The survey also mentioned travel as the second priority of at least
34 per cent of Indian consumers. As the last couple of years continue to show a
very significant increase for outbound tourists in Asian countries, the two
decades old gradual growth of MICE tourism too has gained new heights - a
segment which has earlier remained the forte of the hotel industry in western
countries. Asian cities have emerged as global

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MICE TRENDS
With a growing business, of course, come varying trends and the MICE space
is no different. As the segment grows, so do the demands of the customers.
Martin Wuetrich, General Manager, Sheraton Bangalore, which owes 20 per cent
of its room occupancy to MICE, opined that opportunities lay in the tier II cities.
“Some of these markets are beginning to create demand with newer segments
purely because of the quality of the kind of hotel that exists. Something similar
has happened in a city like Bengaluru. Corporate and multinationals are
considering Bengaluru as an option to hold high scale annual events looking at
the availability of world class MICE facilities, events they would have otherwise
held abroad or in Mumbai or Delhi. The main trends are as:
• Long-haul destinations like the US are picking up with outbound travel
purchasers
• Corporate are looking beyond South-East Asia for newer and exciting
destinations for incentive trips
• Eastern Europe and South America emerging as destinations of choice with
travel purchasers looking for high-end products
• Increasing demand for exciting packages with substantial value-addition, for
example, teeming incentive trips with sports, adventure, etc.
The International Conference and Convention Association (ICCA) recent
publication of the top 20 destinations for MICE business has reaffirmed the old
world order--that not one African city or country made it into the top 20
worldwide.In fact, the top six countries appear to be cast in iron, led by the United
States and followed by Germany and Spain. In the city ranking, Vienna took the
top position followed by Paris and Barcelona, respectively.African destination
countries have been trying to market MICE events more aggressively in recent
years but are often limited by the available conference facilities and more
important, bed capacity in capital and key commercial cities. While South Africa
has been persistently topping the African rankings and has invested heavily in
facilities ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, other countries have been playing
catch up with Kenya significantly for the East African region attracting ever more
MICE business and hoping for yet more.
Significantly, the planning for a brand new international class conference centre
is advancing, to be set at the Bamburi area of the Indian Ocean port and Leisure
City of Mombasa. Another country keen on increasing their MICE footprint is
Rwanda, where new hotels and conference facilities are due to be
commissioned. Among them a new Marriott Hotel and Conference
Centre.Globally, Africa, as is generally the case with tourism arrivals and global
ranking therein, remains in the distant pack chasing a however fast growing
market segment for such profitable and visibility creating events.
The new top 20 country rankings, according to the number of confirmed major
meetings held, are:

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USA – 759 meetings
Germany – 577
Spain – 463
UK – 434
France – 428
Italy – 363
Brazil – 304
China – 302
Netherlands – 291
Austria – 267
Canada 255
Switzerland – 240
Japan – 233
Portugal – 228
Republic of Korea – 207
Australia – 204
Sweden – 195
Argentina – 186
Belgium 179
Mexico – 175
The top 20 city rankings, again going by the number of meetings hosted in 2011,
are:
Vienna – 181 meetings
Paris – 174
Barcelona – 150
Berlin – 147
Singapore – 142
Madrid – 130
London – 115
Amsterdam – 114
Istanbul – 113
Beijing – 111
Budapest – 108
Lisbon – 107
Seoul – 99
Copenhagen – 98
Prague – 98
Buenos Aires – 94
Brussels – 93
Stockholm – 93
Rome – 92
Taipei – 83

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Check your progress - 1

Answer the following questions.

1. What is MICE?
2. Define MICE
3. What are the main features of MICE?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.
8.4 MICE Centric Itineraries
The India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) sponsored by the
Ministry of Tourism, the Government of India aims at promoting India as a
competent and credible MICE destination. India is still in its growing stage
showing signs of becoming a fully fledged MICE destination. According to the
ICCA, India is 27th in the global meetings market. The Indian inbound MICE
segment is growing at the rate of 15 to 29% annually. The Indian inbound MICE
market in the first seven months in 2004 was US$20 million, which is 40% more
than the same period in 2003. As a potential MICE destination, though in its
infancy stage, India has virtually everything a modern conference organizer or
delegate could expect. The important MICE destinations in India are: Agra,
Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New
Delhi.
The tourism industry in any country is one of the major revenue earners.
MICE tourism is an up and coming sector and a major revenue contributor to the
tourism industry in countries. In order to be a hot spot for MICE, a destination
needs to be developed and promoted. Infrastructural facilities accessibility, to
accommodation, to venues needs to be of international standard and quality.
Since India is becoming a major MICE destination, an investigation needs to be
conducted on the factors and attributes affecting convention site decision
making. Conventions can be hosted anywhere, which gives rise to competition
among destinations in portraying themselves as the best destination. Because of
this growing competition, it is imperative that an investigation be made into the
factors that contribute best in site selection for MICE within the various
destinations in India. Past studies have tried to shed light on identifying many
factors, though there is still room for investigation and little is known on the
relative importance of each factor. Convention and visitor bureaus (CVB's) and
destination management organisations (DMO's) lack adequate knowledge for the
competitive action in promoting their destination. As mentioned earlier, India is
still in its growing stage and the factors and attributes constitute to be the
foundation of any potential MICE destination needs to be investigated.

MICE Tour Itineraries

Most of the travel and hospitality companies provide customized solutions for
various MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) related travel
needs. These assist at every stage of planning your travel, including pre-tour

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familiarization visits, booking of air tickets, arranging accommodation at the
hotels, gala dinners, collateral preparation, technical back up, meal
arrangements and event management.
MICE tours offer the following services to customers:
• Research and development of complete program
• Identification and reservation of location
• Venue and accommodation selection
• Planning, organisation and equipping of location area
• Contracting and negotiation of services
• Organization of pre and post tour programs, spouse programs, social programs
and arrangements for accompanying guests
• Specialized exclusive theme dinners
• Audiovisual recording of the event
• Shows and special entertainments
• Special evening venues
• Transportation – meet and greet services during all arrivals
• Security

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• Visa application servicesPre, Post &

Onsite - Conference ServiceOnsite -

1. Singapore : Conference ( 3 Nights / 4 Days)
Day 1 : Singapore
Arrive in Singapore and proceed for city orientation tour which includes
statue of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Parliament House, Suntec City,
Fountain of Wealth, City Hall, and Orchard Road. Experience the
Singapore Flyer ride which offers a breathtaking view of the shimmering
Marina Bay waterfront and historical landmarks dotting the city
skyline.Visit Night Safari later in the evening.
Day 2 : Singapore
Half day conference/business session. In the evening, experience the

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Cable Car Ride from Mt. Faber to Sentosa Island. Visit Images of
Singapore - The Pioneers of Singapore, Surrender Chambers, Festivals
of Singapore, and Wax Works. Admire rare marine species at Underwater
World. Enjoy the 'Songs of the Sea' show in the evening.
Day 3: Singapore
Visit Universal Studios at Resort World, Sentosa. Enjoy gala dinner in the
evening.
Day 4: Departure from Singapore
Free time for leisure in the morning. Board the flight for your hometown.
Tour concludes. Take back souvenirs and memories of a wonderful trip,
arranged to perfection in true Kesari MICE style.

2. Hyderabad Conference: (2 Nights/3 Days)

Day 1: Hyderabad
Arrive in Hyderabad. Free time for relaxation. In the evening Light and
Sound Show at Lumbini Park
Day 2: Hyderabad
Full Day conference which will be followed by gala dinner in the evening.
Day 3: Hyderabad
After breakfast proceed for City Tour which includes Snow World, Birla
Temple and Charminar. Later board the flight/train for your hometown.
Tour Concludes.

3. Delhi - Agra Conference: (2Nights/ 3Days)

Day 1 : Delhi - Agra
Arrive in Delhi. Proceed to Agra to visit Taj Mahal. Free time for
relaxation.
Day 2: Agra
Full day conference followed by gala dinner in the evening.
Day 3: Agra- Delhi
After breakfast. Proceed to Delhi for City orientation tour which includes
Raj Ghat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House & India Gate .Board the
flight/Train for your hometown. Tour Concludes
4. Goa Conference: (2 Nights / 3 Days)
Day 1 : Goa
Arrive in Goa . Free time for relaxation.
Day 2: Goa
Breakfast in the Hotel. Full Day Conference followed by Gala Dinner.
Day 3: Goa
Breakfast in the Hotel. Free time for shopping or enjoy on the beach.
Later board the flight/train for your hometown. Tour Concludes.

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5. Hong Kong: Conference ( 3 Nights / 4 Days)
Day 1 : Hong Kong
Arrive in Hong Kong. Enjoy the famous Hong Kong Harbour Illumination
show 'Avenues of the Stars' later that night.
Day 2: Hong Kong
Full day conference/business session with gala dinner in the evening.
Day 3: Hong Kong - Disney world
Enjoy the magic of Disney Land, and its exciting rides. Take in 'Festival of
the Lion King' - a virtual explosion of colours, music and amazing talent.
Experience the magical 3-D adventure, and 4D show. Witness the Disney
Parade and a spectacular fire show in the evening.
Day 4: Departure from Hong Kong
Free time for leisure in the morning. Board the flight for your hometown.
Tour Concludes

6. Malaysia: Conference ( 3 Nights / 4 Days)

Day 1 : Kuala Lumpur
Arrive in Kuala Lumpur. Proceed for city tour which includes magnificient
view of the city from the Observatory Deck of the K. L. Tower, take a
photo stop at Petronas Twin Towers, and visit Suria KLCC. Take in the
King's Palace, Dataran Merdeka Square, National Mosque, Cricket Field,
and High Court Building.
Day 2: Kuala Lumpur
Full day conference. Enjoy a gala dinner later in the evening.
Day 3: Kuala Lumpur - Genting Highlands - Kuala Lumpur
Travel to Genting Highlands by Asia's longest and fastest cable car. Try
your luck at the famous Casino de Genting. Have an exciting time at
Genting Outdoor Theme Park. Return to the hotel in Kuala Lumpur in the
evening.
Day 4 : Departure from Kuala Lumpur
Visit Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, or enjoy some
leisure time. After lunch, Board the flight for your hometown. Tour
concludes.
Check your progress- 2
Answer the following questions.
1. What should the part of a MICE tour?
2. What are the main advantage of MICE tour?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

8.5 Summary
In India, business tourism has been identified as the largest segment of global
and domestic tourism. MICE tourism is a fast emerging sector; especially after

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the liberalization of the Indian economy and Indian tourism industry is equipped
with all facilities to welcome business tourists. MICE are the fastest growing
section of the international and domestic tourism markets. The standards of
facilities and services offered have evolved over the last decade towards the
extensive use of technology, environment friendly services, pricing, market
segmentation, regional preferences, etc. This segment has immense potential
and provides tremendous growth opportunity in India for the sale of several
hundred room nights as opposed to few by the transient travellers. In fact, MICE
tourism finds itself being inevitable in all the occasions.

Answer to Check Your Progress - 1

1) See sec. 1.2
2) See sec. 1.2
3) See sec. 1.3.
Answer to Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 1.3
2) See sec. 1.4

8.6 Glossary
 Congress: The regular coming together of large groups of individuals,
generally to discuss a particular subject. A congress will often last several
days and have several simultaneous sessions. The length of time
between congresses is usually established in advance of the
implementation stage, and can be either pluri-annual or annual. Most
international or world congresses are of the former type while national
congresses are more frequently held annually. 2) Meeting of an
association of delegates or representatives from constituent
organizations. 3) European term for convention.
 Convention: An event where the primary activity of the attendees is to
attend educational sessions, participates in meetings/discussions,
socialize, or attend other organized events. There is a secondary exhibit
component. Compare With MEETING, EXHIBITION, TRADE SHOW and
CONSUMER SHOW.
 Convention Center: Facility that combines an exhibition space with a
substantial number of smaller event spaces. The purpose of these
buildings is to host trade shows, public shows, conventions, large food
functions and other functions related to the convention industry. They
may be purpose built or converted and municipally or privately owned.
 Convention Services Manager (CSM): Professional at a hotel,
convention center or convention bureau who is responsible for event
operations management on all levels.

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 Corporate Exhibit: An institutional exhibit telling the story of the
company without intentionally marketing the product or service.
 Backwall Booth/Stand: An exhibit that is back to back with another
exhibit or against a building wall.
 Access Panel: Removable panel or section of exhibit to permit access to
lamps, projectors, mechanisms, etc

8.7 Review Questions

 Describe the facilities provided by Indian Hotels for business tourism.
 Make a list of important destinations of MICE tourism.
 Identify the drivers that help in the decision making for the convention site
selection in India.
 Discuss the differences in the attractiveness of potential convention
destinations within India.
 Elaborate the role of accommodation along with other factors in India.
 Prepare a 3 days tour package for the marketing executives how want to
discuss tourism promotional strategies in New Delhi.

8.8 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text,
Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and
Administration, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency ,
John Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation
and Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel
agency and tour operators.

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 Rogers, T. (2008) Conferences & Conventions: A Global Industry,(2nd
ed) Butterworth Heinemann.
 Bowdin, G. et al (2007) Events Management, 2nd Ed, Elsevier
Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford.
 BEST INCENTIVE TOURS. 2009. MICE Tourism in India [online].
[Accessed 07 February 2010]. Available from:
http://www.bestincentivetours.com/mice/india/index.html
 http://www.businesstravellerindia.com/200509/miceshowcase01.shtml
Road Map of MICE Tourism [online]. [Accessed 06 February 2010].
Available from:
http://www.businesstravellerindia.com/200509/miceshowcase01.shtml
 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY. 2007. A Slice of MICE [online]. [Accessed 05
February 2010]. Available from:
http://www.expresshospitality.com/20071031/management08.shtml
 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD. 2009. Incentivising MICE [online].
[Accessed 06 February 2010]. Available from:
http://www.expresstravelworld.com/20090531/management05.shtml
 INCREDIBLE INDIA. 2004. MICE [online]. [Accessed 05 February 2010].
Available from:
http://www.incredibleindia.org/newsite/cms_page.asp?pageid=866

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BLOCK- 3
Tour Packaging - Concept, Nature and Scope
The tour operators strategic position between the various vendors
encompassing airlines, transport operators, hotels, etc. and the ability to combine
the various elements of travel industry into relatively affordable and standardized
tour package, have emerged as the key manipulators of tourism industry. When
tourists choose to book a package or decide to go on holiday, how do they
determine which package to buy especially in view of the consumer’s inability to
inspect the ingredients making up the tour package prior to travel? In the current
tour operation business environment we find ourselves in fastest changing era, it
is critical that tour operator should adapt proactive approaches to develop and
design new tour package. This block will give you the necessary background
about Tour Packaging -Concept, nature and scope the itinerary: meaning,
concept, nature and scope.
This block comprises the following units:
The 9 unit of the course entitled “Tour Package: concept, Significance
and Limitations describes the meaning and concept of tour package; explain the
types of tour package and finally discuss the significance of tour package.
Unit- 10 focuses on Elements and Steps involved in formulation standard
tour package. Finally the unit discusses the Steps involved in formulation
standard tour Package.
Unit - 11 deals with discussion of Costing and Pricing of Tour Packages-
completion analysis and strategic costing. In this unit you will learn about the
Key pricing factors in tour pricing; competitive Pricing and strategic costing.
In unit -12 we will describe about the marketing of Tour Packages: Need
for pre-active approach. The unit also discusses tour package marketing-
Concept and meaning and finally explains the procedure for developing a Tour
Marketing Plan/ approach.

Block Objectives
After studying this block, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of tour package;
 Discuss the significance of tour package
 Describe the elements standard tour Package
 Explain the Steps involved in formulation standard tour Package
 Describe the meaning and concept tour costing & pricing ;
 Explain the Key pricing factors in tour pricing
 Describe competitive Pricing and strategic costing
 Describe the meaning and concept of tour package marketing ;
 Explain the Tour Marketing Plan/ approach

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UNIT 9: TOUR PACKAGE: CONCEPT,

SIGNIFICANCE AND LIMITATIONS
Structure
9.0 Objectives
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Tour Package - Concept and meaning
9.3 Significance of tour package
9.4 limitations of tour package
9.5 Summary
9.6 Glossary
9.7 Review Questions
9.8 Suggested Readings

9.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of tour package;
 Explain the types of tour package
 Discuss the significance of tour package

9.1 Introduction
Economic development in India has changed the way people think; both
inbound and outbound travel is flourishing, travelling has become fashionable for
many people, and package tours are the preferred mode of domestic , inbound
and outbound travel for e travellers when taking vacations. Tour package is
the product of travel agency or tour operator. In fact, it is the total tourism product
which is designed and offered to the tourists. In this lesson you will understand
the concept of tour package and its various types. Travel agency and tour
operator are in the business to promote tour package, which is the combination
of both natural and manmade tourist resources. Thus, in order to work in the
travel agency or tour operation business one must be able to describe the tour
product or tour package and its components. Keeping in view this fact, in this unit
an attempt has made to familiarize you to the tour package, types of tour
package and its importance.

9.2 Tour Package - Concept and Meaning

A package holiday or package tour consists of transport and
accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour
operator. Other services may be provided like a rental car, activities or outings
during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country.

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Package holidays are organised by a tour operator and sold to a consumer by a
travel agent. Some travel agents are owned by tour operators, others are
independent.
Tour operators are companies that organize several different aspects of
travelling and market them as a complete “package”. They pre-arrange the most
important elements of a trip, for example travel arrangements and
accommodation, so that they fit together smoothly and ensure trouble-free
experience for the traveler. The simplest package tours consist of a combination
of transportation to the holiday destination and accommodation. However, the
package may include a number of other elements: for example transport to and
from the airport, a hired car, meals, guided tours, entertainment and the services
of a company representative to deal with any problems at the holiday destination.
The holidaymaker can buy these various components in advance of the trip. By
using a tour operator travellers avoid the problems of contacting and making
complicated arrangements with travel companies and hotels, perhaps in a foreign
language and then having to pay separately for each service. They can also rely
on the knowledge and experience of the tour operator to choose the best
services available. In addition the tour operator, with thousands of potential
customers, is in a position to bargain with airlines and hotel chains. They can buy
in bulk and make deals which enable them to offer holidays at reasonable prices
while still making profit.
The first organised tours dated back to Thomas cook who, on 5 July 1841,
chartered a train to take a group of temperance campaigners from Leicester to a
rally in loughborough, twenty miles away. Thomas Cook - the company - grew to
become one of the largest and most well known travel agents before being
nationalised in 1948. With the gradual decline of visits to British seaside resorts
after the Second World War, Thomas Cook began promoting foreign holidays
(particularly Italy, Spain and Switzerland) in the early 1950s. Information films
were shown at town halls throughout Britain. However they made a costly
decision by not going into the new form of cheap holidays which combined the
transport and accommodation arrangements into a single 'package'. The
company went further into decline and was only rescued by a consortium buy-out
on 26 May 1972. In fact, the concept of tour package was coined by Thomas
cook when he offered inclusive tour package in 1855. Although Thomas Bennett
offered package tour to the VIP’s in 1850 but Thomas
Cook has made first tour package by adding the sequence of tourism
components and provided a printed tour itinerary to each tour participant.

Definitions of Tour Package

Holloway defines tour package as a “total tourism product consisting of
transportation, accommodation and recreational services offered to the tourists at

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a destination”. In brief, a package tour encompasses the following
elements:
 Accommodation in hotel, motel, resort, dharmsala etc.
 Transportation-includes reservation in Airplanes, Railways, Coaches etc.
 Transfers, porterage, entrance fee/tool etc.
 Sight Seeing/Excursions.
 Guides or escorts.
 Special events, cultural shows and other activities
Thus, a package tour or package holiday consists of transport and
accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour
operator. Other services may be provided such a car rental, activities or outings
during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airlines to a foreign country, and
may also include travel between areas as part of the holiday. Package holidays
are a form of tourism product bundling.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.
1. Explain the concept of tour package
2. Define tour package
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

9.3 Types of Package tour

Recently, numerous tour packages have been introduced in the tour
operation industry to cater the diverse needs of tourists such as educational Tour
- A tour designed around some educational activity such as studying
Renaissance art. Escorted Tour - A prearranged travel program, usually for a
group, escorted by a courier. In a fully-conducted tour, escort and/or guide
service is provided throughout. A sightseeing program conducted by a guide,
such as a city tour. Fam Tour - Familiarization tour for travel agents or journalists
planned and executed by a destination or region, usually in cooperation with an
international airline. Group Tour - A prearranged, prepaid travel program for a
group usually including transportation, accommodations, attraction admissions,
and meals (see also Packaged Tour). Inclusive Tour - A tour in which specific
elements - airfare, hotels, transfers, etc., are offered for a flat rate. An inclusive
tour does not necessarily cover all costs. Independent Tour - An unescorted tour
sold through agents to individuals. For one price the client receives air travel, a
hotel room, attraction admissions, and typically a car rental.

Inclusive Tour Package: These packages are constructed for people

of wide interest or Some ITs are designed for particular interest groups.
The types of tours are depending on motivations of travellers; the
demand of such tourists may be latent and can be motivated into active

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demand. Generally, these types of tour packages include all
components of tourisim at inclusive prices. These are designed and
developed for the first time travellers. Now-a-days various types of
packages have become popular, such as:-
Congress, Convention, trade fair etc: Such tours are normally for
highly paid tourists. So such businesses are much demanded among
tourism people. The business class people travel for attending
meetings, conventions, congress etc.

Sports and activity based packages: Sports and activity based

packages are more famous among the youths e.g. Mountaineering,
trekking, golfing, skiing, wild life safari, cam el-safari in desert, aero
based activities (e.g. ballooning, hang -gliding), water based activities
(Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, boating etc.). Activity based tours are
more popular among youth; in most cases such activities need more
money and services than other forms of recreation. So such packages
are more beneficial for tour operators.

Incentive Travel Trips: These are popular among people of various

companies, corporate sector and other manufacturing units. Employees
travelling on L.T.C. are also an example of incentive tourism. The cost
of incentive travel trips depends on how the organisations (whose
people will travel negotiate with suppliers. The tour operators add their
special services to attract such people because they provide bulk
business.

Religious or Pilgrimage Tours: Such tours are very common in India

since time immemorial in the form of ‘Tirthsatana’. Previously they were
self organised and people were travelling to four dharmas or other
pilgrimages independently or in groups. Now tour operators are
organising such tours with reserved/chartered bus or train (or few
boggies). Such tours are very common and popular among small tour
operators. The clients are mostly old people.

Cultural, Historical places. Fair and Festival Packages: In fact India

is still a cultural destination for both-Indians as well as foreigners. Most
of our tours cover historical -cultural places e.g. the golden triangle of
Deihi-Agra-Jaipur. Besides these there are several types of package
tours. It will not be relevant to mention them here.

Culture/Heritage Tours: Each Destination country is home to diverse ethnic

groups each with their unique customs and traditions. Destination countries often
have several ethnic or tribal groups each with distinct identities, which have been

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preserved over several centuries. These diverse and unique cultures which
exhibited through:
 Festivals
 Initiation Rites (Rites of Passage)
 Music and Dance Forms
 Arts and Crafts
 Fabric and Fashions
 Cuisine
 History through Folklore
 Social Interaction with indigenous people
In developing itineraries, the above elements are incorporated to make
your trip an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Exposure to these elements
serves as a means to become exposed to lifestyles that are invariably different
but broaden ones perspective on life.

Business Tours: The globalization of the world economy has contributed to the
increasing importance of Africa as an emerging market. The region is viewed by
many as one of the last economic frontiers where markets for goods and services
will be created in the twenty-first century. African countries have instituted
democratic and investment frameworks to attract foreign investors and secure
investments. Services provided in our business tour packages include:
 Information on and interpretation of Investment Frameworks
 Facilitation of Business and Political Access
 Business and Legal Advisory Services
 Market Research
 Operational Support

Through these services we hope to assist in promoting investment in lesser-

developed regions of the world.

Special Interest Tours: In addition to the Standardized Tours and Special Event
Tours we offer for specific festivals and theme packages, we give you an
opportunity to create your own customized tours. With the assistance of our
Destination Planners, customized tours can be created to include multiple
destination countries and a combination of our diverse themes. Tour packages
can be created for a variety of themes including religion, culinary, architecture,
music and art.

Group Inclusive Tour (GIT) is a prepaid tour for a specified minimum number of
People, travelling as a unit. Most group tours in the N.W.T. are comprised of 10
to 35 people (standard coach size is 47 passengers), GIT's are usually travel-
escorted on chartered transportation and generally include all baggage handling,

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entrance fees, taxes, and some meals. As the title indicated, an operation
specifically tailored to accommodate a number of participants with similar
interests. This type of tour product is often used to service lengthy itineraries
utilizing a mixture of services, transportation, accommodations and attractions.
Based on their duration and areas of operation, they fall into three distinct
categories which are:
Escorted
Hosted
Unescorted
A Fully Inclusive Tour (FIT) is a prearranged and prepaid tour, for one to ten
people travelling without an escort or tour guide. Most typically, an air carrier
originates the booking. The customers usually travel by public transportation or
U-drive. FIT generally includes accommodation, transportation, and sightseeing.
The traveler is issued a "voucher" for each component of the package. Taxes
and baggage-handling are usually the responsibility of the individual traveler.

Example of a Tour Package: This tour is an inclusive tour package offered to first
time tourists who wants to visit exotic tribal of Arunachal.
Come to the land of unspoiled hills! Arunachal Pradesh is sure to leave you
spellbound with its majestic beauty spread lavishly on the green hills. A haven
to impenetrable forests, deep gorges and wide rivers...discover the land of the
Land of Dawn Lit Mountains. Simply because the land is a ‘singer’ – she calls
out to the seasoned and the first time traveler…simply because the land has
just about everything in it which takes you away from your stress filled days and
sleepless nights. Simply because the jungle and the Himalayan ranges beckon
you. Discover Arunachal with us while we take you into the heart of the land
and explore it in its rustic element. Folk is a Highlights.

Itinerary details for "13 Days Exotic Tribal Tour of Arunachal tour
package"
Day 1: Guwahati - Nameri National Park
Arrive in Guwahati. Transfer to Nameri National Park (230 kms/6 hrs) which is
situated at the foothills of eastern. Rolling hills, deciduous forests and the river
Jia Bhoroli have all added a unique charm to it.
A bird lover's paradise, the national park is home to numerous species of
mammals like Assamese macaque, wild dog, Bengal fox, jungle cat, hog deer,
mouse deer, leopard, tiger, fishing cat, wild boar, Indian porcupine, Indian
pangolin, flying squirrel etc.; various species of flora like Bombax ceiba,
sterculia villosa, zizypphus jujube along with non aquatic grassland species like
andropogon, Ipomea reptans, enhydra flushians, nymphia, wichornia etc.
The park is also famous for birds and insects like white winged duck, drongos,

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beautiful nuthatch, grey headed fishing eagle and many more insect life like
butterflies, moths, spiders, ants and termites. Nameri is a treat for any
entomologist.Travelling to this park also gives you an opportunity for water
sports activities of river rafting, swimming, sunbathing in different river islands.
Angling is also possible in the river islands for keen anglers subject to
regulation by the forest department. Overnight Nameri National Park.
Day 2: Nameri – Itanagar
After breakfast drive down to Itanagar (265 kms/6 hrs). Situated at the foothills,
Itanagar is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. Arrive and check into your hotel.
Later visit the State Museum where the life-style has been depicted, with help
of maps and miniature diagrams. While the life-styles of all the major tribes
have been depicted, the display covers a wide range of subjects such as
people, house types, festivals, dances, handicrafts etc. Move on to the market
where you can shop for souvenirs and then visit the tribal Nyishi village before
returning to your hotel. Overnight at Itanagar.
Day 3: Itanagar - Ziro
After breakfast drive to Ziro- the land of Apatani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
Located at an altitude of 5754 ft, this high town is almost a level valley
enveloped in all sides by pine clad low stooping hills. A small picturesque
destination with pine and bamboo grooves, villages, a craft center and a tagin
fish farm – it brings in the rustic element to the travel. Enroute visit and explore
Nishi Tribal Villages. Return to your hotel. Overnight at Ziro.
Day 4: Ziro – Apatani and Hong Tribal Villages - Ziro
Today after breakfast, explore the Apatani villages around Ziro. Visit the ethnic
Hong Village. Hong village is said to be the second biggest and most organized
tribal villages in Asia. The uniqueness of Apatani tribe is tattooing on women's
face and its nose plug. Move on to other Apatani villages before returning to
your hotel in Ziro. Overnight at Ziro.
Day 5: Ziro - Limekin Nishi tribal country - Ziro
Today after breakfast, explore Ziro Limekin Nishi tribal country. Overnight at
Ziro.
Day 6: Ziro - Daporijo
Today after breakfast depart for Daporijo (176 kms/7 hrs). The land of Tagin
and Hill Miris, it is located at an altitude of 600 mts and is the Headquarter of
the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The small town is endowed with scenic beauty. One can see suspension
bridges over Subansiri River made from bamboo and cane - a testimony of rich
tribal craftsmanship. Subansiri River is ideal for river rafting, angling and picnic.
Enroute visit Nishi & Tagin villages. Arrive and check into your hotel. Overnight
at Daporijo.
Day 7: Daporjzo
Today explore Tagin country towards Nacho Lymekin road. Overnight at

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Daporijo.
Day 8: Daporijo - Along
Drive to Along (167 km/7 hrs). Along is the HQ of west Siang district, located on
the south bank of river Siang. It’s the territory of the Adi tribe, one of the largest
tribes in Arunachal Pradesh with lots of subgroups with an altitude of 1020 ft.
The Adi tribe has different sub tribes like Adi (Galong, Miniyong, Pasi, Padam,
Bori and Borak) which differs from each other. Afternoon visit Kabo village.
Overnight at Along.
Day 9: Along
After breakfast, explore the Adi country. Visit a few villages like Jirdin, Kabu,
Kaying to get an understanding of the culture and the lifestyle of the Gallong
tribe. Overnight at Along.
Day 10: Along - Pasighat
After breakfast, drive to Pasighat (147 kms/5 hrs). The oldest city of Arunachal
Pradesh, this city is the entrance point for Arunachal Pradesh. You could travel
to the Siang District or even to unexplored Gelling, which is the confluence
point of Rivers Sangpo and Siang. It is also the land of Passi and Minnyiong
tribes.
Enroute enjoy the great view of Great Siang and Siyom confluence – the origin
of Great River Brahmaputra. Also visit Minnyion villages before moving on to
Pasighat.
Arrive and check into your hotel. Overnight at Pasighat.
Day 11: Pasighat - Dibrugarh
Drive and then cruise down on the Brahmaputra to Dibrugarh (6 hrs). Situated
in the northernmost tip of Assam, Dibrugarh is the gateway to Aurnachal
Pradesh. Famous for tea, it has world’s largest area covered by tea gardens.
Arrive and check into your hotel. Overnight at Dibrugarh.
Day 12: Dibrugarh - Tai Phake - Tinsukia
After breakfast, visit Tai Phake village near Naharkatia which is 80 kms/2 hrs
east of Dibrugarh and revel in the beauty of the people of Tai Ahom with their
unique culture. In the afternoon, visit the Borajan wildlife Sanctuary to see
Hoolok Gibbon, the only Ape in India.
Overnight at Tinsukia.
Day 13: Tinsukia - Dibrugarh - Airport
After breakfast go for an exclusive tea tour to learn all about tea. Later drive
down to Dibrugarh airport for your flight back home.

Check your progress – 2

Answer the following questions.
1. Explain Inclusive Tour Package.
2. Describe escorted tour package.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

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9.4 Importance and Limitations of tour package
Tour package business is becoming more profitable these days; many
organizations are entering this venture. Tour operators are leveraging our
research skills in developing carefully planned and dynamic itineraries.
Professional and expert tour guides, whose unique understanding of indigenous
cultures and domestic landscapes, lends to the ultimate success of your tour.
From both a travel agent’s and a consumer’s perspective, package tours provide
a number of advantages, which often outweigh the disadvantages.

Advantages for the consumer:

 · Cost saving and budgeting - the price of a trip when organised as a
package is generally less as travel agencies bulk buy their package deals
and therefore can sell the tours at a lower and more competitive rate. This
is an instant cost saving benefit for the consumer, as the discount travel
agencies receive is generally passed on to the consumer. Also, as the
tour often includes all meals or trips for example, this reduces any
uncertainty about the additional costs and allows the consumer to budget
properly for costs associated with their travel. For example, if airport pick-
ups or taxi transfers are pre-booked and paid for beforehand there is no
potentially expensive surprise when travelling to the accommodation on
arrival at the destination.
 · Responsibility is on the operator - the lack of responsibility on the
traveller is an advantage. If something goes wrong, e.g. a flight is
delayed, resulting in the traveller missing a connecting flight, it is not the
traveller’s responsibility to arrange a new ticket. The responsibility lies
with the airline or tour operator. In a certain respect, travellers can relax
knowing if something goes wrong, someone else is there to solve the
problem.
 · Convenience and time-saving - this is definitely the most convenient
way to arranging a vacation or tour. The travel agency deals with all the
arrangements relating to airlines, hotels, transfers directly through the
tour provider. This saves the consumer the effort and the time of
contacting each company/service individually.
 · Social - this is frequently a main reason why people may opt to travel on
a package tour. The chances of social interaction are higher, allowing the
fostering of short or long term friendships. People regularly choose a tour
which ensures they are socialising with people of a similar age, for
example, young people who like to party may opt for an 18-30 party group
tour, some adults may choose to stay in accommodation which caters to
the needs of children and will opt for a family tour or some people may
choose to go on adult only tours to avoid children completely!

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 - Quality of service - tour operators (those who provide the travel agency
with the tour package) spend a great deal of time assessing the airlines,
hotels, sight-seeing operators etc, which they use to make up the tour
package. By doing so they ensure a high standard of quality and the
consumer can have peace of mind. Tour companies are eager to meet
their own business needs and so they ensure that the most frequented
areas of interest (cultural or geographical) are included in their tour, thus
meeting the needs of the consumer.

Advantages for the travel agent:

 · Agent commission - travel agents normally receive 10% commission on
all tours they confirm. Clearly the financial incentive means travel
agencies find it extremely advantageous to sell tour packages and not
solely flights and/ or accommodation.
 · Savings in time and cost – in order for a travel agent to put together all
the components of a package tour, this would take extensive
communication with the different service providers, initially to check rates
and availability and then to send through deposits and secure bookings.
By using a tour provider, the travel agent only needs to makes one call,
send one email or use an online booking system once to confirm the tour
package. Clearly this saves a great deal of time, freeing up the agent to
work for other consumers, thus increasing sales and commission.
 · Wide variety of package tours available - this means the travel agent
can always make suggestions on tours which match the needs of the
consumer. The high number of very different packages available allows
people with possibly lower budgets to still enjoy tours.
 Outstanding value in an all-inclusive trip, priced to make your travel
experience affordable and elimination of any unexpected additional trip
costs. Camaraderie, companionship and unique insights derived from the
make up and size of our tour groups
 Information on and interpretation of destinations.
 Facilitation of Business and Political Access.
 Business and Legal Advisory Services.
 Market Research
 Operational Support.
 Saving of time
 Low prices
 Help the tourist to solve their problems.

Limitations of Tour Package

 Control - travel agents have little or no say over the tour operator’s choice
of services, restaurants, accommodation or attractions included in a tour

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package. As a result they must ensure they carefully choose the correct
package which provides a high standard of quality, or is the most
appropriate for the particular market. Also the business of tour packages
and the number of tour providers is vast. This makes is very difficult for all
travel agents to become and remain knowledgeable of all the available tour
‘products’ and so extensive time must be spent researching choices and
selecting the best one for the consumer.
 The saving in time and money a travel agent saves a consumer is
invaluable. Contacts in the industry regarding reservations and availability
then acquiring the best prices to suit an individual cannot be overlooked
when considering travelling.
 Travel agencies receive 10% commission on most packaged tours;
however if the agency has a preferred product arrangement with a certain
company this amount could be higher. As a commission is taken out before
forwarding the final payment to the tour operator, the agency is able to
receive the reward for its effort without delay.
 Tour operators and wholesalers often reserve the right to alter their
itineraries for various reasons such as weather, strikes or the outbreak of
fighting in a particular area. Any price changes that might occur prior to
departure are likely to be passed on the client
 Inflexibility - when a traveller purchases a tour they commit to follow the
itinerary, flight schedule and accommodation arrangements. Generally they
are unable to change or reschedule their tour and whilst on the tour they
cannot change their plans as they wish. For example, they must be at a
point of pick-up at a certain time and if they are not there they delay the rest
of the tour (if they are booked onto a group tour that may create problems
and possibly complaints from other travellers). Also, if travellers have any
special requirements, again for example, dietary requirements, but they are
out camping in the bush overnight, the tour provider may not be able to
meet their needs but substituting the food provided.
 It is the responsibility of the travel agent at the time of booking to ensure all
possible issues are raised and the traveller’s needs are addressed due to
the inflexible nature of a tour package.
 Partners have not got as much control over the quality of the total product.
 Package may increase the logistics required to handle a client.
 Packages may increase the potential for things to go wrong, as more
players are involved in the package.
 Packages may create client volume that a partner does not have the
capacity to handle.
 Package may create the feeling of inflexibility among customers, since
most packages have predetermined components and often have pre-
determined dates.

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Check your progress- 3
Answer the following questions.
1. Explain advantages Tour Package
2. Describe disadvantages tour package ,
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

9.5 Summary
It is clear that tour package is the total tourism product designed and
offered to the tourists. It covers various types of services reigning from the pre-
departure to the post arrival. In this lesson we learnt the basic concept of tour
package its types and factors affecting on the tour packages. In the next lesson
we will discuss the concept of tour itinerary preparation and tour costing and
pricing. This will help us to develop an understanding about the tour package
and we will be able to design and develop new tour package as per the tourist’s
requirements as well as per market demand.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 1.2
2) See sec. 1.2
Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 1.3.
2) See sec. 1.3.
Check Your Progress - 3
1) See sec. 1.4
2) See sec. 1.4

9.6 Glossary
 Educational Tour - A tour designed around some educational activity
such as studying Renaissance art.
 Escorted Tour - A prearranged travel program, usually for a group,
escorted by a courier. In a fully-conducted tour, escort and/or guide
service is provided throughout; 2) A sightseeing program conducted by a
guide, such as a city tour.
 Fam Tour - Familiarization tour for travel agents or journalists planned
and executed by a destination or region, usually in cooperation with an
international airline.
 Group Tour - A prearranged, prepaid travel program for a group usually
including transportation, accommodations, attraction admissions, and
meals (see also Packaged Tour).

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 Inclusive Tour - A tour in which specific elements - airfare, hotels,
transfers, etc., are offered for a flat rate. An inclusive tour does not
necessarily cover all costs.
 Independent Tour - An unescorted tour sold through agents to
individuals. For one price the client receives air travel, a hotel room,
attraction admissions, and typically a car rental.

9.7 Review Questions

 Explain the meaning and definition Tour package.
 List the importance of tour package.
 Describe various types of tour package with examples.
 Identify the factors affecting on tour package and illustrate them.

9.8 Suggested Readings

 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management-an introductory Test, 2nd.
(Ed.), Anmol Publications pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2006.
 Negi J.M. Travel agency and tour operator- concepts and principles,
kanishka publications, New Delhi, 2001.
 Hollway, the Business of Tourism, pitman, 1999.
 Kamara, K.K and Mohinder C. Basics of Tourism- theory and operation.
Kanishka publications, New Delhi, 2000.
 S.P. Tewari , Tourism Dimensions,
 Poynter, Tour Design, development and marketing,
 Holloway, J.C. and Taylor, N. (2006) the Business of Tourism, Prentice Hall,
Harlow.
 Leask, A. (2008) ‘The nature and role of visitor attractions’, pp. 3 –15, in
Fyall, A., Garrod, B.,
 Leask, A. and Wanhill, S. (eds), Managing Visitor Attractions. New Directions,
Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford.
 Page, S. and Connell, J. (2009) Tourism: A Modern Synthesis, Cengage
Learning, Andover.
 Stevens, T. (2000) ‘The future of visitor attractions’, Travel and Tourism
Analyst 1, 61– 85.
 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.

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 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency
and tour operators.

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UNIT 10: ELEMENTS AND STEPS INVOLVED IN

FORMULATION STANDARD TOUR PACKAGE
Structure
10.0 Objectives
10.1 Introduction
10.2 What is a tour Package?
10.3 Elements of a standard tour Package
10.4 Steps involved in formulation standard tour Package
10.5 Summary
10.6 Glossary
10.7 Review Questions
10.8 Suggested Readings

10.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the elements standard tour Package
 Explain the Steps involved in formulation standard tour Package

10.1 Introduction
In the previous unit we discussed tour package concept and meaning.
Now the students are familiar with the tour package concept and meaning. They
are also introduced with the significance and limitations of tour package. Now
our focus is to develop an understanding on what should be included in a
standard tour package and how a tour package is developed.

10.2 What is a tour Package

A pre-planned, organized travel experience consisting of several and
separate elements operated over a fixed itinerary and time frame.
These programs may encompass a wide spectrum of interests, events and
activities but must, by regulatory requirement, contain at least one night's
confirmed accommodation any two of the following components:
 Air transportation
 Surface transportation
 Local transfers
 Car or recreation vehicle rental
 Sightseeing or guide services
 Meals and/or entertainment
Small tourism businesses often partner with other local services to create
a more complete product. An example of this would be the canoe-guiding
business that combines its service with a hotel to form a package.

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The same tourism business may instead sell its service to a tour operator,
thus becoming a supplier to, and part of, the tour operator's package. For
example, a sea-kayaking business could be approached by a van-tour company
that wants to include sea-kayaking in its brochure. The sea-kayaking company
agrees and becomes part of the van-tour company's package.
Independent business operators from around the Northwest Territory may
offer one component or service for sale to tour operators, thereby becoming a
"supplier" to a tour operator, For example, an amateur live-stage theatre in
Yellowknife may sell evening show tickets to a tour operator (FIT) selling Art
Tours. A professional tour operator offers a variety of tours (comprised of many
products and services) to more than one market. Tour operators are always
seeking new products and services to include in their packages.

10.3 Elements standard tour Package

What should be a part or included in a standard tour package still a
debatable issue. Generally, the elements or components of a tour package are
based on the tourists likings or vary from company from company, market to ,
market and destination to destination. Packages may include a wide variety of
components, and vary according to a key element or theme. Components may
include:
 Transportation to or within the destination area (flights, vehicle or bicycle
rental; van, boat or bus transport).
 Accommodations en route or at the destination (hotel, motel, bed and
breakfast, cottage, campground).
 Meals at or en route to the destination (bed and breakfast plan, all meals
included, meal vouchers at a variety of restaurants).
 Activities or entertainment, which may be the main reason for the package
or be secondary to the tour (adventure, recreational or educational
activities; workshops or conventions; visits to museums or galleries;
evening slide presentations; sightseeing).
 Mementoes or souvenirs (T-shirts, photos of the client participating in an
activity, gifts of local arts or crafts).
 Related services (interpreters, translators, guides, instructors, equipment
rental or sale, equipment service, welcome reception, baggage handling).
 Extra and/or creative elements (photo service and film delivery, self-help
coffee, discount coupons from local gift stores).

POTENTIAL PARTNERS IN PACKAGING

 Restaurants/Food & Beverage Services
 Accommodations
 Transportation Services
 Packager/Wholesaler

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 Attractions
 Entertainment
 Special Events Festivals / Conferences / Adventure Tourism & Recreation

DISTRIBUTION OF TOUR PACKAGES

 Tourist operators
 Local Wholesalers
 Target Market Wholesalers
 Consumers
 Retail Travel Agencies

TRAVEL INDUSTRY TERMS OF REFERENCE

The benefits of tourism development are substantial with the opportunities to
create new and lasting employment, supported by increased revenue generation,
being the principal rewards. Tourism does not happen by accident and requires a
number of elements to be brought together to formulate a coordinated and
planned approach.
 Public Bodies
 Local Authorities
 Government Agencies
 Travel Trade
 Private Sector
The private sector providing the leading and critical component. As a global
industry, the need for a common language is required.
 TOUR OPERATOR: The individual who runs his or her operation such as a
river cruise or town tour. Assumes full responsibility for the day to day
operation of the attraction
 RECEPTIVE OPERATOR: The travel industry principal who co-ordinates and
contracts for the variety of services involved in the tour package, In general,
these organizations are located in the region within which the programs
operate and assume the role of BROKER between the product supplier (Tour
Operator) and the external industry sales outlets.
 TOUR WHOLESALER: The tour wholesaler plans, packages and promotes
the sale of the product in its region of operation. Traditionally, the wholesaler
markets its offerings through retail travel agents by means of a brochure and
pays a commission to the selling agency
 TRAVEL AGENT: A travel agency sells a multitude of travel services to its
clientele. It acts as a middle man between the supplier and the individual
traveler.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.
1. Define the concept of tour

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2. Identify elements in a standard tour package
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

10.4 Steps involved in formulation standard tour Package

Over the years, the functions of tour manufacturers have diversified considerably.
Obviously, the scope, pattern, structure and size of tour operation have
increased manifold.
Today, tour operators are faced with intense international pressure in the form of
competition and to cope with that they are to design and develop tour packages
to meet the requirements of the ever demanding and sophisticated consumers.
Indeed, they must have a good grasp and knowledge of the tourist generating
market and of the quality-price ratio of the packages they plan to introduce.
Many tour operators simply feel that they cannot design/plan tours because they
do not have adequate knowledge, skills, expertise and enough ‘something’ to
accomplish market requirements. However, if they approach it in a systematic,
scientific and businesslike manner, can plan, design and operate tours both
international and domestic.
Designing and developing tours, working with retail travel agencies, and vendors/
principal suppliers, formulating effective and extensive marketing plans,
determining cost and price, operating and managing a tour, dealing with travel
documents and legal formalities, handling the finance are the activities that are
not easy to be handled rather involve commitment, determination, farsightedness
on the one hand, and a great degree of risk, on the other.
Thus, the process of developing and planning a tour package and thereby
satisfying the tourists can be conceived as a series of stages starting with market
research and lasting with actual operation of a tour.
Stages of development:
• research and planning, eg new/repeat destinations, the competition,
forecasting
• contracting, eg accommodation, transport
• costing
• brochure production
• loading products onto the reservation system
• package holiday goes on sale
• marketing
• pre-season and resort preparation, eg recruitment and training of resort staff,
local contracting, eg transfers, excursions
• customers go on holiday
• analysis of sales, feedback from customers and resort staff.
• Time scale of development

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Stages of Developing and Planning a Tour Package
1. Research – Destination and Market: The main object of tour packaging
research is to analyze and understand the key elements associated with a
particular tourist market and destination. Generally, many tour operators find that
it is very difficult to arrange all things for all people. Conceptually, a tour operator
undertakes the following steps before entering the tourism market as such:
i. Identification of economic, political, social and climatic factors that
influence the future development of package tours;
ii. The target market, when the target market is small the tour operator must
obtain a large percentage to make a tour successful, but if the market is
large he tries to capture smaller percentage;
iii. Making the tour to meet the exact needs of the target market;
iv. Identification of key destinations and a comparative study of alternative
destinations;
v. Approaching the suppliers;
vi. Making the policy decisions.
Basically, the positive progressive approach to be adopted by tour operators
is based upon researching both tour ingredients and the market i.e. the clientele,
competition and tourist resources at the destination area.
Therefore, it is certainly not to suggest that one should not enter the tour
market but rather to stress the importance of undertaking marketing research
prior to investing amount and time on a tour that the study would have shown to
be unprofitable or unpromising.
2. Tour Itinerary Development: Once the study as regards the destination and
the target market has been conducted, the second phase in the developmental
process involves working out an effective tour itinerary. Generally, the new tour
operators undertake ‘familiarization tour’ and after successful operation, they
develop an itinerary. The itinerary is a summarized tour programme, which is
designed to identify the origin points, destinations, en route points,
accommodation, transportation, sightseeing activities and other services.
Moreover, an itinerary shows the sequence of various tour ingredients and
provides essential information such as assembling point, departure point, date of
departure and duration of tour, legal requirements, features of destinations,
optional activities, meal and perhaps more than these. Thus, itinerary
development has become the crux and /or central point for the success a tour
company.
3. Negotiations with Tourism Suppliers/Vendors: Once the itinerary is
finalized, the next step is to negotiate with prospective vendors. The tour planner
works with many vendors depending upon the nature and size of the tour. The
major ones are airlines, lodging companies, transport operators, car rentals,
ground operators, sightseeing vendors and so forth. A tour planner has an
option to negotiate with air carrier directly or through a travel agency. If the tour

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company has a long history of operating large number of inclusive air tours, the
tour planner will usually be better placed to negotiate a better price and better
terms/conditions than the tour planner/company could obtain through travel
agency. Travel agencies buy considerably more airline seats from airlines than
tour operators especially, small scale. Practically, a tour company works on
several air tours and purchases a substantial number of air carrier seats, the tour
planner is in a position to meet with airline’s marketing executives and negotiate
future tour group fares and ticketing. Therefore, any tour company wishing to
obtain ‘group’ rates must abide by all rules and conditions (formal) in order to
qualify for such rates. Further, the negotiations concerning various services and
concessions from carriers will depend upon how badly the airline needs to have
the seats filled.
Hotel negotiations are generally more informal than in case of air carriers.
Negotiations with lodging properties should be initiated on an appointment basis,
meeting with top executives in each property if at all possible. It is suggested that
the negotiated arrangements agreed upon through discussions with property
executives be detailed immediately after each meeting and the tour planner must
strike a balance in obtaining quality accommodation at a price that is affordable
for the target market being solicited for participation in the tour. It is always
better if the executive with whom the negotiation is undertaken agrees to sign a
binding contract with a penalty clause included in case the hotel fails to provide
stated services and facilities.
Further, a tour operator also negotiates with other vendors such as ground
operators, restaurants, transport operators, sightseeing vendors, insurance
companies, banking companies, cruise organizations and even others who are
indirectly dealing with tourist services, which are the part of a tour package.
4. Costing of a Package Tour: The concept of ‘tour cost’ is focal to
understanding the connotation and practices of tour management in determining
the monetary value of a tour package. In simple terms, ‘cost’ means the total
expenses incurred to change the shape of individual ingredients into a tour
package. As a general rule, the elements that make up the total cost of a tour
package can be broken into various categories as, air travel cost,
accommodation cost, local arrangement cost, payroll cost, research cost,
marketing cost and other expenses.
Further, the cost sheet is designed to show the total cost/cost structure along
with the break up of individual cost elements. It gives an idea how the profit
margin is to be fixed.
Till today, there is no specific costing approach which is used in tour operator
industry. However, as per the prevailing costing practices, one can visualize the
following step-by-step procedure widely used in the tour operator industry. The
costing process involves several steps. Even though, these steps are not
standard or generalized ones but can be changed/modified to meet the individual
needs of the tour company. However, it is suggested that, new tour operator

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must adopt step-by-step approach of costing a tour package. Because the cost is
the basis for the determination of ‘right’ amount of profit and so is a biggest
challenge for the tour planner.
5. Tour Pricing: After costing of a package tour, tour planner determines
exchange rates, estimates future selling prices and finalizes tour prices. The tour
planner has to finalize price structure some ten months or more before the
departure of a tour. Therefore, apart from the usual hazards of determining the
tour price in advance, tour operators must evaluate the financial risks such as
foreign exchange, for payment of airlines, hotels, and other destination agencies.
The tour price is not solely determined in terms of the cost but also on the basis
of expected goals such as Rate of return, Market share (both domestic and
international) and Price competitiveness of the tour package.
Tour pricing is a very complex decision especially in view of the facts like the
degree and intensity of linkages, the nature of tour ingredients, competitive
tourism marl et, and problems involved in tourist demand.
Moreover, due to number of external and non- controllable factors – Government
policies, climate, terrorism, inflation, competitive prices, market segments,
exchange rate fluctuations and so forth.
Thereby as such no generalized tour pricing approach exists in the tour operator
industry, and in actual practice, the approaches/methods adopted vary from one
tour company to another.
.6. Administrative Staff: Since the tour operation business is seasonal in
nature, it requires extra personnel to meet the increasing needs. Tour operators
are usually clear about what they want while selecting administrative staff to
perform the extra activities, may be at a particular destination or at a resort. Tour
operators recruit persons with friendly and sociable personalities, organizational
skills, good humour, a sense of ethics, the ability to make decisions and a love
for people, places and travel. Tour managers see themselves in much the same
way, but they also consider it important to oversee the whole tour, deal with
problems, guide tour members in the culture and language, and generate
business. Generally, the same staff come and works for the same operator every
year, which reduces the need for training. Many tour operators recruit mostly
reservation staff, guides, resort staff, sales representatives, international agents,
and so forth on a part-time basis or at the most for a season.
7. Marketing of a Tour Package: The tour operators strategic position between
the various vendors encompassing airlines, transport operators, hotels, etc. and
the ability to combine the various elements of travel industry into relatively
affordable and standardized tour package, have emerged as the key
manipulators of tourism industry.
They play a pivotal role in determining tourist flows to a particular destination, in
both developed and developing nations. This part is explained in detailed in
subsequent units.

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8. Developing a Tour Marketing Plan: Tour marketing plan is centred on
organizational objectives. It is important to have a clear understanding of what
the tour operator desires to achieve through marketing plan.
In fact, a tour company needs to understand both its product and its market
before developing a marketing plan. For many tour companies, budget is the first
step in the process of developing a tour marketing plan. It is normally based on a
certain percentage of projected expenditures for the next year. However, the
proportion varies from package to package or existing tour company to new tour
company.
To decide on the tour marketing strategies is perhaps the most complicated
stage in the planning process. The working out of an appropriate strategy is
directly related to the nature and type of the tour i.e., which strategy is most
befitting for inbound tours, outbound tours, or incentive tours is based on its
ability to provide a substantial return on investment. Some strategies are used for
only a specific season/ destination while some strategies will be undertaken on a
regular basis and reviewed or monitored periodically or at regular intervals of
time. After identifying marketing strategies, tour operator develops annual media
plan, advertising plan, sales plan, direct mail plan, and telemarketing plan.
Practically, tour operator develops marketing plans in a number of ways namely,
annual marketing plan i.e. blueprint for the whole year and individual tour
marketing plan.
It is of utmost significance that all marketing plan components need to be
coordinated in a manner that they fit together easily and effectively and,
consequently can be implemented economically.
9. Marketing Inbound and Outbound Tours: Generally, the international tour
marketing is relatively more complex and difficult than domestic tour marketing.
International tour market is composed mainly of tours organized and planned in
another country and operated in other countries. Although the tour components
in different types of tours are different but the tour marketing is similar to much
extent. As an inbound tour operator handles these tours in different
countries/destinations. Interestingly, obtaining contracts to handle inbound tours
is quite different from handling outbound tours. For outbound tours, the tour
operator usually is required to approach each and every tour member to sell its
product (package), directly or through travel agencies. In many cases a tour
operator undertakes substantial contracting with inbound tour operators or
ground operators to provide services as prescribed in the tour programme.
However, for marketing inbound tours, a tour operator procures lists of those tour
companies and travel agencies which are interested in travel business from the
destinations served by the inbound tour operators.
This is generally achieved through participation in international meets, marts,
conferences and other associations. Practically, these events are so planned that
international tour companies and travel agencies may purchase from the different

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country based inbound tour operators those travel ingredients required in order to
operate their tours during the coming years.
Thus, it is clear that tour operator will either offer his tours directly to the market
or sell them through travel agencies. Whichever method of distribution he
chooses, sales will hinge on products being presented in brochures designed by
the tour operators and marketing techniques as well as promotional campaigns
being applied.
10. Tour Operator’s Brochures: The tour operator’s vital marketing tool is its
tour brochure which contains comprehensive information to persuade and
motivate potential holiday makers to purchase tourist products/services.
Middleton (1988) demonstrates that tour marketing relies on brochures to a much
greater extent than other forms of consumer marketing.
It presents the product ‘stock’ at the retail level but, at the time of sale, the total
tourism product is no more than an idea – the brochure establishes expectation
of quality, value for money, product image and status. Holloway (1992) lists the
information that should be included in a tour operator’s brochure.
 Name of tour company responsible for tour;
 Transport mode(s) – carrier name, aircraft type and use of scheduled or
charter services;
 Details of destinations, itinerary and travel time;
 Duration of tour – nights and days;
 Description of destinations;
 Type of accommodation and meals;
 Services of ground operators;
 Price;
 Extra charges clearly indicated;
 Details of special arrangements and facilities;
 Full booking conditions including cancellation terms;
 Any optional or compulsory insurance cover;
 Documentation required for travel to the destinations featured; and
 Any health hazards or inoculation recommended.
Thus, the tour brochure consists of several sections and sub-sections. The
brochure cover shows the title, date, theme, tour code, and name of the tour
company.
The inside pages/flaps highlight the tour features, a brief itinerary, modes of
transportation, types of accommodation, payments, unique appeal of
destination(s), payment conditions, insurance, currency, documents, internet
address, website(s) and also contains a self-mail flag/page on which potential
tourists may fill in tour registration information in order to sign up for the tour.
The large tour companies, especially in UK, US, India, Germany, Japan, and
France print over one thousand copies of their tour brochures and distributes
through retail travel agencies/ground operators, and their own retail outlets.

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Sometimes the brochures are sent directly to the past clients and others who
have been identified by market research, particularly corporate houses. However,
tour operators must make an appropriate decision in this context, because about
half of all tour brochures are eventually thrown away without being seen by the
public/ corporate houses.
Therefore, wastage can be controlled or minimized by establishing accurate
standards/norms. Thus, it is suggested that before distribution of tour brochures,
sales managers must categorise their agents and clients. Definitely, it will prove
instrumental in cutting down waste as well as costs.
In addition to tour brochures, tour operators often undertake various promotional
programmes to market tour packages such as personal selling, sales promotion
and advertising campaigns.
Tour promotion is the blend of communication activities designed and carried out
to influence those clientele size on whom the tour operator’s sales depend both
in the short term and long-term. It is not sufficient to influence target markets only
but also travel agents, suppliers, travel writers and journalists, destination
companies, and Governments. Basically, the tour promotion is substantially
different than other travel products/services because of variety of specialization
in tour operation industry.
Therefore, a tour company must define marketing/promotion objectives very
clearly to design and practice most effective promotional tools/techniques.
In actual practice, tour companies employ the following promotional techniques
to create awareness and building brand image of tour packages:
 Advertising;
 Direct Mail;
 Sales Promotion;
 Public Relations;
 Personal Selling;
 Literature;
 Sponsorship;
 Exhibitions;
 Travel Marts;
 Films and Video;
 Familiarization Tours;
 Telemarketing;
 Conferences and Debates etc.
Paradoxically, the promotion of tour package relies on effective
communication of tour ingredients. Tour package is an amalgam of various
products/services which can really be experienced only at the moment of their
consumption and which cannot be systematically reproduced in an identical way.
Therefore, in an increasingly competitive tourism market, it is often the access to
information which ensures the success of tour marketing. For tour operators, it is
extremely important to participate in Computerized Reservation Networks and in

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Global Distribution Systems. Today, tour companies have access to information
on all air carriers, hotels and related products/services and can distribute their
packages through a global distribution system network.
GDS terminals provide immediate access to all the suppliers which have
opted to market their products through this network. GDS has, therefore, become
extremely significant in the sale of air and other tour packages. Unfortunately,
GDS has not been put to use by many tour operators especially small
scale/ground operators and domestic operators because of being poorly
equipped. They are still using the traditional methods. Many tour companies have
designed effective tour reservations system to put a tour package into operation.
Generally, tour operators have employed several methods to handle tour
reservations. New and small tour operators tend to work with answering services
and usually consider direct reservation from public through telephone, and
through agency’s computer reservation system.
11. Operation and Execution of a Tour: The success of a tour operator
depends on how efficiently it operates a tour. This phase is very crucial and has
capacity to convert promises into realities. So utmost care has to be taken to
realize whatever had been promised in the package tour to offer to tourists. An
experienced tour operator develops tour manual for tour manager, tour escort,
tour guide, Destination Company and for other services to provide an
understanding of how the tour company wants to operate and handle tour. A tour
manual provides procedures and polices to conduct tours in more professional
manner and the way in which procedures should be implemented as the tour
progresses from beginning to end.
12. Post Tour Management: This phase is relatively more crucial, which
involves preparation of several reports and their evaluation. In fact, it reveals the
success of the tour, where tour planner should go for comparative analysis of the
perceived goals, actual achievement and assessing the tourist satisfaction level,
the financial gains, and the effectiveness of the tour packages. Many tour
companies have a policy to obtain tour manager’s perceptions regarding what
tour participants (members) liked the most about the trip and what they disliked.
Detailed vendor reports are often required to evaluate the services rendered and
products provided by these vendors. These reports are evaluated and reviewed
to identify real or potential problems. Generally, tour company decrees that if
there were vendor problems which were serious enough to consider making a
change, tour manager should expedite the reports so that tour planner may add
the right ingredients in the next tour package. Normally, each evaluation
response is statistically analysed to calculate a mean average in determining an
overall tour member’s opinion. Other statistical tools may, however, be used to
obtain more accurate results. These findings give an idea of how the next tour is
to be planned, designed and marketed.
Check your progress- 3
Answer the following questions.

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1. What components to be included in a tour package?
2. What are the suppliers in tour operation?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit
10.5 Summary
It is clear that a tour package provides basic, timely accurate and
comparable information to the tourists. . In this unit we learnt the tour designing
process steps. No doubt, these steps vary from tour to tour and company to
company, however provide comprehensive information for development and
designing of tour package.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Check Your Progress - 1

1) See sec. 10.3
2) See sec. 10.3
Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 10.4
2) See sub sec. 10.4

10.6 Glossary
• Escorted Tour - A prearranged travel program, usually for a group,
escorted by a courier. In a fully-conducted tour, escort and/or guide service
is provided throughout; 2) A sightseeing program conducted by a guide,
such as a city tour.
• Fam Tour - Familiarization tour for travel agents or journalists planned and
executed by a destination or region, usually in cooperation with an
international airline.
• Group Tour - A prearranged, prepaid travel program for a group usually
including transportation, accommodations, attraction admissions, and meals
(see also Packaged Tour).
• Accommodation Capacity: The measure of accommodation stock at a
defined destination. May be given by various different measures: e.g.
number of establishments; number of main units within an establishment
(e.g. rooms, caravan stances); capacity in terms of residents (e.g.
bedspaces).
• Costing: the process of itemizing and calculating all costs the tour operator
will pay on a given tour. Costing is usually the function of the operations
manager.
• Cost-plus pricing: A method of pricing where an amount, to cover profit, is
added to costs to establish the selling price, this is an internally orientated
pricing method.

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• Suppliers: Individuals, companies or other organisations which provide
goods or services to a recognisable customer or consumer.
10.7 Review Questions
 Illustrate various steps involved in a standard tour package
 Discuss the Tour Research in the context adventure tour packages.
 As a tour planner, how would you negotiate with the hoteliers? List the
points.
 “Today, tour operation industry has become competitive” in the light,
describe your strategy to develop tour package.
 Explain Negotiation with Travel Vendors i.e. airlines and cruise
companies.

10.8 Suggested Reading

1. Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
2. Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text,
Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
3. Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and
Administration, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
4. Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency ,
John Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
5. Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
6. Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
7. Witt S., and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall, UK. 1989.
8. Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
9. Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation
and Practice,
10. Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
11. Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
12. IATA Manual
13. Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel
agency and tour operators.

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UNIT 11: COSTING AND PRICING OF TOUR

PACKAGES - COMPLETION ANALYSIS AND
STRATEGIC COSTING
Structure
11.0 Objectives
11.1 Introduction
11.2 costing and Pricing- Concepts and meaning
11.3 Key pricing factors in tour pricing
11.4 Competitive Pricing
11.5 Completion analysis
11.6 Strategic costing
11.7 Summary
11.8 Glossary
11.9 Review Questions
11.10 Suggested Readings

11.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept tour costing & pricing ;
 Explain the Key pricing factors in tour pricing
 Describe competitive Pricing,
 Discuss the strategic costing

11.1 Introduction
Tour packages involve creating a complete experience. This involves
combining two or more travel components, like accommodations, meals,
attractions or guides, to be offered together at one inclusive price. Individual
businesses in your community may come together to create a package that
benefits each of their entities. Or, one business may expand to offer a variety of
services that are marketed as a package under one retailer. Consumers often
enjoy package deals because they offer “one stop shopping” to plan a whole
vacation with one arrangement and one payment. Customers not only save time
and frustration, but packages are often designed to be more economical than
purchasing each component of the trip separately. However, just because it is
more economical for the consumer doesn’t mean the retailer is losing anything.
Packaging adds value to existing products and expands interest in these popular
products. Packages are also useful in attracting visitors during times when

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tourism demands are low. Because businesses can often purchase package
components at wholesale prices, they can mark the price up for a profit, but still
offer a more competitive price to customers. Tailoring package deals to meet
certain audiences’ needs and marketing these specific packages to niche
markets is likely to return higher profits if properly marketed. In addition, when
businesses come together to package tourism deals, each business greatly cuts
marketing costs by splitting advertising, public relations, and research costs. This
unit develops an understanding of tour costing and pricing.

11.2 Costing and pricing - Concepts and Meaning

When we think about cost, we think only the cost/ expenses incurred to
produce a product. However, it is the amount which is the base for determination
of price of a tour product. In fact, it is the amount which is largely depends on the
consumer’s ability to pay for a particular product / service. Thus, the concept of
net value assessment by a customer depends upon the costs he or she may
have to bear, it is important to understand the costs associated with a service like
tourism. There are several important costs that a potential tourist may incur in
order to avail/ consume tourism product. These may be:
i) Monetary Cost: this involves the actual rupee value spent on getting benefit of
tourism.
ii) Time: Time is a valuable commodity for most people, one which always has a
fixed up per limit for each individual. In addition spending time for tourism
involves an opportunity cost i.e. cost of the value lost had the time spent in
tourism been spent in alternative gainful activities.
iii) Physical Effort: To quite a lot of people, physical effort entailed in getting out
of their established life patterns to travel and be weary, is a substantial cost.
iv) Sensory Costs: Travelling in addition to the pleasure associated has
discomforts owing to noise and pollution, excessive climate vagaries,
uncomfortable modes of travel, in transit delays, unpleasant tastes, smells and
sometime even unappealing environment. Sometimes past experience with
some of these sensory costs may actively act as an inhibitor of purchase or
significantly lower the net value of the package to the customer.
v) Psychic costs: sometimes attached to the use of a service. These could be
unfavourable perceptions, insecurities about certain destinations or simply a fear
of taking on the uncertain.
The key principle of costing is to calculate the true cost of a product or
service while pricing is determined by demand, market conditions and factors
which influence pricing such as advertising, promotional activity and the ability to
differentiate from competitive or alternative products and services.
Costing is based on the simple principle of recovering cost. Cost are
classified as Variable or Fixed.

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Variable costs are those costs which vary in direct proportion to output.
For every unit of output there is a clear unit of input - usually material and labour.
Fixed costs are those that exist regardless of the level of output or activity.
These will include rent and rates, insurance etc. For costing to be effective there
must be a clear and unambiguous understanding of the cost structure of the
business and what is actually happening in the business, ie, levels of
productivity, material yield, breakdowns etc.
Activity Based Costing has been developed to cater for these variables.
The principles of ABC are straight forward. The overhead is allocated according
to the amount of activity which can be attributed to each product. It can be
simplified by looking at product groups as common areas of allocation.
Marginal Costing is another area which is important, particularly when
faced with competitive pricing considerations. Once a level of sales has been
achieved which recovers all the fixed costs for the period each additional unit of
sale "recovers" the full gross margin value. Businesses use this to either drive
"premium" profit or to enable aggressive discounting. Effectively this point is
reached when sales pass the break even point. Marginal costing as a means of
driving pricing policy should be approached with caution. Sales fluctuate over
time and if a discount is applied too soon losses can be generated at a rapid rate.
Good financial control throughout the business is crucial.

What Is a Price?
In the narrowest sense, price is the amount of money charged for a
product or a service. More broadly, price is the sum of all the values that
customers give up to gain the benefits of having or using a product or service.
Historically, price has been the major factor affecting buyer choice. In recent
decades, non-price factors have gained increasing importance. However, price
still remains one of the most important elements that determines a firm’s market
share and profitability. Price is the only element in the marketing mix that
produces revenue; all other elements represent costs. Price is also one of the
most flexible marketing mix elements. Unlike product features and channel
commitments, prices can be changed quickly. At the same time, pricing is the
number-one problem facing many marketing executives, and many companies
do not handle pricing well. Some managers view pricing as a big headache,
preferring instead to focus on other marketing mix elements. However, smart
managers treat pricing as a key strategic tool for creating and capturing customer
value. Prices have a direct impact on a firm’s bottom line. A small percentage
improvement in price can generate a large percentage increase in profitability.
More importantly, as part of a company’s overall value proposition, price plays a
key role in creating customer value and building customer relationships.
The first principle is to understand the true costs of the business and what
factors influence these costs. If the product or service is part of an existing

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market structure then price which can be charged is partly driven by competitive
pressures. In commodity markets price is determined almost exclusively by
market conditions and competitive pressures. Small premiums can be justified
by high quality and outstanding customer service. The focus in such businesses
operating in mature markets is to maintain the highest standards of quality and
service for the chosen price points and then attack internal costs and efficiencies
to achieve the lowest possible cost base. With a new product or service pricing
becomes more problematic particularly if there are no competitive pressures. In
these situations it is important that there is a clear vision and strategy for the
future which anticipates the real costs of launching, supporting and developing
the product or service and looks realistically at the product life cycle. Bear in
mind that product life cycle are generally getting shorter as the pace of
technological change accelerates and customer expectations develop.

11.3 Key pricing factors in tour pricing

In determining the rate for your product, you need to consider your
operating costs, profit margin and distribution network costs (often referred to as
commissions).
• Operating costs
• Operating costs include both fixed and variable costs.
• Fixed costs
These are costs that are independent of output. They remain the same
regardless of level of sales. Fixed costs include:
• Rent;
• buildings;
• Machinery;
• And insurances.
Variable costs: These are costs that vary with output. Generally variable costs
increase at a constant rate relative to labour and capital. Variable costs include:
• Wages;
• Gas;
• Electricity;
• Cleaning, maintenance, repairs;
• Materials used in production, etc.
• Stock, including stationery, linen, food, petrol, machinery and uniforms;
• Bank fees;
• and marketing including research, advertisements, promotions, brochures,
consumer or trade events, familiarisations for industry or media and travel
costs.
Profit margin: Be realistic when calculating your costs to ensure you obtain a
profit while retaining a competitive edge. It is important to check what your

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competitors are offering and determine which of your products can sustain a
higher profit margin.
Distribution network costs: The distribution network consists of retail travel
agents, domestic and overseas wholesalers and inbound tourism operators
(ITOs). Your distribution network assists in distributing your product and raising
your profile to consumers. Some operators may choose to sell their product
directly to consumers, however, using a distribution network to sell a product can
improve sales and profitability. Working with distribution partners will incur costs,
known as commissions. Commissions are the fees paid to your partners to
distribute and sell your product. This is their income, which pays for the services
they provide. These are not upfront costs, but costs incurred after a sale is made.
To include your product in their brochure, some distributors charge a fee or ask
for a marketing contribution towards the brochure production costs. Be sure to
find out if this is a requirement before agreeing to any brochure inclusion, and
ensure that it will be an effective return on investment for your company.
Competitive pricing
Discounted prices: Discounts are often applied in the off season or to assist
with yield management and can also be useful in gaining immediate business on
websites such as Usually, discounted pricing does not differentiate a product
from the competition – as it can be quickly matched by competitors. Be cautious
not to devalue your business by regularly discounting. This is also called dynamic
pricing.
Value-adding: Value-adding is adding features to your product that enhance the
perceived value. In comparison to discounting, value-adding can create a
competitive edge and attract a greater market share. It can also help to prevent
business fluctuations for products subject to regular peaks and troughs.
Examples of product value-adding are:
• A purchase incentive, such as champagne on arrival or complimentary
parking;
• A package, such as three nights accommodation including tickets to a
particular attraction;
• And bundling your products with others in the region to offer an experience.
Package pricing: The following pricing methods are applied to packages and
the most appropriate method depends on the type of product being sold.
Disguised pricing: Generally, discounted package components, such as
accommodation, meals, entry fees, transport, are presented as one upfront cost.
This method disguises the exact cost of individual components and also the
extent of discount provided by individual operators. In general, a minimum of
three elements should be included to disguise pricing.
Visible pricing: By offering a range of activities, attractions and options with
each component costed at its full price, the final package cost may be too
expensive to be appealing. This can be overcome by offering a flexible package
with each component priced separately and available for purchase individually.

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The customer is then able to select their preferred package components
according to their travel preferences and budget.
For more information on pricing, go to:
• Your local business enterprise centre:
• Your local tourist information centre or regional tourism organisation;
Pricing tips:
• Do have a totally consistent rate schedule.
• Ensure you show any seasonal variations in product and clearly identify the
rates and dates for each season.
• Don’t have too many rate periods as it is confusing and makes your product
more difficult to sell for distributors.
• Keep a record of who you have distributed rates to, so you can update
them.
• Make sure validity dates and booking conditions are stated on rate
schedules. Conditions might include child rates and ages, cancellation
charges, amendment charges, free of charge (FOC) policy, minimum night
stays, days of operation etc.
• Guarantee your rates for the period 1 April to 31 March and have rates
available up to 18 months in advance. • Ensure commissions for all
distributors are factored into the retail rate.
• Be sure of different pricing levels for different distributors and quote
accordingly.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.

1. What is cost?
2. What is price?
3. Explain Profit margin.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

11.4 Competitive Pricing

When a new product is launched on the market the pricing policy lies
between the two extremes of market penetration and market skimming.
Market penetration pricing is a policy of low prices from launch in order to
maximise penetration in the early stages. Short term profits are sacrificed for the
sake of long term profits and market share. This policy will tend to discourage
rivals from entering the market. The approach tends to shorten the initial period
of the product life cycle bringing the growth and maturity stages as quickly as
possible. This relates to a high elasticity of demand for the product.
The business may deliberately build excess capacity and set prices low. As
demand increases the spare capacity will be used up and unit costs will fall.

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There may even be scope for further price reductions as unit costs fall. Early
losses (or low profits) will enable the business to dominate the market and have
the lowest costs.
The above thinking is partly driven by the simple but important graphical
representation:
Cost

Volume

This is another example of the vital importance of why it is so important to

understand and control the cost base of the business.
Market skimming is the achievement of high unit profits very early on in the
product's life.
The business charges very high prices when the product is first launched.
There is heavy expenditure on advertising and sales promotion to win customers.
As the product moves through its product life cycle - growth, maturity and
decline - prices are progressively lowered. The early profit is therefore skimmed
off. Skimming is suitable:
• When the product is new and different
• If demand elasticity is unknown (it is easier to reduce prices than raise them)
• High initial cash flows are important at the possible expense of long term
profit maximisation
• To help to identify different market segments for the product each prepared to
pay progressively lower prices.
The high initial prices may attract competitors who see the market as lucrative.
The big risk comes from a competitor prepared to take the risks of market
penetration which could immediately negate the premium of the skimming policy.
Between these two extremes of policy are a wide range of options. Most of
these options are determined by the ability to identify clear segmentation
opportunities, ie niches of the market which can be identified and targeted with a
specific product offering and pricing policy.
A further consideration is evaluating the benefits of a new product to the
customer. A new paint is developed for jet aircraft. The paint is lighter and

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thinner than conventional paints and improves the aerodynamic qualities of the
aircraft. It also lasts twice as long between applications.
At cost price the value of the product for each painting of an aircraft is £10,000.
What do you charge for it?
Bear in mind:
There is a 2% reduction in fuel cost for the aircraft.
Painting a jet takes 6 days and needs to be done at least once per year.
Would Rs. 100,000 per application be expensive or cheap?
The following is an example of price elasticity of demand:
Activity from the Markets Study Guide
A supplier discovered that when it raised the prices of its products by 10% the
sales of its products fell be 20%.
1. Can you calculate the price elasticity of demand for the above case?
2. Is the demand for the product elastic or inelastic with respect to its price?
3. Would the firm's revenue have increased or decreased when the product's
price was raised?

11.5 Completion analysis

Competition analysis in marketing is an assessment of the strengths and
weaknesses of current and potential competitors. This analysis provides both an
offensive and defensive strategic context to identify opportunities and threats.
Profiling coalesces all of the relevant sources of competitor analysis into one
framework in the support of efficient and effective strategy formulation,
implementation, monitoring and adjustment. Competitor analysis is an essential
component of corporate strategy. It is argued that most firms do not conduct this
type of analysis systematically enough. Instead, many enterprises operate on
what is called “informal impressions, conjectures, and intuition gained through
the tidbits of information about competitors every manager continually receives.”
As a result, traditional environmental scanning places many firms at risk of
dangerous competitive blind spots due to a lack of robust competitor analysis
The strategic rationale of competitor profiling is powerfully simple. Superior
knowledge of rivals offers a legitimate source of competitive advantage. The raw
material of competitive advantage consists of offering superior customer value in
the firm’s chosen market. The definitive characteristic of customer value is the
adjective, superior. Customer value is defined relative to rival offerings making
competitor knowledge an intrinsic component of corporate strategy. Profiling
facilitates this strategic objective in three important ways. First, profiling can
reveal strategic weaknesses in rivals that the firm may exploit. Second, the
proactive stance of competitor profiling will allow the firm to anticipate the
strategic response of their rivals to the firm’s planned strategies, the strategies of
other competing firms, and changes in the environment. Third, this proactive
knowledge will give the firms strategic agility. Offensive strategy can be

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implemented more quickly in order to exploit opportunities and capitalize on
strengths. Similarly, defensive strategy can be employed more deftly in order to
counter the threat of rival firms from exploiting the firm’s own weaknesses.
Clearly, those firms practicing systematic and advanced competitor profiling have
a significant advantage. As such, a comprehensive profiling capability is rapidly
becoming a core competence required for successful competition. An appropriate
analogy is to consider this advantage as akin to having a good idea of the next
move that your opponent in a chess match will make. By staying one move
ahead, checkmate is one step closer. Indeed, as in chess, a good offense is the
best defense in the game of business as well. A common technique is to create
detailed profiles on each of your major competitors. These profiles give an in-
depth description of the competitor's background, finances, products, markets,
facilities, personnel, and strategies. This involves:
 Background
o location of offices, plants, and online presences
o history - key personalities, dates, events, and trends
o ownership, corporate governance, and organizational structure
 Financials
o P-E ratios, dividend policy, and profitability
o various financial ratios, liquidity, and cash flow
o profit growth profile; method of growth (organic or acquisitive)
 Products
o products offered, depth and breadth of product line, and product portfolio
balance
o new products developed, new product success rate, and R&D strengths
o brands, strength of brand portfolio, brand loyalty and brand awareness
o patents and licenses
o quality control conformance
 Marketing
o segments served, market shares, customer base, growth rate, and
customer loyalty
o promotional mix, promotional budgets, advertising themes, ad agency
used, sales force success rate, online promotional strategy
o distribution channels used (direct & indirect), exclusivity agreements,
alliances, and geographical coverage
o pricing, discounts, and allowances
 Facilities
o plant capacity, capacity utilization rate, age of plant, plant efficiency,
capital investment
o location, shipping logistics, and product mix by plant
 Personnel
o number of employees, key employees, and skill sets
o strength of management, and management style

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o compensation, benefits, and employee morale & retention rates
 Corporate and marketing strategies
o objectives, mission statement, growth plans, acquisitions, and divestitures
o Marketing strategies
Thus, competition analysis involves following aspect in tour operation
costing and pricing: Market Assessment, Insights and Analysis (an in-depth
market understanding to achieve desired business objectives)
 Market Assessment
 Market Sizing, Share and Segmentation
 Regulatory Impact Assessment
Trade, Distribution and End-user Insights and Analysis (insights across
product features / design, pricing, promotion, branding & communication)
 Trade and Distribution Value Chain Analysis
 Consumer / End-user Research and Insights
Competition Analysis and positioning (benchmarking performance at a
product, therapeutic category and organization level)
 Organization Benchmarking
 Product / Category Benchmarking
 Competition Score Cards and Strategic Posturing
Growth and Sustenance Strategy (business recommendations for a
sustainable business and operating model (re)design)
 Market Entry / Access / Protection Strategy
 Strategic Partner Evaluation and Selection
 Financial Feasibility and Sensitivity Analysis

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Check your progress- 2

Answer the following questions.

1. What completive price?
2. Discus competitive analysis.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

11.6 Strategic Costing

Strategic costing is a managerial use of cost information for the
purpose(s) of establishing organizational strategy, controlling the success
methods to achieve the strategies, and evaluating the level of success in meeting
the proclaimed strategies.
In fact, strategic costing concept is widely used in modern organizations
today, but unfortunately he has no invariable definition. Strategic cost describes
the methods and activities used by managers in planning and control decisions
on short and long term that allow increased commercial value of products and
services organization and reduced costs. Managers may, for example, decisions
on the amount and type of materials used and on changes in production
processes and product design. Information provided by current accounting
information systems help managers to take such decisions, but this information
and accounting information systems is not a strategic cost management.

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Strategic cost management has a wide application, it includes (but not
limited to), for example, the objective of reducing ongoing costs. Planning and
cost control are generally inseparable from income and capital planning. Spores
to revenues and profits, for example, managers can deliberately employ
additional costs for publicity and to modify certain characteristics that make the
products or services of their organization, their customers, to be unique. Also, the
success of business organizations and is to provide customers a good value for
money, while differentiating its competitors. The strategy is just to identify how an
organization can achieve this goal. Successful strategies chosen largely depend
upon the effectiveness of its implementation. Management accountant can and
must contribute to strategies, the establishment of necessary resources and
capacities and to implement strategies selected.
Competitive advantage can be achieved by the firm in several ways,
which will determine and differentiate their strategies. According to this criterion
strategies companies can be: aimed at reducing costs, product differentiation
oriented, focused on finding a niche market and focused on product quality.
Strategic cost management (SCM - Strategic Cost Management), as a tool for
competitive advantage is the combination of three main components:
1. Value chain analysis and supply chain;
2. Analysis of strategic positioning;
3. Sources of cost analysis.
There are several techniques that can support strategic costing decisions:
 calculation and management of the activities - strategic orientation of this
technique lies in management activities with which it is possible to define
actions aimed at obtaining a competitive advantage;
 determining cost attributes - such products / services as a set of attributes
(features) that differentiate products and whose costs are determined, this
technique can be interpreted as an externally oriented services as attributes
are determined by customer requirements;
 benchmarking - involves the identification of best practices and organizational
performance comparison with the practices aimed at improving performance,
this technique aims external orientation by competitors;
 monitoring the position of competitors - aimed at obtaining information on
competitors on sales, market share, unit costs, sales volume etc. from this
information the organization can assess its position compared to major
competitors;
 costing competitors - unlike the previous technique, costing competitors focus
only on their cost structure, the main criticism of this technique the sources of
information;
 competitors on the basis of the performance assessment of a county
published -the financial statements are a source of relevant information and

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the harmonization of international accounting allows for comparisons
between organizations;
 analyzing customers - this technique considers customers or customer
groups that book review sections and cover a aprieciere profit, sales or costs
derived from those dealing with customer segments;
 integrated performance measurement - involves defining an integrated
performance measurement system, which includes both financial ratios and
non-financial (eg balanced scorecard);
 life cycle cost - aimed at calculating the total cost of the product throughout its
life cycle, from conception and design to decline, it's here on a long term
perspective and market-oriented accounting;
 cost of quality - quality is a prerequisite for market success, this technique
involves the costs of prevention and management of quality assessment, and
internal and external nonconformities;
 strategic approach to calculation - computer systems must be integrated into
strategic management process, which means that they must follow
permenent strategy and achieving long-term competitive advantage;
 strategic approach to pricing - involves using information on competitors, on
their reactions to changes in prices, their elasticity, economies of scale, etc.
 target cost system - in this technique is using a number of external factors;
 value chain analysis - proposes an approach to accounting that takes
account of all activities performed from conception to the marketing of
product policy implications concerning the operation and efficiency savings
arising from the organization's external relations with both customers and
with suppliers.

Check your progress- 3

Answer the following questions.

1. What strategic cost?
2. Discuss strategic costing tools.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

11.7 Summary
The cost of a tour package means sum of all expense incurred on the
components of a tour package by the tour operator. There are different types of
tour cost like accommodation, transportation, marketing, travel cost, food and
beverage cost, administrative cost and miscellaneous cost.
Price is the exchange value of a product. Pricing is one of the
most important decisions for marketing of a product. As mentioned
earlier tourists are sensitive to price and after certain change i n price,
they can see for alternatives. Pricing is a difficult task when an agency

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has to set it for first time. There are several internal and external factors
which influences the decision of pricing. Pricing strategies vary from
tour operator to tour operator.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 11.2
2) See sec. 11.2
3) See sec.11.3
Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 11.4
2) See sub sec. 11.5
Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 11.6
2) See sub sec. 11.6

11.8 Glossary
• The time period. Markets are constantly changing and consumers may
adjust their buying habits over a period of time when faced with a price
increase, finding substitute products or alternative suppliers. Inelastic
demand may become elastic over a period of time.
• Competitor pricing. If a competitor keeps prices unchanged in the face of a
price increase then the firm raising prices is likely to lose market share, ie
demand is elastic. If a price reduction is matched by the competitors then it is
likely to produce inelastic demand at lower prices.
• Market skimming is the achievement of high unit profits very early on in the
product's life.
• Costing competitors - unlike the previous technique, costing competitors
focus only on their cost structure, the main criticism of this technique the
sources of information;
• Benchmarking - involves the identification of best practices and
organizational performance comparison with the practices aimed at improving
performance, this technique aims external orientation by competitors;

11.9 Review Questions

 Discuss the Meaning and Concept of Tour costing & pricing, also state
various types of Tour costs.
 Give the costing process of Golden triangle.
 What do you mean by Pricing of a Package Tour? What are the
Factors affecting tour pricing?

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 What are the various pricing strategies used in Indian tour operator industry?
Illustrate.
 What do you understand by “tour package promotion”? What are
various channels for tour package promotion?
 How strategic costing helpful in tour pricing? Dicuss.
 What is competitive analysis? How it is useful for costing and pricing?

11.10 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text,
Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and
Administration, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency ,
John Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation
and Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel
agency and tour operators.

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UNIT 12: MARKETING OF TOUR PACKAGES: NEED

FOR PRE-ACTIVE APPROACH
Structure
12.0 Objectives
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Tour package marketing- Concept and meaning
12.3 Developing a Tour Marketing Plan/ approach
12.4 Summary
12.5 Glossary
12.6 Review Questions
12.7 Suggested Readings

12.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of tour package marketing ;
 Explain the Tour Marketing Plan/ approach
 Discuss the Need for pre-active approach

12.1 Introduction
Marketing your tourism products is an essential part of the development and
management of your tourism industry. To effectively market your product, it is
important to be familiar with the different ways the tourism industry markets its
products. Your correspondences with the media, a strong public relations
campaign and your direct relationship with consumers play a large role in
creating an influential approach to marketing. Advertising has a large impact on
how well your product is received. But, perhaps the most important part of
marketing your product is the hospitality and service you exhibit on a regular
basis. This unit enlightened the students with the meaning, concept of tour
package marketing. It also helps the students to identify need for pre-active
approach in tour marketing.

12.2 - Tour package marketing - Concept and meaning

The tour operators strategic position between the various vendors
encompassing airlines, transport operators, hotels, etc. and the ability to combine
the various elements of travel industry into relatively affordable and standardized
tour package, have emerged as the key manipulators of tourism industry. When
tourists choose to book a package or decide to go on holiday, how do they
determine which package to buy especially in view of the consumer’s inability to
inspect the ingredients making up the tour package prior to travel? It is the tour
‘marketing’ which applies much more sophisticated strategies of trying to know

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what the tourist will want and satisfying the needs of the clients by means of the
services rendered as well as the other customer’s value satisfactions associated
with planning, preparing, and experiencing his travels.

Definitions
Kotler (1988) defines marketing as ‘a social and managerial process by
which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating
and exchanging products and values with other’.
The American Marketing Association (1984) defines marketing as “the
performance of business activities that direct the flow of goods and services from
producer to the consumer or users”.
In simple words, marketing is the creation of a demand that results in
satisfying consumers and accomplishing corporate objectives. Thus, the most
important aspect that should be central to any marketing definition is based not
only on identifying different consumer needs, but also on delivering a tourist
product/service whose experiences provide sets of satisfactions which are
preferable to those of the competitors.
Tour package marketing is significantly different from the marketing of
other tourism elements. This is because of the nature and types of tour packages
offered by tour operators. Moreover, in the tour industry the marketing strategies
that are effective and profitable for the mass tour operators, will often be
substantially different than the marketing strategies adopted by tour specialists.
For example marketing strategies of adventure tour operators will be different
from strategies used by ground operators/or inbound tour operators. Even the
marketing strategies of multiple tours involving multi-destinations will usually be
different from the one day/one destination tours.
Thus, it has become imperative for a tour operator (if wants to be effective
in marketing) to analyse profoundly what has been beneficial or productive for
other tour companies in the same tour/similar destinations. Marketing of inclusive
tours is largely the responsibility of the tour operators. The main tour marketing
objectives are:
 To make attitudes more favorable to a particular product.
 To build an image for the product.
 To stop existing users turning to competitive products.
 To get across the idea of a unique product.
 To create a brand leader to help the launch of additional products
at a future date.
 To win back previous product users who have defected to a
competitive product.
 To expand the whole market
 To reduce existing negative attitudes.
 To keep building loyalty.

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 To establish the brand and position it in a particular way. e.g. as
warm and friendly.
 To create a brand leader in a particular market.
 To increase sales among existing users.
 To improve the frequency of purchase.
 To keep new entrants out of the market.
 To convey the idea that the product is value for money’.
 To say how much people like the product.
 To improve market share compared with competitors.
 To maintain brand distribution.

Check your progress-1

Answer the following questions.

1. Define the concept of tour marketing.
2. Identify main objectives of Tour marketing.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

12.3 - Developing a Tour Marketing Plan/ appraoch

When developing a complete tourism package, marketing research is
very important. You must understand your customers and what they think is
important in order to make the right combinations for them. Businesses that
intend to be involved in creating a package must have their managers meet to
discuss their interest and ideas for their contributions to the package. A package
should be planned with an overlying theme or concept in mind. It might be a
targeted theme, like a ski, theater or nature-inspired package, or an event theme
centered on Valentine’s Day or Christmas. Major events like home-town
celebrations or events of historic significance can also serve as a central theme
of a packaged deal. Often, lodging and transportation are the largest and most
important part of a tourist’s experience. These two elements are often the main
ingredients for a good package. In addition to these basics, packages can
include tickets to attractions, meals, entertainment, educational opportunities,
drinks, events and other services. A good package includes things a traveler
wants in order to have an enjoyable experience.
Tour marketing plan is centred on organizational objectives. It is important
to have a clear understanding of what the tour operator desires to achieve
through marketing plan. In fact, a tour company needs to understand both its
product and its market before developing a marketing plan. For many tour
companies, budget is the first step in the process of developing a tour marketing
plan.

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Figure 12.1 Applying marketing in the tour operation industry

Organizing a successful group tour requires a minimum of one year lead

time. This allows:
 Three months to research, plan, negotiate, book, price the tour, and
produce promotional materials,
 Six months for a promotional and sales campaign, and
 Ninety days for billing, dispatch, and wrap-up.
Tour operators packaging around a large event make their plans up to
five years in advance.
It does not mean that short time tour package can not be operated. Many
program and package offerings from smaller businesses may operate on a much
shorter time frame when marketing to short-haul markets.
The tour marketing plan is a component of your overall business plan. The
business plan may include: corporate plans for the coming year, operational
problems and opportunities, strategies for pricing, a marketing plan, and a
budget. The business plan lays the foundation of company expectations for the
coming year.

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The marketing plan is an objective document against which progress can
be measured. Used as a yardstick to determine achievement of set objectives
within a rapidly changing business environment, it is generally written every year
as part of the yearly financial budget.
Basic marketing may be done through the following methods.
 Cooperating with regional tourism associations
 Networking
 Cooperating with other like-minded regional businesses
 Direct mailing
 Fam tours (displays first-hand the attitudes of management/staff)
 Slide and video travel shows
 Advertising
 Direct sales
 Internet
The tour marketing plan is normally a short term plan which guides the tour
operator for one to three years. It provides a clear direction of the tour marketing
operation based upon a systematic approach to planning and action. It also co-
ordinates the resources of the tour company to achieve the set targets.
Recognizing the importance of tour marketing, tour operator develops the
required mechanism to build effective tour marketing strategies. It illustrates how
the tour marketing planning process should function and ensure that marketing
activities match the resources, time requirements and objectives of the tour
company. To decide on the tour marketing strategies is perhaps the most
complicated stage in the planning process. The working out of an appropriate
strategy is directly related to the nature and type of the tour i.e., which strategy is
most befitting for inbound tours, outbound tours, or incentive tours is based on its
ability to provide a substantial return on investment.

Marketing Inbound and Outbound Tours

Generally, the international tour marketing is relatively more complex and
difficult than domestic tour marketing. International tour market is composed
mainly of tours organized and planned in another country and operated in other
countries. Although the tour components in different types of tours are different
but the tour marketing is similar to much extent. As an inbound tour operator
handles these tours in different countries/destinations. For example, the India
based tour operator handling international inbound tours will be expected to
provide full tour services that are included in the package in the similar way as
US, UK and French tour operators do, but the components may be different.
Interestingly, obtaining contracts to handle inbound tours is quite different from
handling outbound tours. For outbound tours, the tour operator usually is
required to approach each and every tour member to sell its product (package),
directly or through travel agencies. In many cases a tour operator undertakes

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substantial contracting with inbound tour operators or ground operators to
provide services as prescribed in the tour programme. However, for marketing
inbound tours, a tour operator procures lists of those tour companies and travel
agencies which are interested in travel business from the destinations served by
the inbound tour operators.
This is generally achieved through participation in international meets,
marts, conferences and other associations. Practically, these events are so
planned that international tour companies and travel agencies may purchase
from the different country based inbound tour operators those travel ingredients
required in order to operate their tours during the coming years.
Thus, it is clear that tour operator will either offer his tours directly to the
market or sell them through travel agencies. Whichever method of distribution he
chooses, sales will hinge on products being presented in brochures designed by
the tour operators and marketing techniques as well as promotional campaigns
being applied.
The tour operator’s vital marketing tool is its tour brochure which contains
comprehensive information to persuade and motivate potential holiday makers to
purchase tourist products/services.
Holloway (1992) lists the information that should be included in a tour operator’s
brochure.
 Name of tour company responsible for tour;
 Transport mode(s) – carrier name, aircraft type and use of scheduled or
charter services;
 Details of destinations, itinerary and travel time;
 Duration of tour – nights and days;
 Description of destinations;
 Type of accommodation and meals;
 Services of ground operators;
 Price;
 Extra charges clearly indicated;
 Details of special arrangements and facilities;
 Full booking conditions including cancellation terms;
 Any optional or compulsory insurance cover;
 Documentation required for travel to the destinations featured; and
 Any health hazards or inoculation recommended.
Thus, the tour brochure consists of several sections and sub-sections.
The brochure cover shows the title, date, theme, tour code, and name of the tour
company. Tour promotion is the blend of communication activities designed and
carried out to influence those clientele size on whom the tour operator’s sales
depend both in the short term and long-term.
It is not sufficient to influence target markets only but also travel agents,
suppliers, travel writers and journalists, destination companies, and

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Governments. Basically, the tour promotion is substantially different than other
travel products/services because of variety of specialization in tour operation
industry.
Therefore, a tour company must define marketing/promotion objectives
very clearly to design and practice most effective promotional tools/techniques.
In actual practice, tour companies employ the following promotional techniques
to create awareness and building brand image of tour packages:
 Advertising;
 Direct Mail;
 Sales Promotion;
 Public Relations;
 Personal Selling;
 Literature;
 Sponsorship;
 Exhibitions;
 Travel Marts;
 Films and Video;
 Familiarization Tours;
 Telemarketing;
 Conferences and Debates etc.
Paradoxically, the promotion of tour package relies on effective
communication of tour ingredients. Tour package is an amalgam of various
products/services which can really be experienced only at the moment of their
consumption and which cannot be systematically reproduced in an identical way.
Therefore, in an increasingly competitive tourism market, it is often the access to
information which ensures the success of tour marketing. For tour operators, it is
extremely important to participate in Computerized Reservation Networks and in
Global Distribution Systems.
Today, tour companies have access to information on all air carriers,
hotels and related products/services and can distribute their packages through a
global distribution system network. GDS terminals provide immediate access to
all the suppliers which have opted to market their products through this network.
GDS has, therefore, become extremely significant in the sale of air and other tour
packages.
The tour operator companies must manage a complex marketing
communications system. The company communicates with its marketing
intermediaries, consumers, and various public. A company’s total
marketing communication program, called its promotion mix, consists of
a specific blend of advertising sales promotion, public relations, and
personal selling to achieve advertising and marketing objectives.
The promoter has to clearly identify the target audience. The
Target audience may be potential buyers or current users, those who

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make the purchasing decision, or those who influence i t keeping the
target market in mind, he has to choose the message and message
content. Ideally, the message should get attention, hold interest arouse
desire and obtain action (a frame work known as AIDA model). The
communicator has to choose the message content in terms of the
appeal or theme that will produce the desired response. Philip Kotler
has identified three types of appeals, i.e; rational appeal, emotional
appeal and moral appeal.
(a) Rational appeal relate to audience self-interest. They show
that the product will produce desired benefits. Occasionally, rational
appeals are overlooked.
(b) Emotional appeal attempt to provoke emotions that motivate
purchase. These include fear guilt and shame that entice people to do
things that they should or stop doing things they should not. Emotional
appeals are widely used by resorts and hotels to stimulate cross
purchase.
(c) Moral appeals are directed to the audience’s Senses of what
is right and proper. They are often used to urge people to support such
social causes as a cleaner environment, better race relations, equal
rights and help to the needy.

PROMOTIONAL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

At his stage it will be prudent enough to discuss the various
promotional tools. The promoter has to make a choice of promotion al
tools out of the various options available with him/her. Each individual
medium or tool has its special advantages and cost benefits. Advertising
gives the marketer complete control over timing, message and target:
public relations activity may be more powerful cheaper and effective in
sales terms, but control is much more limited. PR has a special value in
changing attitude, reassurance, mitigating damage and, over a period,
helping to create a fashion or special appeal.
No medium can be effective on its own so the mix or combination
is important. They must all be dovetailed into the marketing mix, or the
total marketing programme of the organization embracing product price,
promotion and market place. The marketer does not ask shall I use
advertising or not? Without considering all the other marketing tools and
how they inter-relate one with the other.

Advertising
The American Marketing Association defines advertising as any
paid form of non-personal presentation of goods, ideas or services by
an identified sponsor’. An alternative definition is non-personal
persuasive communication in media which is not managed by the

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company, eg press, magazines, radio, television, posters, cinema.
Advertising can be precise in terms of message and timing and can be
more specifically targeted at the right audience than some other
marketing tools. It is part of the total promotional effort and must always
be very clearly aligned with, and indeed governed by, the objectives of
the organisation.
Advertising even though it can be fairly precisely targeted, uses
mass media to talk directly to the potential buyers of the product. So it
must persuade these potential buyers that the product will satisfy their
wants and needs in a unique way. It becomes generally more cost
efficient as a medium when the number of consumers needed to be
reached is large. Furthermore, unlike most products, a tourist
destination cannot be taken to the market place, the consumer has to
travel to the product and that product must be presented in an a ppealing
and attractive way through the advertising and other vehicles too.
Research can give useful guidance on the holiday decision
process, the gestation period of decision, planning and buying. It can
also help to determine the target audience. The marketer must clearly
define the consumer who is likely to buy his product in terms of age,
sex, socio-economic group, standard of education, purchasing power,
region of residence and the size and nature of the target audience has a
bearing on the size of the advertising appropriation. This is particularly
true of socioeconomic group and region of residence.
It is the agency’s job to produce advertising ideas but it is the
promoter’s job to produce the right brief, to have a clear picture of what
image the organisation wishes to project for the product and to agree
the copy theme. The guidance needed to fulfil these tasks should come
from research and from the Marketing Plan: then more research to
check that the advertising is working.
Advertising is that part of the marketing process which
communicates effectively and economically to a chosen group of
consumers. It exists as a substitute for personal selling and it should be
designed to do the best selling job possible. It is more effective when it
is precisely focused and projected on a backcloth of receptivity created
through good public relations.

Public relations
This is a vitally important part of the communications strategy of
an organisation and generally operates on three levels:
(1) The corporate level - creating the best climate and reputation
for the organisatiori in terms of receptivity and favourable.
(2) The consumer level - creating the right background onto which
the .organisation can project more precisely focused messages.

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(3) The trade level - who in turn can influence the consumer
either directly or indirectly and for destination public authorities guiding
and influencing standards.
Public relations however are different from advertising. While its
purpose, like that of advertising, is communic ation it is different
inasmuch - as it does not use paid media space, may well not identify
the sponsor, and does not target the message as precisely as
advertising does in terms of timing, media or message. The promoter
can get lucky of course and have an independent journalist write things
which he may well think twice about claiming in the advertising. Public
relations activity is vital in tourism as it is the most powerful medium in
guarding of the image.
In tour operations, public relations can be the most cost-effective
of all the weapons in the marketer’s armoury and it is capable of working
effectively not only at the three levels identified above, but multi -
dimensionally in communicating the messages which the
marketer/promoter wishes to get across to particular audiences.
At the corporate level, there is a need to seek to influence the
shareholders. In the case of a resort tourist officer this may well be the
elected members on the local authority and the commercial interests in
the resort who benefit from the tourist spendings. At the regional level it
will be a number of local authorities and commercial operators in the
region, who may well subscribe funds on a membership basis to the
regional tourist board. At these levels there is a need to crea te a
favourable climate and a positive image of the organisation and what it
is achieving in terms of economic benefit, job creation, conservation or
general public good.
There are a number of tools and techniques available to the PR
departments which are used to communicate to these audiences. Press
releases to newspaper's and magazines, feature stories, press
interviews, press conferences, newsletters and magazines are all
effective in their various ways. Newsletters and magazines should be
published regularly and mailed to a prescribed audience. Press
conferences should normally be used sparingly. In the case of an
organisation whose marketing work is conducted principally overseas, it
is important to ensure that the influencers and decision -makers are
aware of what it does and how effective its work is in terms of expected
benefits.

Direct mail
A marketing technique once used almost exclusively by book
clubs and record clubs, it is being used increasingly by most promoters
from blue chip corporations to charities.

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The most important key to success in any direct mail campaign is
the mailing list. To reach the right market you need the right mailing list.
Lists can be rented from a list broker and the number and variety of lists
is almost infinite, from income levels to members of social clubs, affinity
groups to members of learned societies or professions. There is a high
level of wastage for junk mail’, yet the technique with generally a two to
five per cent response rate is highly profitable. Success in g etting the
mailing shot accepted by the consumer is in the real or perceived value
of the product. The offer must be right and also the way the price is
positioned and presented. The direct mail shot is in effect a sales
presentation for both high and low cost items and its success is
determined by the format and the creative treatment.
Tourist organisations and operators can develop their own
mailing lists. Hoteliers can maintain records of guests. Tourist offices
receive enquiries by letter, by telephone and in person.

Literature
Brochure production is expensive and considerable thought
should be given to the print programme before rushing into production.
In the case of international marketing, translation of copy into a number
of languages will be required and these can pose quite a problem.
Objectives, purpose and target audience must be carefully
researched, agreed and planned. All too often tour operators will
produce a poster without any real thought as to where, how or who will
produce a poster without any real thought as to where, how or who will
see it.
In the case of print, the medium is the product and the target
audience must be firmly in the marketer’s mind when he produces the
pagination and design brief. There is a trade audience and a consum er
audience and each have their specific needs.
Print can very broadly be subdivided into three stages. First, the
promotional print or ‘come on’, where the marketer must try and
persuade. The reader to select a particular destination. Second, is the
guide on how to travel, what to see and do guide, designed to ensure
that the visitor gains the maximum satisfaction from his trip. Great guide
books fail into this third category.
Once the page lay-outs are available, it is possible to check
headlines and position of illustrations - usually the first chance that a
non-expert can really judge what it is going to look like. Once the page
film is made it becomes very expensive to start making corrections and
once the four colour proof has been submitted nothing sh ould be
corrected unless it is critical, like mis-spelling the name of the
destination.

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Exhibitions
There are consumer exhibitions and trade exhibitions. An
exhibition, provided it is the right exhibition, can be an excellent
showcase for products, services or destination. It can also be a very
cost effective way of generating sales leads and names and addresses
for mailing lists. All too often the opportunities afforded are thrown
away, either because of poor location, bad stand design, weak publicity
or because of untrained staff on the stand. The marketer must assess
the exhibition like other soles media in terms of the marketing objectives
and in the context of the marketing mix. He must then seek the best the
possible location, having evaluated traffic flows, stand shape, position
vis-à-vis competition and cost.
Exhibition space is usually sold as ‘space’ or shell’, that is to say
the organiser of the exhibition will rent the floor space to the exhibitor
who then has to brief a stand designer and stand f itter, who will
construct the stand. The ‘shell’ scheme is sold by the organiser as
space plus a simple stand. Do check precisely what is included in the
‘shell’ price. Does it’ include lighting, and if so what? Does it include
floor covering, and if so what? Qften it is lino or carpet tiles. The shell
price usually includes the fascia but excludes such things as electric
points, plants, furniture and cleaning. Most exhibition organisers will
provide attendance figures for previous shows and number of exhib itors,
making it possible to evaluate the’ show.

Films and video

Making a film or video is increasingly attractive. The widespread
availability of video equipment makes it an attractive new medium and if
it is done well, it is a very effective marketing to ol for the tourism
marketer. It can be more effective in taking the product to the market
place, yet production is complex and costly and there are many pitfalls
on the way. The brochure can be read and a passage can be reread if
need be; the video is necessarily more impressionistic. The cost will be
determined by the number of locations, travel costs between locations,
hotel accommodation, hire of actors perhaps, complicated lighting set -
ups. All this apart from the basic cost of film and duplication, if there is
music, clearance can be expensive and it may well be cheaper to
commission a score and record specially. It will almost certainly be
necessary to hire a professional narrator. So the costs mount. In any
video production there are three processes shooting, editing and post-
production, mastering and duplication. Add to this the fact that there are
different systems in overseas markets if it is intended to use it
internationally. The marketer should have a clear idea of why he wants
to make a film or video, where and tb whom it will be shown. It is a

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complex subject and mistakes can be costly. So the best advice is to
hire a good production company arid provide them with a clear brief,
Just as important, there must be adequate control’ of the audience
through plans which ensure that the film is shown to potential travellers.
Finally, there are some marketing techniques which are of particular
relevance to the tourism industry, though not uniquely so.

Check your progress – 2

Answer the following questions.
1. Define the concept of tour brochure
2. Identify marketing techniques for tour package ,
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

12.4 Summary
In this Unit, we have familiarised you with guidelines regarding the
marketing of tour package. It is essential for a tour operator to equip
himself/herself as well as one’s employees with market conditions and product
knowledge. The best method for the first hand product knowledge in either case
would be the utilisation of familiarisation trips being offered by providers of
services. As an effective manager you are required to plan and manage various
activities related to inbound and outbound tour operations. It is for sure that if
you are able to handle these vital issues with the objective of providing customer
care, nothing can stop you from becoming a successful tour operator. You should
not forget that today as a result of technological revolution destinations which
were hitherto been unknown and inaccessible to people have come within their
reach. Thus, once again you are required to update yourself on various new
travel circuits that have been developed on global tourist map and consequent
changes in rules, regulation and fees. It is clear from the above discussion that
effective marketing of a tour package one should have pre-active approach. So
that we can achieve tour marketing objectives of the tour operation company.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Check Your Progress - 1

1) See sec. 12.2
2) See sec. 12.2
Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 12.3.
2) See sec. 12.3

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12.5 Glossary
 Market segmentation: Market segmentation is a marketing approach that
encompasses the identification of different groups of customers with different
needs or responses to marketing activity. The market segmentation process
also considers which of these segments to target.
 Service marketing mix: The addition of People, Physical Evidence and
Process to the four areas of activity more usually associated with marketing
products, Price, Place, Promotion and Product.
 Direct mail: The delivery of an advertising or promotional message to
customers or potential customers by mail.
 Direct marketing: The planned recording, analysis and tracking of customer
behaviour to develop a relational marketing strategies.
 Marketing concept: The marketing concept is about matching a business’
capabilities with customer wants.
 Marketing plan A detailed statement (usually prepared annually) of how a
company's marketing mix will be used to achieve its market objectives.
Amarketing plan is usually prepared following a marketing audit.

12.6 Review Questions

 Why is Market Analysis necessary in Tour Operations Business?
 What is the importance of analysing Business Environment for packaging Tours?
 What is the significance of Brochures in Tour Operations and Tour Operators'?
 Elaborate the need and significance of pre-active approach in tour marketing.

12.7 Suggested Readings

1. Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management, Prentice
Hall, New York, 1990.
2. Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
3. Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
4. Gregory A., the Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London, 1990.
5. Yole P., the Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
6. Witt S., and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook (ed.)
Prentice hall, UK.,1989.
7. Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
8. Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice, Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
9. Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
10. IATA Manual
11. Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency and
tour operators.

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BLOCK 4
Tour Packaging in Indian Context- Case Examples
Today, it has become a fashion for most of the people and business for
many entrepreneurs. Adventure tourism is a type of niche tourism involving
exploration or travel to remote areas, where the traveler should expect the
unexpected. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity as tourists seek
unusual holidays, different from the typical beach vacation. Adventure tourism
typically involves traveling into remote, inaccessible and possibly hostile areas.
Aero sports are bound to give you the adrenaline rush you require and as you
experience the thrill of soaring through the sky, you may also enjoy a bird’s eye
view of the stunning nature beneath. A number of places in the Himalayan and
peninsular region offer ample options for aero sports.
Moreover, the block will cover the tour packaging in Indian context. It will
explain and clarify how a well-structured and planed approach to tour package
can deliver substantial benefits to all stakeholders: tourists as well as tour
operators. This block comprises the following units:

Unit 13 focuses on Land based Adventure Tourism Packages – Trekking,

Mountaineering, skiing and wildlife watching. Finally the unit discusses the
Significance of land based adventure tour package. The 14 unit of the course
entitled “components and elements of an effective Tour Itinerary” describes the
meaning and concept of tour itinerary, explain the main components of tour
itinerary and finally understanding of elements of effective tour itinerary. Unit 15
deals with discussion of Cultural tourism Packages-Pilgrimage, festival and
monuments and museum visits. In this unit you will learn about the various
Cultural tour packages: Pilgrimage, Festival; Monument and Museum to develop
tour itinerary. Further, the unit describes the importance of cultural tour
packages. In unit 16 we will describe about the Special Interest Tour Package-
Ethnic, eco, medical and health and holiday packages. The unit also discusses
significance of special interest tour package.

Block Objectives
After studying this block, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of Land based adventure tour package ;
 Explain the Trekking, Mountaineering, skiing tour package ;
 Describe the meaning and concept of aero based sports;
 Explain the water based sports,
 Describe the meaning and concept of Cultural Tourism packages.
 Understand meaning and concept of Special Interest Tourism
 Explain Special Interest Tourism in India
 Itinerary development for Special Interest Tourism in India.

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UNIT 13: LAND BASED ADVENTURE TOURISM

PACKAGES – TREKKING, MOUNTAINEERING,
SKIING AND WILDLIFE WATCHING
Structure
13.0 Objectives
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Land based adventure tour package - concepts and meaning
13.3 Trekking, mountaineering, skiing- package
13.4 wildlife watching- package tours
13.5 Significance of land based adventure tour package
13.6 Summary
13.7 Answer to check your progress
13.7 Glossary
13.8 Review questions
13.9 Suggested readings
13.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of Land based adventure tour package;
 Explain the Trekking, Mountaineering, skiing tour package;
 Discuss the wildlife watching- package tours;
 Understand the significance of land based adventure tour package.
13.1 Introduction
In the previous units we described how a tour package marketed to
ultimate usurers. Now we turn our discussion to elaborate the meaning and
concept of Land based adventure tourism in India. In fact, India is abode for
adventure lovers having marvelous adventure tourist resources. Besides cultural
exchange or interaction, tourists are engagement with nature, mountaineering
expeditions, trekking, bungee jumping, rafting and rock climbing.
13.2 Adventure Tourism in India - Concepts and Meaning
Since long people used to travel for adventure, in fact, in the beginning
travel was itself a adventure. Today, it has become a fashion for most of the
people and business for many entrepreneurs. Adventure tourism is a type of
niche tourism involving exploration or travel to remote areas, where the traveler
should expect the unexpected. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity
as tourists seek unusual holidays, different from the typical beach vacation.
Adventure tourism typically involves traveling into remote, inaccessible and
possibly hostile areas. It may include the performance of acts that require
significant effort and grit and may also involve some degree of risk.

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According to the (U.S.-based) global Adventure Travel Trade Association,
"adventure travel" may be any tourist activity including two of the following three
components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction, and
engagement with nature. Mountaineering expeditions, trekking, bungee jumping,
rafting and rock climbing are frequently cited as an examples of adventure
tourism. In fact, to define adventure travel, various components including activity,
motivation, risk, performance, experience, and environment must be
considered. Equally important is how these components can be combined to
compose a definition. Ewert (1989) suggested that outdoor adventure involves an
interaction with the natural environment, and this interaction requires an element
of risk, often exposed to physical danger.
Thus, adventure travel has been defined as: any number of leisure
pursuits which provide exposure to physical danger and a variety of self-initiated
activities utilizing an interaction with the natural environment, that contain
elements of real or apparent danger, in which the outcome, while uncertain, can
be influenced by the participant and circumstance .
India has now emerged as an important travel destination for discerning
adventure sports enthusiasts in recent years. India is arguably the only country in
the world, which offers such a sheer variety of adventure opportunities. And
surely enough, this diversity is utterly amazing - from heli-skiing and rock
climbing in the mighty Himalayas to river-rafting in the white waters of the raging
Ganga, Teesta or Indus; from ballooning and hang-gliding over the great Indian
plains to an exotic encounter with the camel-safaris in the vast expanse of the
Thar desert of Rajasthan; from tracking the legendary Royal Bengal Tiger on the
backs of elephants to trekking in the Himalayan ranges - the options are endless.
Some of the popular adventure tourism activities offered in India are discussed
as under.

Popular adventure sport activities in India

Some of the most popular adventure sport activities in India are listed below:
 Angling and Fishing
 Cycling
 Motor Biking
 Camel Safari
 Gliding
 Mountaineering
 Rafting
 Skiing
 Trekking
 Wildlife Safari
Mountaineering in India offers the choice of climbing some of the highest
peaks in the world. Traveling in the mighty Himalayas offers endless adventure,

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cultural learning and recreation opportunities. India has been blessed with
several mountain ranges that are perfect to undertake mountaineering.
Mountaineering is an ideal activity during the summers that lets you escape from
the heat of the plains.
Some of the best mountaineering spots can be found in the Garhwal and
Kumaon regions, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, and
the Northeast. Num and Kun, and the Zanskar range in Jammu and Kashmir are
renowned summits with the mountaineers. Besides amateur mountaineers,
technical climbing skills are put to test at Kishtawar at peaks that are as high as
6,500 m above ground level. Lahaul and Spiti in Leh, and the Kullu valley also
have several challenging peaks. In India the peaks are categorized into open',
'virgin', 'border', 'trekking', and 'others' and one can make several choices in each
category.

White Water Rafting in India

White water rafting means cruising down the gushing waters of river in an
inflatable rubber raft or white water kayak over roaring waves and swirling fast-
moving water. India has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations in
the world for white water rafting. Its rushing waters, coming from the glaciers of
the mighty Himalayas, offer matchless thrills for rafting and immersing oneself in
the landscape.
India has a multitude of rivers and abundance of locations that are
perfect for white water rafting. Most of the water rafting destinations are located
in the Himalayas, and the River Ganges is the most popular of them all. Several
camps are organized along the 70-km stretch from Rishikesh to Devprayag to
Rapids have been graded according to the difficulty of their run. The rivers
Yamuna, Alaknanda, Tons, Mandakini, Kalisor, Bhilangana and Bhagirathi offer
many stretches, for both professionals as well as amateur rafters. Ranges in
Ladakh and Sikkim also offer Great River stretches for rafting.

Sking in India
Skiing is one such adventure sports that has gained immense popularity
all over the world. Skiing in India has gradually become quiet attention grabbing
sport because of the Himalayas. In India there are many favorable destinations
like Jammu and Kashmir, the hills of Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, and the
Northeastern states of India, which have become favorite ski hideouts for skiing
enthusiasts. Gulmarg is the ultimate beginner's skiing resort. Skiing involves a lot
of skill that needs an initial bit of practice and patience. The adventure sport of
skiing is known as a fun sport for its ease, its sense of freedom and the thrill of
flying down a slope with the wind direction. India has all kind of sites for amateurs
to professional’s skiers that provide several choices in each category.

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13.3 Trekking, Mountaineering, Skiing- Package
India is a spectacular adventure destination especially among the
trekkers. No mountaineer can resist the temptation of having a trek in the verdant
slopes of Himalayas. Nature has been bountiful in providing India majestic
mountains and this has resulted in the attraction of a large number of people to
this beautiful land.
The Western Himalayas covering the states of Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand form a major trekking area in India. It is
followed by the Eastern Himalayas covering Darjeeling in West Bengal and the
northeastern states of Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The areas around
Gangotri and Yamunotri and those below the Kumaon region are also famous for
trekking.

Itineraries for Adventure Tourism with examples

Itinerary: 1 Trekking Tour to Uttrakhand (An itinerary with route map)

Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Rishikesh - Nandprayag - Pipelkoti - Auli Buggial - Auli -
Govindahat - Gangria - Joshimath - Augustmuni - Rishikesh - Delhi
Brief Description: For those who are found of trekking, and adventure, the
hills in Uttarakhand are perfect destinations. Fabulous surroundings, swift rivers
and pollution free environment rejuvenate lost vigour and vitality. Tour is through
the fantastic mountain ranges of Rishikesh and Nandprayag, and Augustmuni
that are also Hindu-pilgrimages.

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Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Transfer to Hotel Overnight Hotel in Delhi
Day 02: Delhi – Rishikesh
Morning city tour of Delhi. Afternoon leave for Rishikesh 230 kms/6 hrs. On arrival
transfer to hotel. Overnight hotel in Rishikesh.
Day 03: Rishikesh
Full day sightseeing visiting different temples & ashrams overnight hotel in Rishikesh.
Day 04: Rishikesh – Nandprayag
Today drive to Nandprayag via Deveprayg confluence of Bhagirthi & Alakanada river.
Arrive Nandprayag & transfer to the camp. A beautiful site next to Hanuman Temple
Day 05: Nandprayag- Pipelkoti
Today drive to Pipelkoti Beautiful drive, as we drive through Forests & beautiful scenery.
Arrive Pipelkoti & camp for overnight. A beautiful camp site.
Day 06: Pipelkoti - Auli Buggial
Spectacular drive to Auli commanding a stuning view MT Kament Nandakot, Trishul
Range and above all the mighty Nanda Devi
Day 07: Auli
Full day to explore or rest Camp fire. Overnight stay in camp
Day 08: Auli - Govindahat - Gangria
Leave early morning towards Govindghat from here our there days trek starts, after
trekking for about 13 kms. We camp at Gangria.
Day 09: Gangria - Valley of Flowers
Today trek to valley of flowers, a 4 kms trek passes through dense forests and then open
meadow. Arrive valley of Flowers and after lunch you will be given time to explore before
we trek back to Gangria.
Day 10: Gangria – Joshimath
Retrace the route - Arrive Joshimath & stay in Hotel for overnight.
Day 11: Joshimath - Augustmuni
Drive to Augustmuni via Rudraprayag and camp for overnight.
Day 12: Augustmuni – Rishikesh
Drive to Rishikesh and transfer to Hotel overnight stay.
Day 13: Rishikesh - Delhi Out
Drive to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi to International Airport to catch flight for onward
destination. (Hotel checkout 12: 00 hrs)

Itinerary: 2 Rafting on River Ganges (A specific itinerary for rafting with

route map)
Duration: 04 Nights / 05 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Rishikesh - Shivpuri - Delhi

Day 01: Arive Delhi.

Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Hotel in Delhi
Day 02: Delhi - Rishikesh.
Leave for Rishikesh which is 226 kms - 6 hrs. Means the "Plaits of the sage". It is said
that a great sage, Raivya Rishi meditated among the mountains where he saw vision of
God. It is an altitude of 365 meters on the right bank of the Ganga and today it has

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become a centre of learning and research in yoga and meditation as an instrument of
Mental & Physical health. Sightseeing in Rishikesh. Later drive to Shivpuri.
Shivpuri - An experience by itself - with idyllic surrounding gushing pure waters of the
sacred river Ganges in forested hilly area and white sandy beaches- A truly unparalleled
holiday. Overnight in Shivpuri.
Day 03: Rafting from Shivpuri to Rishikesh.
Overnight at Rishikesh
Day 04: Rishikesh - Delhi.
Drive back to Delhi and check into hotel in Delhi
Day 05: Delhi / Back to home.
Transfer to airport to connect Flight for onward destination.

13.4 Wildlife watching- package tours

In recent years India's emergence as one of the Hub of diverse wildlife
has led India as a most sought-after wild life tourism destination. The Indian
wildlife heritage has a unique status worldwide. It has the second largest base of
bio diversity in the world, with 441 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 80 National Parks,
which have become destinations for visitors from all around the world. Accounts
of man-eaters of Kumaon and other wildlife encountered by Jim Corbett, are
fascinating and true, and just a glimpse of many other mysteries and delights of
the Indian wildlife that is housed in the sanctuaries around the country.
Another incredible feature of these amazing conservatories of exotic
wildlife is that they are home to the largest number of tigers and one-horned
rhinoceros in the world, as well as the almost extinct Asiatic Lion, and a large
percentage of the total elephant population. Also, India's wildlife sanctuaries
which cover about 90,000 sq km house more than 500 species of mammals, over
2000 species of birds, over 500 species of reptiles and amphibians and around
30000 species of insects. All these resources provides a huge potential and
scope for wild life tourism in India.

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Wildlife tourism:
Wildlife tourism involves travel to observe wildlife in natural environments and
preferably their native habitat. It is a further subset of nature tourism and one in
which significantly high levels of domestic and international interest exist. Wildlife
tourism involves wild and non-domesticated animals and can encompass free-
ranging and captive circumstances. Wildlife tourism encompasses the chance to
encounter fauna and flora in terrestrial, aquatic/marine and aerial settings and to
gain some further understanding of a wide variety of species (including viewing
kangaroos, koalas, whales, dolphins, seals, fish and birds). Undertaking this
activity in a manner that is environmentally responsible is important to ensure
fewer disturbances to Wildlife and habitats.
In terms of major visitor trends, ‘appreciative tourism’ involving observation,
photography and interaction with wild animals is large scale, prominent and
growing. Consumptive tourism involving such activities as hunting and (non-catch
and release) fishing is also large scale, but declining (Paul Eagles, Sustainable
Wildlife Tourism Convention, Hobart, 2001). Ideally, Wildlife tourism include
some element of education and an increased appreciation of nature and
conservation issues. Potential new models for Wildlife tourism are being
developed. These involve Wildlife sanctuaries with feral free habitats attempting
to use tourism and other enterprise based revenue sources as a means to help
protect endangered native species and develop recovery plans for the species.

ITINERARIES FOR WILDLIFE PARKS AND SANCTURIES

Itinerary: 1 North East India Wildlife Tour

Delhi - Sariska - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra - Khajuraho -

Bandhavgarh – Kanha - Nagpur - Bhubaneshwar - Kolkata - Guwahati -
Kaziranga - Guwahati - Delhi.
Day 1: Arrive at Delhi
The first destination on North East India wildlife tour is Delhi, the capital city of
India. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and check in. In the afternoon sightseeing
tour of Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi include the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and the
colorful bazaars of Chandni Chowk, Raj Ghat, Humayun's Tomb and the Qutab
Minar. In New Delhi would include Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, India
Gate, the Lotus Temple and many shopping arcades in New Delhi. Overnight
stay at the hotel.
Day 02: Delhi - Sariska
Proceed further to Sariska where there is a visit to popular Tiger Reserve famous
for its tiger population. In the afternoon, a tour of the jungle, where one can view
numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal,
and Tiger. Overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day 03: Sariska - Jaipur
After lunch drive to Jaipur, enroute visiting the Amber Fort built by Raja Man
Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh. On arrival, check-in at the
hotel and later on go for city tour to see City Palace, Jantar Mantar and
observatory.
Day 04: Jaipur - Ranthambore
In the morning drive down to Sawai Madhopur, popular for the Ranthambore
Tiger Reserve. This tiger reserve is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger.
Day 05: Ranthambore
Morning and evening Jungle excursion roaming around the forest area to
observe the rich wildlife, which includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds,
12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile, amphibians and 30 mammals.
Day 06: Ranthambore
Spend the day at the national park observing the large herds of Sambhar, Chital,
Nilgai, Gazelle, Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare and Monitor Lizards. Overnight
stay at the hotel.
Day 07: Ranthambore - Bharatpur
Continuing the North East India wildlife tour we move on to Bharatpur. Visit the
Keoladeo Ghana National Park known for its 300 indigenous bird species.
Evening, a short walk to the Jungle to observe the roosting of large bird swarms.
Day 08: Bharatpur
At this national park one can also enjoy a boat ride and have a better look at the
colonies of birds, which reside in the interiors of the park.
Day 09: Bharatpur - Agra
In the morning bird viewing at the Bharatpur sanctuary where where there is a
wide variety of migratory birds like Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles,
Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, White Ears, Flycatchers, Buntings,
Larks and Pipits. Later drive on to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Afternoon city tour
covering the Agra Fort and other tourist places in Agra.
Day 10: Agra - Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh
Moving on to our next destination on this wildlife tour i.e. Khajuraho. The place is
famous for its temples. On arrival visit the Western Group of Temples including
the temples of Kandariya Mahadeo and Chuansat Yogini. Later drive on to
Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Overnight stay at the Bandhavgarh Jungle Resort.
Day 11: Bandhavgarh
Morning and evening jungle excursion to explore the wildlife, flora and fauna
within the national park.
Overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 12: Bandhavgarh
Morning and evening excursion to the National Park encompassed by the
towering Vindhyachal ranges.
Overnight at the lodge.

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Day 13: Bandhavgarh - Kanha
Morning drive on to Kanha National Park. Drive deep into this sanctuary
surrounded by tall Sal trees forest. On arrival transfer to Kanha Jungle Resort for
overnight.
Day 14: Kanha
Morning and evening jungle excursion, nature walks and Elephant rides in the
National Park and Tiger Reserve in the Mandala district of Madhya Pradesh.
Overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 15: Kanha
Morning and evening jungle excursion, nature walks and Elephant rides to
observe the large herds of the rare Barasingha and Swamp deer. Overnight stay
at the lodge.
Day 16: Kanha - Nagpur
Morning Jungle excursion where you can go into the interiors of the deep Sal and
Bamboo forests. Afternoon drive to Nagpur and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 17: Nagpur – Bhubaneshwar
Morning fly to Bhubaneshwar, the capital city of Orissa while attending the short
excursion to Konarak Temple just a few kilometers away from the city.
Day 18: Bhubaneshwar - Kolkata
In the morning catch a flight for Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. Afternoon
sightseeing of the city, which would cover the Victoria Memorial, Kali temple,
Howrah Bridge.
Day 19: Kolkata - Guwahati - Kaziranga
Morning fly to Guwahati and drive to Kaziranga National park, famous as the only
natural habitat of the Great Indian Rhinoceros.
Day 20: Kaziranga
Spend the day at the national park to see some of the rare species such as
Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-Shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite,
Pallas's Fishing Eagle, White Tailed Eagle, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle,
Himalayan Griffon, etc. Huge numbers of migratory birds descend on the parks
lakes and marshy areas during winters, including Greylag Geese, Bar-Headed
Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck, Red-Crested Pochard and
Northern Shoveller.
Day 21: Kaziranga
Spend a day taking a tour of the area with jungle rides, nature walks and
Elephant rides available within the sanctuary.
Day 22: Kaziranga - Guwahati - Delhi
In the morning, drive back to Guwahati to catch a flight to Delhi. Rest of the day
at leisure.
Day 23: Delhi -Departure
Spend your day at leisure. Later on you will be transferred to the International
Airport to catch a flight for your onward destination.

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INDIAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY TOURS (AN ITINERARY
WITH ROUTE MAP)
Duration : 12 Nights / 13 Days
Places Covered : Delhi - Sariska - Jaipur - Sawai Madhopur - Bharatpur - Agra -
Corbett - Nainital - Delhi
Your best friends for ten days during this tour are eagles, tigers, hyenas,
crocodiles, bears and Panthers. You will like them, they are healthy and not very
boring, and they smile often. The only thing of problem is that they like to live in
the jungles. And hence we will arrange some jeeps when you need the most. But
you will have to bring your own camera to save some of the best models of the
jungle, the birds. There are many rare varieties too, or should we say super
models? And while you pass through this wild part of your life in the best known
national parks and sanctuaries of Northern India, do take some breaks to watch
the palaces, forts and other pink-things in Jaipur.

Day 01: Delhi

Arrive Delhi. Transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Delhi - Sariska – Jaipur
Drive to Sariska (190 kms / 4 hrs). Afternoon jeep safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve
-this 800 sq km sanctuary comprises dry deciduous forest and is beautifully set in
a valley surrounded by the barren Aravali hills. A variety of deers include nilgai,
chital and sambar. One can see wild boar, jackals, hyenas, hares and
porcupines, though tigers and leopards are little difficult to spot. Over night stay
at hotel.
Day 03: Sariska – Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur (105 kms / 2 hrs.) and visit Amber Fort where an elephant
ride will be provided up to the fort. Afternoon continue sight seeing of Jaipur - the
pink city visiting Hawa Mahal, the observatory and Jantar Mantar.
Day 04: Jaipur - Sawai Madhopur
Drive to Sawai Madhopur (130 kms. / 3 hrs). Afternoon safari to Ranthambhore
National Park (Ranthambhore) which is an outstanding example of Project
Tiger’s efforts at tiger conservation in the country. With the conservation efforts,
tigers have become more and more active during the day. They can be seen
lolling around lazily in the sun or feverishly hunting down the sambar around the
lakes. Ranthambhore is probably the most ideal location for wildlife photography.
The other permanent residents of the park include crocodiles, hyenas, jungle
cats, wild dogs, sloth bears and panthers. Sambars are in abundance and so are
Chitals, nilgai and some chinkaras. During the winter months there are a lot of
migratory birds apart from the permanent residents like storks, quails, Bonelli’s
eagles, spur fowls, crested serpent eagles etc.
Day 05: Sawai Madhopur - (Ranthambhore)
Early morning and afternoon jungle safaris in Ranthambhore National Park.

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Day 06: Sawai Madhopur - Bharatpur (240 kms / 5 hrs)
Morning Jungle safari. After a late breakfast drive to Bharatpur (5.5 hrs). In the
afternoon experience a Rikshaw-ride in Keoladeo Ghana National Park -one of
the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India, nesting indigenous water-birds as
well as migratory water birds and water side birds. More than 300 species of
birds are found in this small park of 29 sq. km of which 11 sq km are marshes
and the rest, scrubland and grassland.
Day 07: Bharatpur - Agra (60 km / 1 ½ hrs)
Morning optional 2nd visit to the National Park. Later in the morning drive to Agra
(1 Hr) enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikhri -beautifully laid out capital of the Mughal
Empire Akbar’s reign. Afternoon visit world famous Taj Mahal and then Agra Fort.
Overnight in Agra. (Taj Mahal is closed on all Fridays)
Day 08: Agra - Corbett (350 kms / 8 hrs)
Morning optional 2nd visit to Taj Mahal. Then drive to Corbett situated at a
distance of about 350 kms / 8 Hrs, it has one of the most wildlife reserves in
India. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.
Corbett National Park is covering an area of 1318 sq. kms situated in the
Himalayan foothills with open grasslands the Ramganga River flowing through its
entire length. It is named after the famous hunter-naturalist Corbett who, between
1907 and 1939 tracked down and killed man-eaters, which had claimed an
aggregate of 1300 human lives. It is India's first and biggest Tiger reserve
sponsored by 'World Wildlife Fund.
Day 09: Corbett
Early morning and afternoon, Jeep safari into the park for wildlife viewing.
Corbett has the highest density of Tiger in the country along with four species of
deer, hog deer, sambar, chital and barking deer and other prey like the wild
boars are prey for the tiger. The national park is a haven for 50 mammals, 580
kinds of birds and 25 reptile species. The park has elephants, the Himalayan
black bear in the higher elevations, sloth bear, varieties of lesser cats, dhole (the
wild dog ) and an entire spectrum of colorful birds including water birds,
pheasants, jungle fowl and the Indian hornbill. Here you can find a variety of
fishes including the goonch and the brown trout. Rest of the day at leisure for
own activities. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Corbett - Nainital (80 kms / 3-4 hrs)
Drive to Nainital (80 kms 3-4 hrs approx.) surrounded by hill ranges and covered
by dense forest, the region was a favorite grazing spot of the herbery from
surrounding villages who brought their flocks to forage in the green pasture of the
valley. Within a maximum depth of 29 meters, Nanilake which seems to change
its hue simultaneously with a change in the sky, has a circumference of 3620
meters creating a beautiful promenade that skirts the lake, To Sailors all over the
country the Nainital Yatchi Clu has been an embodiment of tradition, and
repository of sailing heritage. In the heart of the town is playground and
rendezvours of Nainital the flats here one must come to go to either bazaar the

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club, cinema temple mosque or church, the seven peaks that surrounded the
lake provide excellent hiking routes. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 11: Nainital
Free day to explore area, hike and / or relax.
Day 12: Nainital - Delhi (350 kms / 7-8 hrs)
Drive to Delhi (350 kms / 7-8 hrs Approx) - Enroute enjoy the real villages and on
arrival check at the hotel over night in to the hotel
Day 13: Delhi – Out
Morning city tour of Delhi. Aternoon transfer to International airport to connect
flight for onward destination (hotel check-out time 12:00 Hrs)
Check your progress-1
Answer the following questions.
1. Gliding is an example of __________ based adventure sports.
2. The Great Indian Desert of Thar is famous for _________ safari
3. River Ganges is the most popular destinations in the India world for
_____________ type of adventure sport activity.
4. Gulmarg skiing resort is located in ______________ state.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

13.5 Significance of itineraries for adventure tourism

Tourism is today a key sector of globalised neoliberal capitalism, the
world’s biggest industry, propelling the economies of industrial developing world.
The travel and tourism sector creates more jobs per million rupees of investment
than any other sector of the economy and is capable of providing employment to
a wide spectrum of job seekers from the unskilled to the specialized, even in the
remote parts of the country As per Global Status and Trends by WTTC Sports
and adventure holidays will continue to be popular with the young and expected
to contribute higher towards socio-economic development.
Adventure Tours with a professional itinerary offer many important
benefits such as social interaction, personal enjoyment, promoting team building
and leadership, skills development (for example physical, mental, managerial),
contribution to health and fitness, to gain qualifications.
Apart from above itinerary also offer following benefits
 Savings: Tours with a professional itinerary offer many important benefits.
Key among these is savings. Package tours having an itinerary results in to
cost cutting as it has a well tour planning which results into saving from
unnecessary expenditure on search for accommodation, transportation,
sightseeing that helps to achieve substantial economies.
 Convenient Purchasing: In addition, proper planning enables them to
secure accommodations, air charters and other arrangements that would be
virtually impossible to obtain at last movement.

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 Peace of Mind: Itinerary also means peace of mind. Since, you know what the
cost will be in advance and can budget for your expenditures with greater
certainty.
 Benefits to the local community: Benefits to the local community could include
apprenticeships, in-kind contributions, employment of local residents,
partnerships with community-based organizations etc.
 Producers are able to sell tourism products in bulk brings more socio-
economic benefits to the local economies even to an extent that sometimes it
also helps in removing seasonality problems.
 Suppliers can reduce promotion costs by focusing on the travel trade rather on
consumer promotion which is more expensive.
 It makes the traveling process more simple for tourist.
 Since the itinerary provides visual description of the destination that help
the customer to match the type of product to his or her likings and
needs.

Check your progress- 2

Answer the following questions.
1. Why we need tour itinerary for adventure?
2. What is the importance of adventure tourism?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

13.6 Summary
Youth tourism has been identified as one of the largest segments of
global and domestic tourism. The young travellers are primarily adventure
experience seekers, collecting, enquiring unique experiences. Adventure and risk
have a special role to play in the behaviour and attitudes of young travellers. The
growing number of young travellers is being fuelled by a number of factors such
as increased participation in higher education, falling level of youth
unemployment, increased travel budget through parental contribution, search for
an even more exciting and unique experience and cheaper long distance travel.
Youth and adventure tourism appears to have considerable growth potential. The
rising income in some major potential source markets such as the Central and
Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America, combined with the lower travel cost,
growing student populations around the world particularly in developing
countries, has fuelled the demand. India: a heaven for adventure tourism. India
has been an attraction for travellers from all over the world. The trend has been
showing an increased movement year after year with the development of
facilities and greater awareness about adventure tourism options. So, in order to
tape the existing potential Itineraries can prove to be an efficient tool to enhance
adventure tourism vis-a vis their benefits to a country like India. Apart from socio-
economic benefits adventure tours with a professional itinerary also help to

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enhance social interaction, personal enjoyment, promoting team building and
leadership, skills development (for example physical, mental, managerial),
contribution to health and fitness, finally leading to an overall development.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 1.2
2) See sec. 1.2
3) See sec. 1.3
4) See sec. 1.4
Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 1.5
2) See sec. 1.5

13.7 Glossary
 Adventure Tourism - Outdoor recreational activities provided on a fee-for-
service basis, with a focus on experiences associated with the natural
environment. Also known as nature-based tourism or commercial recreation.
 Crown land - Land or land covered by water (such as rivers or lakes) that is
owned by the provincial government. The vast majority of British Columbia's
land area - fully 94 per cent - is Crown land.
 Adventure Traveller: Trips and tours designed for the active traveller often
including hiking to see a remote icon scenic spot or flora and fauna, hiking,
destination swimming i.e. from the bank of a gorge to the bottom of a
waterfall, trekking, rafting, camping, terrain exploring. For the fit and
adventurous who want to get off the beaten track.
 'Safari in Style': Safari accommodation (large permanent twin share tents)
with proper beds, pillow, linen, towels, fans and lighting. Campsites have
permanent cooking facilities, screened eating areas, share showers &
toilets. Kings Canyon.

13.8 Review Questions

1. What do you mean by Adventure? Haw can adventure sports be
developed as a product in tourism.
2. Explain the role and significance of itineraries towards development of
adventure tourism
3. Explain the scope and potential of adventure tourism in India.
4. Explain various adventure tourism activities possible in India along with
the favourable destinations foe each sports activity
5. Develop an itinerary (with route map) for a group of college students from
Japan interested aero based adventure tourism in India.

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6. Develop an itinerary for a group of a police officers interested for an
exciting expeditions in Himalayas.

13.9 Suggested Readings

 "Adventure Tourism" by R. Buckley (2006) Published by CABI, Wallingford,
UK.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_tourism
 Ewert, 1989; McMenamin, 1992; Hall, 1992-; Specialty Travel Index, 1992
 www.destinationsindia.com
 Tewari, S.P., (1994), Tourism Dimentions, Atma Ram and Sons, New Delhi.
 Cooper, c., Fletcher, J., Gilbert, D., and Wanhill, S., Tourism Principles and
Practice, Pitman Publishing, London.
 Seth, Pran, (1991), Successful Tourism Management, Vol II, Sterling
Publishing Pvt Ltd., New Delhi.
 Bhatia, A., K., (2001), Tourism development-Principles and Practice, Sterling
Publishing Pvt Ltdd., New Delhi.
 Kamra,K.,K., and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism, Kanishka Publishers,
New Delhi
 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S., and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall, UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency
and tour operators.

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UNIT 14: AERO - SPORTS AND WATER - SPORTS

BASED PACKAGES
Structure
14.0 Objectives
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Aero based sports tour package - Concepts and meaning
14.3 Water based sports tour package - concept and significance
14.4 Summary
14.5 Glossary
14.6 Suggested Readings

14.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of aero based sports;
 Explain the water based sports,
 Discuss the significance of aero based sports.

14.1 Introduction
Recently, India has become more popular as the land of adventure
sports. In fact, India has risen to be a prominent and distinguished destination for
the adventure enthusiasts from across the globe. There exists a sheer variety of
adventure sports in India that you will simply love to indulge in. The diverse
opportunities for adventure offered by the only country on the planet Earth
catapults several adventure lovers to this place each year. This unit describes
the meaning and concept of aero based sports; explain the water based sports
and finally unit ends with discussing the significance of aero based sports in
India.

14.2 Aero based sports- Concepts and meaning

While man has always been fascinated with flying, airplanes and helicopters
have fulfilled his desire to do so. But if you really want to go off on your own, and
not as part of a crowd, you should head for some super exciting aero sports in
India. Aero sports, as a part of adventure travel (remove 'the' before this), have
recently gained popularity in India. Take up any aero sport like paragliding, hang
gliding, parasailing, hot air ballooning, bungee jumping or sky diving and soar up
high in the air on your own. Aero sports are bound to give you the adrenaline
rush you require and as you experience the thrill of soaring through the sky, you
may also enjoy a bird’s eye view of the stunning nature beneath. A number of

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places in the Himalayan and peninsular region offer ample options for aero
sports. Listed below are various aero sports available in India and some
important information including the destinations where you can take up these
aero sports?

Aero Sports in India

Hang Gliding
Go hang gliding - it's the closest you will ever come to flying like bird in
the sky! Hang gliding is an extreme sport and can be done by anyone who has a
little training. So strap yourself up in the harness, wing your way through the
clouds and feel free as a bird...

Hang Gliding Places in India

Himachal Pradesh has been offering sites for hang gliding since 1984
when the International Hang Gliding Rally was organized at Billing, 20 kms from
Palampur in Kangra district. In the month of May/June a tented colony is set up
by Himachal Tourism to facilitate hang gliders.
Some of the most excellent locations for hang gliding in India are:
 Himachal Pradesh: Shimla , Kasauli Dharamshala, Bir (this place is near
Billing and has hosted three International and five National Hang Gliding
championships
 Maharashtra: Satara, Sinhgarh, Pune Kamshet
 Tamil Nadu: Ooty
 Meghalaya: Shilong
 Sikkim: Yumthang, Jorethang
 Madhya Pradesh: Mhow, Indore
 Karnataka: Maysore

Skydiving
Skydiving is one of the most visually stimulating aero sports and is fast
becoming a popular activity amongst adventure enthusiasts. Skydiving is a
diversion from simple parachuting, as one has to jump from an aircraft that is at
certain altitude and fly free in the air without using the parachute at the start.
Participants can perform an assortment of aerial manoeuvres before landing by
parachute to slow their descent, allowing them to come gently to rest on the land.
You need some serious training and several safety measures before enjoying
this unique adventure sport in India or rather anywhere in the world. Compared to
other aero sports and activities, skydiving in India is considered relatively more
costly, but if done right, is totally worth it.

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Destinations for Skydiving
Some of the recommended and best places for skydiving in India are:
Haryana: Pinjore (Panchkula) Rajasthan: Jaipur;
Madhya Pradesh: Dhana; Karnataka: Bengaluru

Best time to go Skydiving

You can go skydiving at anytime of the year except the monsoon and
rainy seasons. However for skydiving, timing is more important than month to
indulge in this sport. It is recommended that on a clear day you may go skydiving
either from 8:00 am to 10:00 am or from 4:00 pm till 5:00 pm. This is primarily
because this is when the best light is available without you having the sun
directly on your head.

Tips
 Make sure to choose a reputed and certified organizer for sky diving
 Before skydiving just relax and recall the lessons your instructor has
taught you. This is necessary because the fear in this sport arise most of
the times due to lack of knowledge, which might not let you enjoy the thrill
and fun of the sport
 Do remember that it is not really that complicated.
 Do not take up this sport if you suffer from high blood pressure, heart
problem, fear of heights or if you are expecting

Hot Air-Ballooning
View the world from the top and get a different perspective altogether of
the land below. Hot air ballooning is fast gaining popularity as it allows you the
opportunity to do just that. You don't have to be a daredevil, nor do you have to
have nerves of steel- just climb aboard the wicker basket attached to the helium
filled balloon and sail through the sky while you admire the scenery.
This is one of the oldest flying form amongst all flight technologies, where
you experience the excitement of floating in a huge balloon powered by an open
flame that heats up the air thus taking the balloon up in the air.
Attached to the balloon is gondola or a wicker basket, which will carry you
through the blue skies while experiencing the most amazing views of nature from
above. The experience of enjoying a beautiful sunset or sunrise while on a hot air
ride in India will be etched in your memory forever!

Bunjee Jumping
For an adventure enthusiast nothing can beat the thrill of freefalling from a
crane or a bridge while being attached to an elastic cord. In Bungee jumping, one
end of the thick elastic cord is tied to the jumper’s body and the other end of the
cord is tied to a stationary object at the jumping point.

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Bungee Jumping in India has become popular over last few years and
there are many organizers who take good care of all safety measures while
offering this sport. Considered an extreme sport, Bungee jumping if done
correctly and under professional guidance can be really a exhilarating
experience.
Destinations in India for Bungee Jumping
Visit Rishikesh (Shivpuri) in Uttrakhand to enjoy Bungee Jumping or head
to Banglore where Xtreme Sports has set up a huge crane (150meters high) in
Palace Grounds plus Ozone Adventures has set up their jumping pad at
Kanteerva stadium for bungee jumping.
In Delhi, Wanderlust has set up a mobile crane for bungee jumping at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium or go to Goa where the organizers have set up a
permanent tower for bungee jumping.

Best time to go Bungee Jumping

The best time for bungee jumping are the months between September
and November and then between February and May. Avoid the months of
monsoon.

Tips
 Please remember that before a jump you will be required to sign an
indemnity bond which states that if something happens to you during the
jumping process will your responsibility and not of the organiser
 Avoid wearing hats, loose clothes, short skirts and jewellery on the day of
your jump. Also make sure that your shoes are securely tied to your feet
lest they fly off
 There are certain precautions you need to take care before going for
bungee jumping. Pregnant women, people with severe back problems,
fear of heights, high BP are not allowed to jump
Also if a jumper is over 50years he or she needs a medical certificate
 Declaring him or her fit enough to jump.
 Do check all the bungee gears thoroughly for their quality and safety

Paragliding
For paragliding in India the pilot sits in a harness suspended below a
hollow fabric wing whose shape is formed by its suspension lines. The pilot is
clipped into a harness and is in a comfortable sitting position.
When the air pressure enters in the vents of the front wing, the
aerodynamic forces of the air flow over the parachute, allowing you to fly with the
natural air currents.
You can climb to higher altitudes of a few thousand meters and enjoy
flying really high in the air for hours. Paragliders are fun to operate and you can

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fly for one to two hours while covering certain distances. The speed range of
paragliders is typically 20-75 kilometres per hour.
Billing is the first place in India which was the venue for the first ever
paragliding competition according to the Federation of Aeronautics Himalayan
Para Gliding Open Championship records.
Destinations for Paragliding in India
Destinations in India for paragliding which provide excellent paragliding
opportunities are:
 Himachal Pradesh: Billing,Kullu, Solang, Lahaul & Spiti
 Uttarakhand: Naukuchiatal in Nainital, Dayara Bugyal and Dhanolti Ridge
in Garhwal, Bedni Bugyal in Kumaon
 Rajasthan: Jaipur , Jaisalmer , Jodhpur, Udaipur and Bikaner
 Maharashtra: Matheran
 Tamil Nadu: Yelagiri

Best time to go Paragliding

 You may experience and enjoy paragliding throughout the year except
during the monsoon season. The best time to undertake this sport is from
March till early June and then from September till November.
Tips
 Paragliding is actually the simplest form to enjoy non-motorized flying
experience. With just few tips you can undertake this sport and enjoy the
scenic beauty and the thrill of flying together.
 You need to be physically fit
 Do not try to make too many stunts if you are not well trained
 Be mentally alert and simply follow the instructions given by your guide.

Keep the basics in mind and learn thoroughly the techniques of

paragliding that include - launching, turning and landing.

Parasailing
Parasailing has become a very popular water sport in recent years and
everyone should try it at least once. In fact, Parasailing in India is an exhilarating
sport that gives you a chance to enjoy a dramatic view of the sea and beaches
while flying in the air.
A long rope harnesses the parasailor with the parachute at one end and
the boat at the other. The boat speeds ahead and lifts the sailor up into the air.
There are two types of parasailing: Winch boat parasailing and the other is
Beach parasailing.

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Winch boat Parasailing
This sport involves a parachute and a boat. This type of parasailing is
done with a well-equipped boat that has a parasail inflation system and hydraulic
winch powered by the main drive engine.
These equipments help in launching and retrieving the parasailor from the
flight deck. A parachute is attached to a boat and the person practicing
parasailing is attached to a parachute. The boat drives off around the waterfront
with parasail behind it, keeping the person off the ground

Beach Parasailing
For this type of parasailing, the beach is the main ground for both taking
off and landing. Unlike winch boat parasailing, one has to run a few steps and
then the rope attached to the boat helps to lift the passenger up in the air.
Parasailing is also considered by many as a hobby rather than a sport, since the
person on the parachute has no control over movement and speed and therefore
becomes simply a passenger.
After taking some safety measures, this sport becomes safe and definitely
very enjoyable.Goa is a popular place for beach parasailing.

Destinations for Parasailing in India

 Goa: Considered as one of the best destination for parasailing in India.
The popular Goa Beaches that provide parasailing facilities are Miramar,
Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Mobor, Arossim and Cansaulim
 Pune: Places for parasailing in and near Pune are Kanifnath (20 kms from
Pune on Saswad road) and Purandar (45 kms South-east from Pune) and
Panchgani. Lakes: Pawna, Panshet, Mulshi, Khadakvasla
 Sanasar in Jammu & Kashmir
 Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Best time to go Parasailing

All seasons are good to enjoy parasailing in India except the monsoon season
(July / August).

Tips
 Ensure that the company you choose to organize and operate parasailing
for you should be fully licensed operating from a well-established location,
insured by a licensed insurance company
 If you are untrained avoid parasailing in winds that exceed 15 knots
 Never take up parasailing activity in rain, fog or an approaching storm
 Avoid flying over 600 feet as this is the maximum recommended altitude
for using hand signals and recovery over open oceans and 300 feet over
small lakes or bays

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 Avoid para-sailing in close proximately to the shoreline or buildings and
other objects
 You can very easily get complete information and instructions about
various types of parasail equipment, and passenger support devices like
harness, tandem bar, ridged chair methods etc from the organizing
company’s guide

Aero Based Sports Tour Package

Skiing Tour

Destinations Covered: Delhi - Joshimath - Auli – Rishikesh;

Duration: 07 Nights / 08 Days

Day 01: Arrival at Delhi

Our representative shall pick you at the airport and take you to the hotel for
check in. Overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Day 02: Delhi Sightseeing
After having breakfast, you will visit the various tourist places of Delhi such as
Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid, Purana Quila,
Moughal Gardens, Akshardham Temple, etc. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03: Delhi - Joshimath
In the morning, you will be driven to Joshimath. Check into a resort as soon as
you reach Joshimath. You must visit the famous Valley of Flowers in Joshimath.
Return to resort to retire for night.
Day 04: Joshimath - Auli
After having breakfast, have the spell binding experience of traveling to Auli in
the longest cable car of Asia. The cable car is 3.96 km long ascending from 1100
meters to 3016 meters. Check into the Auli sky resort as soon as you reach
there.
Overnight stay will be in the resort.
Day 05: Auli Sightseeing
Auli attracts tourists from all over the place because of its scenic beauty. Auli is
also known for skiing. When you reach Auli, make sure you give yourself the
pleasure of skiing. Here, professional instructors will give you train you in skiing.
Return to resort for overnight stay.
Day 06: Auli Sightseeing
You shall be spending this day also amidst the scenic beauty of Auli. You can
enjoy by skiing on snow and perfecting yourself in this sport. Return to hotel for

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overnight stay.
Day 07: Auli - Rishikesh
After having your breakfast you will be driven to Rishikesh. Check into a hotel as
soon as you reach Rishikesh. During evening, you will be seeing the various
tourist places of Rishikesh such as Gita Bhavan, Lakshman Jhula, Triveni Ghat,
etc. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 08: Rishikesh - Delhi
Today, you will be driven back to Delhi where after having lunch you head
towards your onward destination with wonderful memories of skiing and
enjoyment in India.

Check your progress – 1

Answer the following questions.
1. Define the aero sports
2. Identify major aero sports activities in India,
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit

14.3 Water based sports tour package - concept and

significance
India’s coastline, all of 7000 odd kms, has some very pretty beaches. A
few are fairly famous- especially in 'beach bum' paradise, Goa- but there are also
dozens of others in lesser known places, big and small. Many of them perfect for
water sports. Some are good for swimming and some offer a wider spectrum of
facilities, including snorkelling, surfing, kayaking and scuba diving.
States like Goa, Kerala and certain specific resorts, such as Kadmat or
Bangaram in the Lakshadweep Islands, have developed infrastructure and these
are the places you will find good equipment on hire, and institutions which
conduct training courses. Good beaches in more obscure locations exist too,
though they may not have too many facilities other than basic accommodation,
eating places, and transport. In Rishikesh, one can also go kayaking in
Himalayan Rivers. On the whole, the western coast is more suitable for water
sports than the eastern coast, as the waters of the Arabian Sea tend to be calmer
than those of the Bay of Bengal. So pack your swimwear, your snorkel and your
suntan lotion- and head for the beach. Go snorkeling and discover the beauty of
the underwater world.

Water Sports in India

Kayaking
Kayaking is a sport that can be enjoyed swooshing down a fast running
river or paddling in the ocean that hugs the vast coastline of India. Strap yourself
up in your kayak, haul on your helmet and protective gear and get set to have the

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time of your life as you skillfully negotiate the gushing waters. A kayak is a
narrow boat that is primarily designed to be driven manually by means of a
double blade paddle and kayaking is all about using these kayaks to move
across in lake/river or ocean. Kayaking is a wonderful way to experience sailing
in water. Keeping in mind some easy safety measures and with a little skill
anyone can enjoy this water sport. Kayaking in India can be taken up as a
recreational activity if undertaken on the still waters of a lake or can also be
enjoyed as an adventure sport in the rushing waters of rivers or in oceans as
well. Recreational kayaking is done in a specially designed kayak that is for a
casual paddler which is easier to manoeuvre when compared to the kayaks
designed for high currents of a gushing river or ocean waters.
Kayaking in High Ocean currents require tremendous skills and
specialized boats to overcome the water pressure. The kayak used for ocean
waters has a larger cockpit and has lesser capacity in terms of speed, weight,
direction and feasibility. These are widely used as they are less expensive and
can be handled easily in and out of water.

Destinations in India for Kayaking

The Ganga and its tributaries like the Kali Ganga, the Indus, the Zanskar,
the Teesta and the Rangeet are some of the rivers for kayaking. Other than
these you can find many other rivers in northern India like the Sutlej, the Chenab,
the Chandrabhaga, the Beas and the Spiti River which are good for kayaking.

Best time to go Kayaking

The Himalayan Rivers are inaccessible during winters in India. Rivers like
Zanskar are frozen and most of the others are too cold for one to indulge in any
water sport. The monsoon months bring heavy rains to the lower reaches of the
Himalayas, and melting snows in the mountains result in higher waters in all of
the rivers, making it dangerous to negotiate the waters. Only on the Teesta river
can one take up kayaking in the winter months, between October and April.
Therefore summers in India are best time to go kayaking. In August and
September the water is more manageable and these months are best to go for
kayaking, however skilled people can opt early summer months like June or July.
Spring in India is also a good time to enjoy kayaking.

Tips
 Considerable amount of skill and experience is required for higher seas
and unpredictable weather
 First time kayakers can quickly get the hang of the sport under proper
guidance, in the calmer waters
 Weather conditions, tides, currents and many other factors must be
closely monitored to ensure safety. Therefore choose a reputable,
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 Carefully choose your paddling destination as various kayaking areas
have widely varied kayaking conditions. First timers may avoid areas
those are subject to high winds and vast expanses of water
Consider taking proper training and gathering an in depth knowledge of
equipments and rowing techniques before taking up this adventure sport.

Scuba Diving
Scuba diving in the swirling oceans along the coastline whether it is the
Arabian Sea or Bay of Bengal gives you a perspective of another kind. Explore
coral reefs, marvel at the colourful marine life and underwater world and go
where not many choose to go - discover another wonderful world under the
water. Moreover, scuba diving is the best way to explore the beautiful azure
underwater world in India. The vast coastline stretching thousands of kilometers
in India dotted with island groups, finest beaches and fascinating marine life
offers great scuba diving opportunities.

Destinations in India for Scuba Diving

Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep islands, Goa and Karnataka
are the perfect destinations for scuba diving in India.
Andaman/Nicobar Islands: Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park,
Carbyn's Cove Tourism Complex, Havelock.
Lakshadweep Islands: Bangaram, Kadmat
There are a number of stunning spots for scuba diving in Goa. Visit Grand
Island off the Mormugao Harbour and enjoy some good diving sites as under
 Suzy’s Wreck- Depth: 2-13 meters; Visibility: 4-12 meters; Conditions:
Calm, occasional rush with negligible current
 Sail Rock- Depth: 8-24 meters; Visibility: 6-15 meters; Conditions: Gentle
to strong current
 Davy Jones Locker- Depth: 11-18 meters; Visibility: 6-15 meters;
Conditions: Moderate current
 Umma Gumma Reef- Depth: 6-12 meters; Visibility: 6-12 meters;
Conditions: Calm, occasional and moderate current
 Lobster Avenue- Depth: 2-10 meters; Visibility: 6-12 meters; Conditions:
Calm, occasional rush with negligible current
 Shelter Cove- Depth: 2-10 meters; Visibility: 6-12 meters; Conditions:
Calm, occasional current
 The Jetty- Depth: 2-10 meters; Visibility: 6-12 meters; Conditions: Calm
with no current

Best time to go Scuba Diving

 Any time of the year is good to go for scuba diving in India depending on the
region. India has a variety of climatic conditions in various regions therefore
leaving out the monsoon months the oceans off the Indian coastline is good

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to go scuba diving at any time of the year, however the best time for scuba
diving in Goa is from November to April

Tips
 Physical fitness comes first for scuba diving
 Proper training is imperative where scuba diving. The lessons given by
instructors are to be kept in mind and it also gives the diver a chance to learn
tasks like neutral buoyancy, underwater flexibility of movement, use of gear
and familiarization with safety measures to be taken underwater
 Beware of animal stings. Avoid touching underwater animals without your
guide’s permission. Touching or playing roughly with the marine life might
make them irritated and bear in mind that the really poisonous animals are
most of the time very little
 Follow the instructions given by you trainer plus try and avoid unnecessarily
touching the rocks around because species like rock fish etc look like rocks
that might seriously hurt you very fast
 While diving you should keep in mind that to remove a coral or damage it is a
legal offence in the Marine Park and anyways you should avoid disturbing the
natural underwater habitat
 Practice diving over sand away from coral before snorkeling. Basically you
have to learn controlled floating in order to float away from coral and reef
animals in order to avoid damaging or hurting them
Do not try to grab or ride swimming animals in water and avoid
obstructing their path

Snorkelling
Snorkeling is a sport in which you equip yourself with a diving mast,
snorkel (a tube) and swim fins while swimming in the sea. This equipment allows
the snorkeler to see the underwater marine life and coral reefs without diving in
deep waters and needs relatively less effort than scuba-diving. Snorkelling is
basically a less strenuous activity than scuba diving. The clear blue, green and
turquoise waters of Indian coast line present a striking view of the most amazing
Coral Sea beds while snorkeling. Snorkel off the beaches or try the mesmerizing
islands of Lakshadweep & Andamans/Nicobar, these islands are paradise for
snorkeling in India with absolutely clear waters & a stunning range of marine life.

Destinations in India for Snorkelling

Islands of Lakshadweep: Bangaram, Kadmat
Lakshadweep as it is known as one of the most scenic snorkeling
destinations in India. With an extensive coastline, coral islands and an amazing
variety of marine life you will have the best snorkeling experience here.

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Andaman Islands: Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Corbyn's Cove
Tourism Complex, Havelock. Go to the Andaman Islands to enjoy the underwater
marine life and view the rarest varieties of corals.
Goa, Karnataka: Netrani Island and Marharashtra
Explore the underwater world of the Arabian Sea at Konkan and visit the
beach in Tarkarli to enjoy snorkeling in the clear waters.

Best time to go Snorkelling

Major snorkeling operators in India are Barracuda diving, Lacadives
DiveIndia, Casino Resort at Bangaram Island and Planet Scuba India.
Things to keep in mind while taking up snorkeling are:
 Make sure your equipment is of good quality and that you are familiar with it
 Be aware of waves, currents and potential hazards such as rocks
 Be well hydrated when you enter the water, and use sunscreen
 Avoid touching marine life or obstructing their path. Also avoid touching or
disturbing coral reefs
 Try not to stir up sediment in water
 Learn, practice and develop controlled floating ability, so as to float away from
coral and reef animals
If you get tired while snorkeling, try to use rest stations or if your legs
become tired or if you develop a cramp while snorkeling try flipping over onto
your back. This will let you tread water easily while remaining afloat on the
surface of the water

Surfing
Surfing is an exhilarating sport and it is not as easy as it looks! Get your
high by riding the waves, feel the spray on your face as you skim the waters and
conquer the breakers. So what are you waiting for? Pick up a surfboard and head
into the waves to have the most invigorating time of your life. We promise once
you start you will get hooked. Ride the waves-go surfing in India. With an
enormous stretched coastline exposed to parts of the Arabian Sea, the Indian
Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, India has many spots just right for surfing. Surfing
is a sport which basically lets the surfer ride his surfboard on the crest of the sea
waves that carry him towards the shore.
There are very many surfing spots you could find on the southern tip of
India. So gear up and get ready to ride the waves and have the most
unforgettable experience

Destinations in India for Surfing

You can go surfing in India at following destinations:
 Karnataka: Gokarna, Mangalore (Panambur Beach), Udupi (Kodi
Bengre), Mulki
 Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Mamallapuram on the east coast

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 Orissa: Puri, Konark (Marine Drive beach, Balighai Beach
 Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram (Varkala)
 North Goa

Best time to go Surfing

The best time to go surfing in India is considered to be in the months of
September, October and November. The surf at this time can be approximately 8
feet. Few months can make your surf a little blown out with the tropical
hurricanes and cyclones which are common between April to June and end-
September to December. However it is possible to get perfect surfing conditions
during these months particularly early in the morning.
October is basically good for beginners. March till June and August till
November is also a good time to go surfing on the West coast of India.
Tips: Things to keep in mind while taking up snorkeling are:
 Surfboards are designed to float on the water no matter what. They have a
natural center of gravity. There is a point on the surf board that balances
your body weight. In order to maintain your body weight on the surf board
stand with your chin aligned to that particular spot
 One should always wear a leash or leg rope tied to their surfboard
 Never keep your board between yourself and the coming waves. This will
cause collision
 If the surf board's nose digs into the water it is called ‘pearling’ and when this
happens you must move the location of your chin back in order to avoid
falling and maintaining the balance
 Don’t put too much weight towards the back of the board as you will lose
balance
 Wear the safety nose guard for safety measures
 Wear a vest, rash guard or a tee shirt to avoid a rash you may get from the
waves or surfboard

Water based sports tour package

1. White Water Rafting Tour
Destinations Covered: Delhi - Rishikesh – Haridwar;
Duration: 04 Nights / 05 Days
Day 01: Arrival at Delhi
Our representative shall pick you at the airport and help you to check into a hotel.
After having lunch, you will be visiting the various tourist places in Delhi such as
Red Fort, Purana Quila, Lotus Temple, Connaught Place etc. Return to hotel for
overnight stay.
Day 02: Delhi - Rishikesh
after having breakfast, you will be driven to Rishikesh. Check into a hotel as soon
as you reach Rishikesh. After lunch, you will be visiting the famous tourists spots
in Rishikesh such as Ram Jhula, Triveni Ghat etc. You will also be enjoying a raft

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trip on River Ganges. Return back to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03: Rishikesh - Haridwar
following breakfast, you will be visiting various other tourist places in Rishikesh
such as Shivanand Jhoola, Raghunath Temple, Venkateshwar Temple, Bharat
Mandir, etc. In the evening, you will be driven to Haridwar. Check into a hotel for
overnight stay as soon as you reach Haridwar.
Day 04: Haridwar Sightseeing
In the morning, you will be visiting the various places of tourist interests in
Haridwar such as Rajaji National Park, Sureshwari Devi Temple, Mansa Devi
temple, Har ki Pauri etc. Return to hotel to retire for night.
Day 05: Haridwar - Delhi
On this day, you will be driven back to Delhi airport, from where you will be
proceeding towards your onward destination
2. Package Duration : 4 Days / 3 Nights,
Destination Covered: Andaman Islands - Port Blair
 Day 1: Port Blair- On arrival at Port Blair in the morning by flight, you will be
received and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon hours by 02:30 PM start
for a tour of places in and around Port Blair - covering Carbyn's cove
(Carbyn's Cove Beach, the coconut-palm-fringed beach and ideal for sun
basking. Historical remains like Japanese bunkers can seen on the way),
Science Center, Marina Park & Jogas Park. Reach back your hotel by 6 PM
at the end of the trip. Overnight stay at Port Blair.
 Day 2: Port Blair- In the morning by 8. 45 hours start for a full day tour by
boat to visit ROSS ISLAND from where Britisher's governed the entire
Andaman and Nicobar Island, prior to India's Independence. Proceed to a
visit to NORTH BAY ISLAND (Coral Island) an ideal spot for coral viewing by
glass bottom boat and Snorkeling. Afterwards, enjoy the cruise journey
(HARBOUR CRUISE) along the Port Blair harbour - which takes one to
VIPER ISLAND. Reach back your hotel by 5. 30 PM at the end of the trip.
Overnight stay at Port Blair.
 Day 3: Port Blair- Chatham Saw Mill, Anthropological Museum, Sagarika
Emporium, National Memorial Cellular Jail, Light & Sound Show (By 5. 30
PM attend the enthralling SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW at Cellular Jail, where
the heroic saga of the Indian freedom struggle is brought alive). Reach back
your hotel by 7 PM at the end of the trip. Overnight stay at Port Blair.
 Day 4: Port Blair- At appropriate time transfer to Airport/Harbor to reach your
home destination with lovely memories to cherish
Includes:
 Inclusions
o Accommodation on twin sharing as per the package chosen.
o Transportation: Non Ac for Economic Budget, Standard Budget & Deluxe
Budget and Ac for Suit Budget.

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o Meals Economic Budget is not applicable. For Standard Budget, Deluxe
Budget & Suit Budget Breakfast only.
o Entry permits/Entry tickets/Boat tickets/Ferry tickets wherever required.
o All kind of transport and luxury Taxes.
o Parking Charges.
 Exclusions
o All kind of personal expenses such as tips, laundry, telephone bills and
beverages.
o It also does not include any meals unless and otherwise specifically
mentioned.
o Domestic and International airfare.
o Optional, suggested or unspecified activities.
o Camera fee (still or video) Hotel shifting, snorkeling, Guide Charges,
repetition of any tour.

Check your progress – 2

Answer the following questions.
1. Define water based sports?
2. What are the main water sports in India?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

14.4 Summary
India, more popular as the land of snake charmers is the talk of the past.
in the recent years, India has risen to be a prominent and distinguished
destination for the adventure enthusiasts from across the globe. There exists a
sheer variety of adventure sports in India that you will simply love to indulge in.
The diverse opportunities for adventure offered by the only country on the planet
Earth catapults several adventure lovers to this place each year. From rock
climbing to trekking in the Himalayas to river rafting in Uttaranchal, from hot air
ballooning in the plains of India to camel rides amidst the golden sands of the
Thar Desert. If all this is offered by the North India, South India offers immense
opportunities for indulging in water sports. This unit introduced aero sports and
water sports to the students and described various popular destinations so that
students can develop aero sports tour package.

Answer to Check Your Progress

Check Your Progress - 1
1) See sec. 1.2
2) See sec. 1.2
Check Your Progress - 2
1) See sec. 1.3

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2) See sec. 1.3

14.5 Glossary
 Paragliding: it is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying
paragliders
 Bungee jumping: it is an activity that involves jumping from a tall structure
while connected to a large elastic cord.
 White water rafting: it is the challenging recreational outdoor activity of
using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water
14.6 Review Questions
1. What are the various aero sports in India?
2. Elaborate the uniqueness of aero sports in Himachal Himalaya.
3. Suggest an itinerary for British tourists who are the aero sports lover in
Himalaya.
4. Prepare a tour package for White water rafting in south India.
14.7 Suggested Readings
 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice,
 Various web sites related with adventure sports in India.
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency
and tour operators.

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UNIT 15: CULTURAL TOURISM PACKAGES -

PILGRIMAGE, FESTIVAL AND MONUMENTS AND
MUSEUM VISITS
Structure
15.0 Objectives
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Cultural Tourism - Concepts and meaning
15.3 Cultural Tour Package: Pilgrimage; Festival; Monument and Museum
15.4 Summary
15.5 Glossary
15.6 Review Questions
15.7 Suggested Readings

15.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Describe the meaning and concept of Cultural Tourism packages
 Explain the Pilgrimage and Festival tour package.
 Discuss the Monument and Museum tour package.

15.1 Introduction
Cultural tourism is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or
region’s culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical
areas, the history of those people, their art, architecture, religion(s), and other
elements that helped shape their way of life. Cultural tourism includes particularly
historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as museums, and theatres.
It can also include tourism in rural areas showcasing the traditions of indigenous
cultural communities (i.e. festivals, rituals), and their values and lifestyle. It is
generally agreed that cultural tourists spend substantially more than standard
tourists do. This form of tourism is also becoming generally more popular
throughout the world.This Unit attempt; to fiuniliarise you with the Cultural
Tourism along with the basic knowledge to prepare cultural tour itineraries.

15.2 Cultural Tourism - Concepts and Meaning

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council Tourism in India
is a large industry generated $121 billion or 6.4% of the nation's GDP in 2011. It
was responsible for 39,3 million jobs, 7.9% of its total employment. The GDP of
the tourism sector has expanded 229% between 1990 and 2011. The sector is

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predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7,7% in the next decade. In a
2011 forecast the World Travel and Tourism Council predicted the annual growth
to be 8,8% between 2011 and 2021. This gave India the fifth rank among
countries with the fastest growing tourism industry. India's rich history and its
cultural and geographical diversity make its international tourism appeal large
and diverse. It presents heritage and cultural tourism along with medical,
business and sports tourism. India has long been known as a very spiritual,
religious heavy area of the world. In India, religion is a way of life. It is an integral
part of the entire Indian tradition. For the majority of Indians, religion permeates
every aspect of life, from common-place daily chores to education and politics.
Secular India is home to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism,
Sikhism and other innumerable religious traditions. Hinduism is the dominant
faith, practiced by over 80% of the population. Besides Hindus, Muslims are the
most prominent religious group and are an integral part of Indian society. In fact
India has the second largest population of Muslims in the world after Indonesia.
Common practices have crept into most religious faiths in India and many of the
festivals that mark each year with music, dance and feasting are shared by all
communities. Each has its own cultural /pilgrimage sites, heroes, legends and
even culinary specialties, mingling in a unique diversity that is the very pulse of
society.
Cultural tourism India is the predominant factor behind India’s meteoric
rise in the tourism segment in recent years, because from time immemorial, India
has been considered the land of ancient history, heritage, and culture. The
government of India has set up the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to boost
cultural tourism in India. The ministry in recent years has launched the ‘Incredible
India!’ campaign and this has led to the growth of culture tourism in India.
India has had many rulers over the centuries and all of them made an impact on
India's culture. One can see the influence of various cultures in dance, music,
festivities, architecture, traditional customs, food, and languages. It is due to the
influence of all these various cultures that the heritage and culture of India is
exhaustive and vibrant. This richness in culture goes a long way in projecting
India as the ultimate cultural tourism destination given boost to tourism in culture
in India. The most popular states in India for cultural tourism are:
 Rajasthan
 Tamil Nadu
 Uttar Pradesh
 Uttaranchal
The concept of cultural tourism again is very complex and so there is a
long debate among scholars about its definition and conceptualisation. Cultural
tourism is tourism that focuses on the culture of a destination - the lifestyle,
heritage, arts, industries and leisure pursuits of the local population.
According to UNWTO “All movements of persons might be included in
the definition because they satisfy the human need for diversity, tending to raise

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the cultural level of the individual and giving rise to new knowledge, experience
and encounters. (Broad Definition).
Movements of persons for essentially cultural motivations such as study
tours, performing arts and cultural tours, travel to festivals and other cultural
events, visits to sites and monuments.(Narrow Definition).”
The most important components of cultural tourism are as:

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15.3 Cultural Tour Package: Pilgrimage; Festival;
Monument and Museum
Since time immemorial, India has been known for its spirituality, religious
tolerance and its secular character. India is called the "yogabhoomi" and the
gateway to the heavens. Innumerable saints and seers, in their quest for
knowledge, have contributed largely to the development of various religious
monuments viz. Temples, Mosques, Monasteries etc. built lavishly across the
length and breadth of the country. For this very reason, India is also known as
the of temple country. The architectural exuberance is expressed in its places of
worship, which form an integral part of its cultural diversity. It has been a tradition
in India to commemorate all the deities, gods and goddesses by building shrines,
which is evident in the various temples. In the olden times, kings of various
dynasties used to worship a particular deity, and thus it was a common practice
to build huge temples, which are in themselves, architectural marvels. India is
famous for its places of worship. The cosmopolitan flavour of its religions is well
reflected in its multitude of holy shrines. Apart from the pilgrim centres that India
is known for, a large number of places of worship are known among devotees for
eternal powers and wish fulfillment.

Char Dham Tour

Duration :- 09 Nights / 10 days
Destinations:- Delhi - Haridwar - Mussoorie - Barkot - Jankichatti - Yamunotri -
Uttarkashi - Gangani - Gangotri - Guptkashi - Gaurikund - Kedarnath - Joshimath
- Badrinath - Haridwar - Delhi
Day 01: Arrive Delhi - Arrive Delhi and check in at hotel and relax. Later
proceed for sighseeing city tour in Delhi visit monuments. Overnight stay at the
hotel.
Day 02: Delhi-Haridwar - In the morning after breakfast just proceed for
Haridwar. Check in at hotel and relax. Later proceed for haridwar visit including
Ramghat, Vishvkarma ghat, Ganga temple, Shankar temple. In the evening
attend Ganga Aarti. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 03: Haridwar - Mussoorie - Barkot - In the morning after relish your
breakfast just proceed for Barkot via Mussoorie, visit Kempty Fall enroute. Night
stay at barkot.
Day 04: Barkot - Jankichatti - Yamunotri - In the morning proceed for
Janakichatti then Yamunotri. Attend Yamunotri Pooja and Holy dip in Yamunotri.
In the evening return to the barkot and overnight stay.
Day 05: Yamunotri - Uttarkashi - In the morning after breakfast proceed for
Uttarkashi. Visit Shiv cave enroute and Kashi Vishwanath temple. Overnight stay
at Uttarkashi.
Day 06: Uttarkashi - Gangani - Gangotri - Uttarkashi - In the mornig after

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breakfast proceed for Gangnani and Gangotri. Attend Holy dip in Taptkund,
Pooja and darshan in Gangnani and Gangotri. In the evening return to the
Uttarkashi and overnight stay.
Day 07: Uttarkashi - Guptkashi - In the morning after breakfast proceed for
Guptkashi and visit Guptkashi temple. Overnight stay at Guptkashi.
Day 08: Guptkashi - Gaurikund - Kedarnath - Eearly morning, pick up your
packed lunch and drive to Gaurikund by road covering 32 km in approx 1 hrs & .
Start steep 14 km Trek to Kedarnath, Stop for lunch en route and continue after
that to arrive by late afternoon. After freshening up, perform Pooja and visit
(darshan) Shri KedarnathJi. In the evening also visit the Adi Shankaracharya
Samadhi behind the temple. Dinner and overnight at Kedarnath.
Day 09: Kedarnath - Gaurikund - Guptkashi - In the morning attend pooja and
darshan. After breakfast, trek back to Gaurikund and drive to Chardham Camp
Resort, Guptakashi, arriving there by evening. Relax with Ayurvedic Massage.
Dinner and overnight at the camp resort.
Day 10: Guptkashi - Joshimath - Eearly morning after breakfast leave for
Joshimath by road covering 175 km in approx 6 hours, stopping at Chopta and
Pipalkoti. This is one of the most beautiful sites of the whole trip. Arrive at
Chardham Camp Resort, Joshimath by late afternoon. Evening free for you to
explore Joshimath. Dinner and overnight at the camp resort.
Day 11:- Joshimath - Badrinath - Joshimath - After breakfast leave for Shri
Badrinathji by road covering 90 km in approx 3 hrs. On arrival take the holy
Darshan and spend time visiting Mana village -the last village before the Tibetan
border. Return to the resort for an Ayurvedic massage. Dinner and overnight at
Joshimath.
Day 12:- Joshimath - Haridwar - Delhi - After breakfast leave for Haridwar.
Reach Haridwar in the late evening and and relax with an Ayurvedic massage. In
the evening proceed for Delhi to onward journey.

Fair and Festival Tourism in India

India is the land of fun and frolic. The Indians celebrate the various fairs and
festivals to the extent that there are more number of fairs and festivals in a year
than the total number of days. The rites and the rituals followed by the Indians,
the enthusiasm and faith that are constant features add to the charm of the fairs
and festivals.
Most the Indian festivals are regional, seasonal or religious. The unity of
the diverse country like India can be seen at the national festivals of the Republic
day (26th January), Independence Day (15th August), Gandhi Jayanti i.e. the
birth anniversary of the father of the nation (2nd October) and Children's Day i.e.
the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru (14th November). The entire population
of the nation rejoices on these occasions that are landmarks events in the history
of the nation and reveal the integration. On Republic Day the colorful parade with

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tableaus from the different states and the daring display of developments by the
three wings, army, navy and air force held near the India Gate in Delhi is
amazing as well as novel. There is a big list of the religious festivals that are
celebrated in India. In the secular country of India people light up their homes
with as many lights on Diwali as on Christmas, the fireworks are as loud as on
Onam. The colors of Holi are spread across the castes and creeds. Hindus
commemorate the birth anniversaries of their deities as Ram Navami, Maha
Shivratri, Janam Ashtami similarly, the Sikhs remember their gurus on Gurpurab.
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan an unspoken pledge is exchanged
between, a brother and sister cementing their fraternal relationship.

RAJASTHAN WITH FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

The above itinerary has been framed in such a way that it can be
operated for the various festivals as mentioned above. Basically the itinerary will
remains the same but we will be able to participate in different festivals as per the
decided dates. I don’t know if you are interested in these fairs and festivals and
would like to incorporate in the programmes.

Day 1 Arrive Delhi transfer to hotel for over night.

Day 2 Morning combined sightseeing of Delhi. Evening transfer to Train Station
to board train for Bikaner.
Day 3 Arrive Bikaner, transfer to hotel. Further sightseeing of Bikiner .Overnight
at hotel.
Day 4 Drive to Panchoo en route visit the Rat Temple, to start our Camel Safari
in the Thar Desert.

ABOUT CAMEL SAFARI: The Camel Safari is the experience of the tough life,
journey through the desert that has a charm of its own. A true show on the
sands, which attracts even the much-traveled visitor. Bikaner is an Enchanting
place, which comes alive with music and dance. It is fast gaining popularity as
the Visitor finds an Opportunity to see some unusual folk programme, camel
race, camel dance etc. The people of the desert have been using Camels for
times immemorable. Rather it is still their only means of transport. Camel is a
ship for a survival in the desert. The camel safari can be done according To the
holidays available from one day to 10 days.

Day 5. 6, 7 Camel Safari through the desert.

Day 8 Camel Safari finishes at Jamba, drive to Jaisalmer. Overnight in hotel.
Day 9 Morning visit Jaisalmer Fort, the Havelis, and Sam Sand dunes for
Sunset
Viewing, and Jain Temple.
Day10 Drive to Jodhpur. Afternoon Sightseeing of Mehrangarh Fort,
Jaswant Thada, night in Hotel.

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Day 11 Drive to Pushkar via Ajmer a 5 hrs drive. A) For Pushker Festival.

PUSHKAR: According to religious texts this lake is supposed to have appeared

miraculously when a lotus flower fell from the hands of Lord Brahma and dropped
into this valley. Pushkar Lake, believed by the Hindus to be as old as creation,
has been a place of Pilgrimage through the centuries. Pushkar has stood witness
to the procession of history from the time of Rama, the hero of the earliest Hindu
epic the Ramayana, to Fa-Hein's accounts of Pushkar in the 4th century A.D. and
to the time of the Muslim invasions.
Day 12 in Pushkar during Festival.
Day13 In Pushker
Day14 Pushkar to Jaipur 142 kmts and 5 hours drive. Evening explore market.
Day15 Morning visit Amber Fort on Elephant back. After Pink City .Over night in
Hotel.
Day16 Drive to Jaipur to Bharatpur. 176 kms. and 5hrs.drive over night in Hotel.
Day 17 Full day in Bharatpur for A.M & P.M. Visits to Sanctuary. Over Night in
hotel
Day18 Drive for Agra and enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri 3 hrs and 56 kmts
drive.Over night in Hotel in Agra.
Day 19 Morning Sightseeing of Agra, Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Utmad-ul-Dullla .and
market. Over night in hotel.
Day 20 Drive Agra to Delhi. Arrive Delhi check in hotel. Late transfer to
International Airport

Popular Itineraries for Pilgrimage Tourism

Day 1: Flight to India (Delhi) Around Midnight arrival in Delhi.
The cosmopolitan City and capital Delhi is the main gateway for travelers. You are met by
an Virtual Tours representative and transferred to your Hotel.
Day 2: Delhi
Today full day city tour covering - Qutab Minar, Laxmi Narayan Temple - The Place of
Gods, India Gate - The memorial of martyrs, Parliament House - The Government
Headquarters. In the afternoon take a city tour of Old Delhi covering Jama Masjid - The
largest mosque in Asia, Red Fort - The red stone magic, Humayun Tomb, Gandhi
memorial - The memoir of father of the nation. Overnight hotel.
Day 3: Delhi Haridwar.
Today, we shall drive you to Haridwar. On arrival check in into hotel. Later we shall take
you for a visit to the Har - Ki - Pauri, enjoy the AARTI in the evening. Later back to hotel
for overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 4: HARIDWAR-SYANACHATTI
Today we shall drive you to Syana Chatti - a scenic spot on the banks of River Yamuna.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 5: SYANA CHATTI - YAMUNOTRI - SYANA CHATTI
5 kms By Road & 13 Kms trek one side Drive to Hanuman Chatti, trek start to Yamunotri
& Back. Overnight stay at Syana Chatti. Hanuman Chatti: The confluence of Hanuman

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Ganga & Yamuna River. Yamunotri Temple: Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built the temple
in the 19th Century. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again. Surya
Kund: There are a Number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple, which flows
into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.
Day 6: SYANACHATTI-UTTARKASHI
Drive to Uttarkashi via Badkot. Uttarkashi: Situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. The
temple of Lord Vishwanath is located here where a massive iron trident is erected. The
other important temples situated here are Ekadash Rudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar and
Goddess Kuteti Devi.
Day 7: UTTARKASHI-GANGOTRI-UTTARKASHI
Drive to Gangotri. Gangotri Temple: The temple, constructed by the Gorkha General
Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century, is situated on the right bank of Bhagirathi.
Submerged Shivling: Submerged in the river, this natural rock Shivling is the place
where, according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the Ganga in his matted
lock. It is visible in winter months when water level decreases. Kedar Ganga Sangam:
Starting from the Kedar Valle, this river meets the Bhagirathi on its left bank. Gaumukh:
The Gaumukh Glacier is the source of Bhagirathi & is held in the high esteem by the
devouts who do not miss the opportunity to have a holy dip in the BONE CHILLING icy
water. It is 18 km from Gangotri by trek.
Day 8: UTTARKASHI-RUDRAPRAYAG
After early breakfast, drive to Rudraprayag. Overnight Stay at Skylark. s Resort at
Rudraprayag. Rudraprayag: It is the confluence of river Mandakini and river Alaknanda.
Temples: Rudranath and Chamunda Devi, Koteshwar Temple (3Kms).Overnighthotel.
Day 9: RUDRAPRAYAG-GAURIKUND-KEDARNATH
Drive to Gaurikund, Trek start from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. Gaurikund: At a distance of
5kms from Sonprayag and at an altitude of 1982 meters. One can take bath in the hot
water pond here and visit the Gauri Temple. This is the place where Goddess Parvathi
meditated to attain Lord Shiva.
It is thebaseforatrektoKedarnath
Day 10: KEDARNATH - GAURIKUND - RUDRAPRAYAG
14kms Trek (Back) & 78 kms/3hr later back to Gaurikund from Kedarnath. Drive to
Rudraprayag from Gaurikund. Check in into resort at Rudraprayag. Overnight hotel.
Day 11: RUDRAPRAYAG - JOSHIMATH
Joshimath is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga.
Of the four 'Maths' established by Adi Shankaracharya, Joshimath is in the Badrinath to
Joshimath and installed in the temple for people to worship. Overnight hotel.
Day 12: JOSHIMATH - BADRINATH
Drive to Badrinath via Govind Ghat. Badrinath: one of the' Four Dhams. is one of the
most celebrated pilgrimage spots of the country and is situated at an elevation of 3,133
meters, guarded on either side by the two mountain ranges known as Nar & Narayan with
the towering Neelkanth Peak providing a splendid backdrop. This revered spot was once
carpeted with wild berries. Thus the place got the name "Badri van", meaning "forest of
berries". Overnight hotel.
Day 13: BADRINATH - GOVINDGHAT
Today we shall drive you to Govindghat. On arrival check in into hotel. Overnight hotel.
Day 14: GOVINDGHAT - HARIDWAR - DELHI

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Today we shall drive you back to Haridwar in time enough to catch the Shatabdi Express
to Delhi. On arrival check in into hotel. Overnight hotel.

Buddhist Pilgrimage and Leh Tour

This tour \ itinerary covers following destinations: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti -
Lumbini - Kushinagar- Vaishali - Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya - Varanasi
- Delhi - Leh - Alchi - Lamayuru - Leh - Delhi - Agra - Delhi
Further, the duration is 16 Nights / 17 Days

Day 01: Arrival Delhi

On arrival at Delhi International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your
Hotel. Check into the Hotel and relax. Overnight stay will be at Delhi
Day 02: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti
After breakfast, in time transfer to airport to board a morning flight for Lucknow.
Arrive Lucknow and check into your hotel. Afternoon, enjoy an excursion to
Sravasti, a place where Lord Buddha spent his last 20 rainy seasons. Visit the
ancient villages of Maheth and Saheth, which have the remains of the Jetavana
Monastery. These Sravasti villages also have the ruins and relics of Jain
temples.
Overnight stay will be at Sravasti.
Day 03: Sravasti - Lumbini
After breakfast, we drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Lord Buddha, in Nepal.
Arrive Lumbini and check into the Hotel. Afternoon, enjoy a visit to the location
where Lord Buddha is believed to be born. Overnight stay will be at Lumbini.
Day 04: Lumbini - Kushinagar
After breakfast, we drive to Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha breathed his last.
Arrive at Kushinagar and check into your hotel. After freshen up, visit the
Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa.
Overnight stay will be at Kushinagar.
Day 05: Kushinagar - Vaishali - Patna
After breakfast at hotel, we proceed to Patna by surface, enroute visiting
Vaishali. Vaishali is one of the important ancient historic cities of India, where
Lord Buddha preached his last sermon. Arrive at Patna and check into the Hotel.
Overnight stay will be at Patna.
Day 06: Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya
After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Bodhgaya visiting Nalanda and Rajgir,
enroute. While Rajgir was an ancient capital city, Nalanda is a famous Buddhist
site known for its ancient university. Arrive at Bodhgaya and check into the hotel
and relax. Overnight stay will be at Bodhgaya.
Day 07: Bodhgaya
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the sacred Mahabodhi Temple - where the
Buddha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree after years of search for the
truth and knowledge. Afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya visiting

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Niranjana River, Sujata Village and many beautiful monasteries. Evening, visit
the Mahabodhi Temple for prayer. Overnight stay will be Bodhgaya
Day 08: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Varanasi. Arrive and check into the Hotel.
Evening free at leisure. Overnight stay will be at Varanasi.
Day 09: Varanasi - Delhi
Early morning visit to lively Ghats of the Ganges to enjoy the breathtaking view of
the sunrise and rituals performed by thousands on its banks. Enjoy an
unforgettable boat cruise on the Ganges, indeed a wonderful experience.
Afternoon, in time transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Arrive at Delhi and check
into the hotel. Overnight stay will be at Delhi.
Day 10: Delhi - Leh
Wake up early and board a morning flight to Leh. Arrive at Leh and check-in at
hotel. Rest of the day free at your leisure for the acclimatization, as Leh is at an
altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level. In the evening, enjoy a short walk
around Leh market. Overnight stay will be at Leh.
Day 11: Leh
After breakfast at hotel, enjoy a full day excursion to the famous monasteries of
Leh. Visit the famous Thiksey Monastery to see the morning praying ceremony.
Further proceed to visit Hemis Monastery, one of the most famous and
enchanting monasteries in the Ladakh region. Return to Leh, enroute visiting
enchanting Shey Palace. Overnight stay will be at Leh.
Day 12: Leh
After breakfast at hotel, enjoy a full day excursion to Khardongla Pass, the
highest pass in the world at an altitude of 5,600 meters above the sea level.
From the top, enjoy the breathtaking view of snow-capped mountains and
valleys. Late afternoon return to Leh. Evening free at leisure.
Overnight stay will be at Leh.
Day 13: Leh - Alchi
After breakfast at hotel, we proceed for Alchi, enroute visiting Basgo Palace and
Likir Monastery. Arrive at Alchi and check-in at the hotel. After freshening up, visit
the amazing Alchi Monastery. Overnight stay will be at Alchi.
Day 14: Alchi - Lamayuru - Leh
After breakfast at hotel, we proceed for Lamayuru via Khalsti (passport checking
point). In Lamayuru, visit the enchanting 10th century Buddhist Monastery.
Return to Leh. Overnight stay will be at Leh.
Day 15: Leh - Delhi - Agra
After breakfast at hotel, in time transfer to domestic airport for flight to Delhi.
Arrive at Delhi and we straightaway drive to Agra. Arrive at Agra and check into
the hotel.
Day 16: Agra - Delhi
After breakfast, visit the Taj Mahal - the most beautiful monument in the world

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and the magnificent Agra Fort. After lunch, we proceed to Delhi by road. Arrive at
Delhi and check into the hotel.
Overnight stay will be at Delhi.
Day 17: Delhi - Tour Concludes
After breakfast at the Hotel, enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of old Delhi. Visit
and see the magnificent Red Fort, Jama Masjid (Biggest mosque in India),
Chandni Chowk Bazaar (oldest market of Delhi) and Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi
memorial).
Afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing of New Delhi visiting India Gate, President
House, Parliament House and Laxmi Narayan Temple. Evening free for
Shopping.
After dinner, in time transfer to international airport to board the flight for your
onward destination or way back home with sweet memories of India. Overnight
stay will be at Agra.
 Visiting religious sites and monuments (churches, clusters, exhibition
places)
 Taking part in religious events (holy days, religious cultural and music
programmes, visiting religious persons)Pilgrimage
 Organised groups visiting sacred places as a tourism destinations (either
with religious motivation or with a motivation desired by the architectural
and cultural importance of the sight)
 Individually organised visitors with their own programme organisation
Such cultural tourists who have unique interests
 The development of the regional culture
 Protection of the natural habitat
 The accentuation of tourism regions
 Strengthening of the local traditions and culture
 Less seasonal, can extend the tourism season
 Can be an important form of sustainable tourism.

Check your progress - 1

Answer the following questions.
1. Define culture tourism?
2. Explain pilgrimage?
3. Describe heritage
4. Discuss significance of culture tour package.
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

15.4 Summary
This Unit has given you an idea about the cultural tourism. It has
acquainted with the procedure for preparation of cultural tour package. The

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students are now in a position to focus on specific segment of culture such as
heritage, festival and so forth. Finally the unit highlighted the significance of
cultural tour packages.

Answer to Check Your Progress

1) See sec. 1.2
2) See sec. 1.2
3) See sec. 1.3
4) See sub sec. 1.4

15.5 Glossary
 Cultural tourism - type of international tourist travel, where tourists get
familiar with national cultures, customs and traditions in the host country.
 Nostalgic (ethnic) tourism - type of tourism, which is carried out by people
to the places of their former/historical residence. Participants of nostalgic
tourism are mostly elderly people who had previously lived in the area
 Museum tourism - type of tourism, the specificity of which consists in the
use of the tourist potential of museums and the surrounding areas. The
cooperation of museums and tourism is based on the formation of the
system of historical and cultural and natural areas
 Pilgrimage tourism – type of religious tourism, carried out by believers of
different faiths to certain sacred places.

15.6 Review Questions

 Describe the meaning and concept of Cultural Tourism packages
 Explain the Pilgrimage and Festival tour package.
 Discuss the Monument and Museum tour package
 Prepare a cultural tour package for international tourists covering
destinations from Rajasthan.
 Elaborate the significance of culture tour package for destinations.

15.7 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency ,
John Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.

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 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation
and Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency
and tour operators.

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UNIT 16: SPECIAL INTEREST TOUR PACKAGE-

ETHNIC, ECO, MEDICAL AND HEALTH AND
HOLIDAY PACKAGES
Structure
16.0 Objectives
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Special Interest tour package: Concepts and meaning
16.3 Special Interest tourism: Ethnic and eco-tour package and Medical and
Health package
16.4 Significance and future trends of Special Interest tour package
16.5 Summary

16.0 Objectives
After reading this unit, you will be able to:
 Understand meaning and concept of Special Interest Tourism
 Explain Special Interest Tourism in India
 Types of Special Interest Tourism in India
 Itinerary development for Special Interest Tourism in India
 Understand significance of itineraries for Special Interest Tourism.

16.1 Introduction
Special Interest Tourism is one of the emerging type tourism in India.
Actually is a very comfortable area of tourism, which needs a minimum
investment to develop in a short and medium term. It is the preferred activity for
tourists with interest in environmentally oriented outdoor sport activities. The
Special Interest Tourism offers adventure, attracts special hobbies and cultural
abilities, as eco- tourism, rural tourism, cultural tourism, cross border tourism,
adventure tourism. There are great opportunities to climb in the mountains
combining some kind of outdoor sports with mountain tourism like hiking,
trekking; for people who want to drive with bikes, horses etc. as horseback-riding,
river rafting, paragliding, mountain biking, scuba diving, canoeing, etc in places
where the physical infrastructure is not mandatory moreover it also do not require
huge investments. Special interest tourists are the people who desire
adventures, as living in the wild nature that is so beautiful, people with many
hobbies in rare fields which are so opportune in a diversity geographic position of
our country.

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There are a lot of national parks or natural reservations protected by the
law, which would show the opportunities for agro tourism in our country. Except
these kind of adventure tours there are a lot of other kind of tours, which can be
covered in the framework of this special tourism like: Historical interest ,
archaeological interest, cultural interest, rural interest, - study tours on culture
and religion interest. - Mixed tours: Compilation of packages over several days
highlighting special interest tourism activities. In the area of Special Intrest
Tourism , the target market is very special and can also includes: young
adventurers interested in outdoor sport activities, experienced senior travellers,
with medium to high income, people with open-minded and people interested in
education, history and civilization.

16.2 Special Interest tour package: Concepts and meaning

Special interest tourism are the result of the travelling market
segmentation and they are the distinguishing factor of tourism supply. These
products are distinguished in many ways and their major target is offering the
best possible satisfaction to the visitors. Special interest tourism has been the
subject of scientific study, since they set up the new trend in tourism
development. This is necessary in order to define and enhance the specialized
products and services that are produced and supplied in the tourism market but
also for the appropriate training of all institutions involved in tourism industry.
Special Interest Tourism involves exploring customised tourist experiences that
satisfy specific individual interests. The special interest areas may include
adventure tourism, ecotourism, sex tourism, sports tourism, the ‘gay’ market, the
‘grey’ market (senior tourism), backpacking, health tourism, rural tourism, dance
music tourism, cultural tourism, and cruising amongst others.
In fact, Special Interest Tourists are nature-based yourists particularly
challenging, but potentially with high spending. These often comprise socially
and environmentally aware, highly educated and potentially demanding visitors
who travel both to learn and to achieve personal and social goals. Most of these
visitors are serviced and targeted by specialist tourism operators and suppliers
who often provide highly expert guides as part of the service.
India is a subcontinent of surprises. A cauldron of cultures, of climes, of
people. Desert and tropical rain forest. Remote villages and restless metropolis.
Mysticism and mural paintings, Ayurveda healing and paragliding. A hundred
cliches and then a hundred faces you never knew existed. India can offer almost
anything you want, whether it is adventure, beaches, hill stations, wildlife, forts
and palaces, amazing travel experiences, fantastic spectacles or even a search
for oneself. India is popularly known to be the last unexplored destination in the
world, where precious and rare secrets of nature and cultural heritage can still be
discovered. Development Potential for Special Interest Tourism in India includes:

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 rich biodiversity at lagoons, lakes and the mountain areas with unique
flora and fauna;
 in some regions unspoiled nature and beautiful scenery;
 cultural and historical sites of many centuries; and
 still active traditional life-styles.

Types of Special Interest Tours in India

 Ayurveda and Health
 Adventure Tourism
 Culture and heritage Tourism
 Wild life tourism
 Beach Tourism
 Hill stations
 Pilgrimage
 Tribal tours
 Professional Tourism
 Medical Tourism
 Study and Research Tourism
 Eco Tourism
 Indigenous Tourism
Of the various types of above mentioned Special interest tourism, culture,
adventure and wildlife tourism have been explained in other units, whereas
others are discussed as under:

Ayurveda
Around 600 BC in India a new system of medicine evolved. A system that
in addition to treating an ailment stressed on its prevention. A system that came
to be called Ayurveda or the 'science of longevity'. This tradition of health care
was followed by the Dravidans and Aryans alike and has been practiced ever
since. Today it's a unique, indispensable branch of medicine - a complete
naturalistic system that depends on the diagnosis of the body's humours - vatha
(air), pitha (fire) and kapha (water) - to achieve the right balance. It believes in
the treatment of not just the affected part, but the individual as a whole. Making it
the natural way to refresh one's self and eliminate all toxic imbalances from the
body and thus regain resistance and good health. It is known to promote positive
health, natural beauty and long life. The State of Kerala is the only State in India,
which practices this system of medicine with absolute dedication and offers a
host of Ayurvedic Resorts

Beach Tourism
India's coast is decked with some of the most beautiful beaches in the
world. From endless stretches of golden sand to palm-fringed coves, India offers
the visitor the ideal beach holiday. On the West Coast, at the southern end of

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Kerala there's Kovalam and Varkala; farther north, Goa has a whole collection of
beautiful beaches complete with soft white sands, gentle lapping waves and
swaying palms. If you find these a little over commercialized then head for the
tiny ex-Portuguese island of Diu off the southern coast of Gujarat, or to southern
Karnataka. Over on the East Coast there is a beach at Mamallapuram in Tamil
Nadu. In Orissa the beach at Gopalpur-on-sea is clean and quiet. Some of the
beaches in the Andamans Islands are straight out of a holiday brochure - white
coral sands, beautiful corals, gin clear water and multi-coloured fishes and
corals. Similarly the beaches of Lakshadweep, a series of coral atolls off the
West Coast are pristine.

Hill Stations
Hill stations are popular as resorts among both Indians and foreginers,
providing a relaxing and salubrious retreat from the heat of the plains. Bracing
weather, verdant surroundings, spectacular views and - solitude - hill stations are
perfect for quick getaways from the bustling cities as they are within easy reach
by rail or road. They are also wonderful for longer holidays to really unwind and
explore the joys of nature. Apart from the famous Himalayas and its foothills in
the north, other parts of the country do have their share of hill stations like in the
Western Ghats, the Satpura Ranges of the centre and the Nilgiri Hills in the
South.

Pilgrimage
From the time of the Puranas, pilgrimage was regarded as a necessity for
the regeneration of the spirit and the quickening of cultural exchange.
Considered practically obligatory pilgrimage became a milestone in man's life.
Every Hindu is expected to go on tirtha yatra (pilgrimages). Pilgrimages are
undertaken for many reasons: to implore the gods to grant some wish, to take the
ashes of a cremated relative to a holy river, to seek good health and fortune or to
gain spiritual merit. Holy sites were established at the cardinal points of the
country - to the north were the snow peaked highlands of Badrinath, Kedarnath
and Amarnath. To the east is Puri, to the south is Rameswaram and Kanya
Kumari, to the west is Dwaraka and in the centre Kashi or Benares (Varanasi),
Prayaga (Allahabad) and Mathura. Apart from these there are thousands and
thousands of holy sites of almost all religious groups - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs,
Buddhists, Jains, Jews, and Christians.

Tribal Tours
Although there is some controversy regarding the advisability and
morality of visiting Adivasi or tribal areas, tourism does bring much needed funds
to these already developing regions and organized tours are becoming
increasingly popular. Such tours provide an insight into the life of the tribal
communities with a chance to attend interesting festivals and markets. Although

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many of the areas are still virtually off limits to tourists some places are becoming
less restricted. Areas where such tours are organized are - Orissa, Gujarat,
Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
Medical Tourism in India
Indians, NRIs and tourists from around the world are beginning to realize
the potential of modern and traditional Indian medicine. Indian hospitals and
medical establishments have also realized the potential of this niche market and
have begun to tailor their services for foreign visitors. Visitors, especially from the
west and the middle-east find Indian hospitals a very affordable and viable option
to grappling with insurance and National medical systems in their native lands.
Many prefer to combine their treatments with a visit to the 'exotic east' with their
families, killing two birds with one stone.Medical Tourism in India is going to
result in a number of demands and changes in the areas of financing and
regulations. There will be a greater push for encouraging private insurance tied to
systems of accreditation of private hospitals. There is a huge concern in the
developed countries about the quality of care and clinical expertise in developing
countries.

Eco Tourism
"Ecotourism is a segment of tourist activity which focuses on the
sustainable use of the resources, encourages its conservation and seeks the
formation of environmentalist awareness through the interrelation of the
environment, promoting the well-being of the populations involved". In order to
understand a little more what special interest travellers or ecotourists are, we
should not stick to rigid definitions and concepts but focus especially on who
these travellers are, their characteristics and interests. Special interest travellers
are generally adults or third age persons, adolescents and children (members of
family or school groups), with the following characteristics:
 they have a spirit of adventure, are curious and love sharing experiences;
 they travel in small groups, of eight to ten persons on average and not
more than15;
 their main characteristic is team work and comradeship;
 their destinations are environmentally and culturally rich, well conserved,
seldom frequented and places where one can still enjoy the luxury of
tranquillity;
 their trips are not necessarily difficult and travellers are seldom subjected
to challenges and tests of special skills or previous experience.
This new class of travellers is on the increase and enjoys activities in
contact with nature, beauty of a conserved natural area, the pleasure of watching
the fauna in its natural habitat, of exploring, discovering and learning, overcoming
obstacles and feeling the pleasure of overcoming them. Furthermore they like to
discover how easy it is to read a map, navigate a river and learn climbing

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techniques, diving, horse riding, orienteering, canoeing, driving cattle, packing
and carrying a rucksack.

16.3 Special Interest Tourism: Ethnic and Eco-Tour

Package and Medical and Health Package
Itineraries for Special Intrest Tourism with examples
Itinerary 1: Textiles and Handicrafts of Gujarat Tour. (A detailed itinerary
with route map)
Duration: 23 Days / 22 Nights
Destinations Covered: Delhi - Ahmedabad - Sayla - Gondal - Jetpur - Junagadh
- Jamnagar - Bhuj - Mandvi - Dasada - Patan - Mount Abu - Udaipur - Bundi -
Kota - Ranthambore - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi

Day-1: Delhi
Arrive in Delhi and check in to the Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing in Old Delhi and
New Delhi which includes the Chandani Chowk,Jama Masjid,India Gate,Red
Fort,Qutub Minar,Presdentail House,Lotus Temple,AksharDham Temple etc.
Day-2: Delhi-Ahmedabad
Morning transfer to airport to connect flight to Ahmedabad. Arrive at Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad is a major centre of traditional and contemporary textiles, and many
crafts thrive here like Mata-ni-pachedi narrative cloth paintings and block-printing.
Stay at House of Mangaldas Girdhardas, a heritage hotel owned by a former
textile industrialist family. Visit the Calico Museum of Textiles, one of India's
leading specialized museums. The collections include textile swatches of Indian
origin found at archaeological sites of Egypt, silk sarees from across India,
double-ikat silk sarongs made in Patan for the Indonesian market, chintz and
curtains made from Dutch, British and Portuguese colonial powers in Gujarat,
floral embroidery from Punjab, shawls from Kashmir, 18th century tie-and-dye,
richly embroidered Mughal tent of Shah Jahan whose palace is nearby, royal
wardrobes of Rajasthan, cloth paintings and manuscripts, religious narrative cloth
paintings like Pichwais and Kalamkaris, etc. Also visit the other museums of
Ahmedabad strong on folk art collections.
Day-3: Ahmedabad - Sayla 136 km
Drive to Sayla, via Limbdi where mirrors are made for Gujarat's famous
mirrorwork embroidery, and visit the Bharwad and Kathi villages where beadwork
traditions thrive, the silk weavers who use the ikat technique, and the town
ofWadhwan where women work on bandhani or tie-and-dye. Wadhwan's walled
town has historic buildings and a living heritage of metalwork crafts. Stay at Old
Bell Guest House, a heritage hotel.
Day-4: Sayla - Gondal 130km
Drive to Gondal, a princely town of considerable importance and affluence. Visit
the 1748 AD Naulakha Palace which houses the erstwhile ruling family's private
collection of bead work, textiles, brassware, hand-painted toys and silver crafts,

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the centre promoting weaving at Gondal, and the historic buildings of Gondal.
Stay at Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace, both of which are decorated with
textiles from the former Maharanis' collections.
Day-5: Gondal - Jetpur - Junagadh - Gondal 150 km total
Drive to Jetpur, known for its screen and block printing workshops, and a yam-
dyeing centre, and then to Junagadh where you can see gem-encrusted carpets,
wardrobes and tapestery of the Nawab at the museums. A historic city, Junagadh
has 3rd century BC Buddhist relics, medieval fort, mausoleum complexes,
palaces, etc. Return to Gondal.
Day-6: Gondal - Jamnagar 10km
Drive to Jamnagar. Visit the Vanzas who are known for their bandhani tie-and-
dye sarees. Stay at Hotel President.
Day-7: Bhuj 259km
Drive to Bhuj, on the way stop at Rajkot to see the Watson Museum which has
good examples of Gujarat's craftsmanship skills, and Rashtriya Shala working to
revive hand-weaving. Stay at Hotel Prince/KBN.
Day-8: Villages around Bhuj
Visit villages around Bhuj known for their distinctive styles of embroidery and
other handiwork like weaving, block-printing, rogan-painting, etc. O/N Stay at
hotel.
Day-9: Bhuj - Mandvi 60km
Drive to Mandvi, which is a tie-and-dye centre, and stay in ale tented royal resort
by the private beach in the palace estate. Visit the dhow-building yard to see
ocean-worthy vessels being hand-built. Stay at the palace estate.
Day-10: Around Mandvi
Visit villages near Mandvi known for their picturesque houses called bhungas
and Rabari embroidery. O/N Stay at hotel.
Day-11: Mandvi-Dasada 320km
Drive from Mandvi to Dasada passing picturesque old towns and villages. At
Dasada, watch Rabari women at work on their distinct embroideries. Stay at
Rann Riders, an eeo-resort designed using local materials and handicrafts to
resemble a village.
Day-12: Dasada-Patan - Dasada
Day trip to Patan to watch the Salvis at work on the Patola, one of the richest silk
textiles in the world, woven using the rare double-ikat technique. One can also
see 11th century monuments at Modhera's Sun Temple complex and in Patan.
Overnight at hotel.
Day-13: Dasda - Mount Abu
After Breakfast drive to Mount Abu. In the evening, sightseeing in Mt Abu.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 14: Mount Abu – Udaipur
After Breakfast depart to Udaipur. After lunch leisure at Hotel. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 15: Udaipur

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Sightseeing of the city of Udaipur. Udaipur is a lovely land around the Azure
water lakes hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravails. A vision in white
drenched in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights sounds
and experience-an inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and written.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 16: Udaipur - Bundi - Kota
After hearty breakfast depart to Kota, enroute Bundi.Afternoon sightseeing in
Kota. Overnight at Hotel at Kota.
Day 17: Kota – Ranthambore
After Breakfast drive to Ranthambore. After lunch rest at hotel. Evening
excursions in Ranthambore National park. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 18: Ranthambore
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas, is
a unique example of natural and historical richness. Ranthambhore - perhaps the
best place in the world to sight a tiger in the wild. The Ranthambhore National
Park has had more Tiger sightings than any other National Park in the country. It
has come to be known as "The land of the Tiger", where most of the documented
footage of this majestic beast has been recorded. Evening excursions in
Ranthambore National park. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 19: Ranthambore – Jaipur
After Breakfast depart to Jaipur. After lunch leisure at hotel. Evening excursion in
local market.
Day 20: Jaipur
Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and forms the most chosen
tourism golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. After, breakfast, proceed for
sight-seeing of the city. Places covered: Amber Fort Palace, City Palace, Jantar
Mantar, Hawa Mahal.
Day 21: Jaipur – Agra
Morning drive to Agra.After arrival transfer to Hotel.
Day 22: Agra
Visit to Taj Mahal. Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj. After lunch of of Mughlai
cuisine. Proceed for sight-seeing to the AGRA FORT.
Day 23: Agra - Delhi
After hearty breakfast drive to Delhi and after welcome dinner transfer to
International Airport for onward destination.

Itinerary: 2 Tribal Tours of Orissa

Places to Visit: Delhi - Bhubaneshwar - Baliguda - Rayadaga - Chatikona -
Jeypore Onukudelli - Gupteswar - Taptapani - Puri – Konark
Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days
Day 01: Europe - Delhi
Arrive in Delhi, meet and greet at the airport and transfer to Hotel. Overnight
Day 02: Delhi – Bhubaneshwar

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Morning transfer to airport to connect flight to Bhubaneshwar, on arrival transfer
to hotel. Afternoon city sightseeing in Bhubaneshwar temples. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 03: Bhubaneshwar
Morning full day excursion to Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri Buddhist
monastries. Overnight at Hotel
Day 04: Bhubaneshwar – Baliguda
Morning after breakfast drive to Baliguda ( 310 kms/ 7 hours) enroute visit the
road side common village, semi tribal villages and tribal villages . Overnight at
Hotel
Day 05: Baliguda – Rayadaga
Morning drive to Belghar area (220 kms / 5 hours) to visit Kuttiya Kondh village
and Rasul Kondh villages. Weekly markret is on Tuesday at Kothgarh. Later
drive to Rayagada. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 06: Rayagada - Chatikona - Jeypore
Morning drive to Chanikona (260 kms / 6 hours) to visit few villages of Dongariya
Kondh and weekly market (Weekly market is on Wednesday). Overnight at Hotel
Day 07: Jeyopre - Onukudelli - Jeypore
Morning full day excursion to Onukudelli visiting Bonda and Gadhaba tribal
market (weekly market is on Thursday) and few Gadhaba tribal villages, evening
back to Jeypore. O/N at Hotel
Day 08: Jeypore - Gupteswar – Jeypore
Morning full day excursion to Gupteswar to visit the caves and few Dhuraba
Tribal village. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 09: Jeypore – Taptapani
Morning drive to Taptapani (300 kms /7 hours) enroute visiting Jagannath
Temple and Tribal Museum at Koraput. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 10: Tatapani – Puri
Morning visit the Tibetan village at Chandragiri, later drive to Purl enroute
boatride in Chilka Lake, Asia’s largest salt water lake (350kms / 8 hours). Over
night at Hotel.
Day 11: Puri - Konark – Puri
Morning drive to Konark (100 kms /2 hours) to visit the Sun temple and fisher
man’s village. Afternoon sightseeing in Puri including Jagannath temple local
market, Gundicha mandir and artisan’s village in Raghurajpur (patta painting,
palm leaf writting etc).
Overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Puri
Day at leisure at beach. Overnight
Day 13: Pun - Bhubaneshwar – Delhi
Morning drive to Bhubaneshwar to connect flight to Delhi, on arrival transfer to
hotel. Overnight
Day 14: Delhi – Abroad
Early morning transfer to airport for your onward flight.

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ITINERARY 3: SPICES AND SANDALWOOD TOUR

Duration : 12 Nights / 13 Days
Places Covered: Mumbai - Bangalore - Mysore - Nagarhole - Ooty - Coonoor -
Cochin - Kerala Backwaters - Periyar - Kodaikanal - Madurai - Chennai
A classic journey through the warm scented hinterland of South India. The
excitement of Mysore and Nagarhole gives way to the fading glory of 'snooty'
Ooty. The South is a cross roads for the varied cultures that have left their many
churches, palaces, forts and temples to enrich this cosmopolitan community.
From Cochin it is possible to extend to the nearby beach resorts of Kovalam or
Varkala or further to the Andman & Lakshadweep Islands, Goa or Sri Lanka.
Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Meet and greet by representative and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02: Mumbai – Bagalore
Morning city sightseeing visiting, Gate Way of India, Princes of Wales Museum,
Hanging Garden, Tower of Silence, Dhobi Garh & Mani Bhawan. Evening
transfer to airport to connect flight for Bangalore. On arrival, transferred to the
hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03: Bangalore – Mysore
Full day city tour of Bangalore visiting the Bull Temple, and Tipu's Summer
Palace, drive past numerous parks, the Vidhan Soudha and down town
commercial centre. Later in the evening, drive to Mysore, which is 140 kms / 3
hrs. On arrival, transferred to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 04: Mysore
Palaces of interest include the Maharaja's Palace, the colourful vegetable and
flower markets and Chamundi Hill noted for its Nandi temple. Outside of Mysore
visit Srirangapatanam to see the ruins of Tipu Sultan's capital and Somnathpur,
where the small Kesava temple is considered to be one of the finest examples of
Hoysala architecture. For bird watchers the Ranganathittoo Bird Sanctuary is well
worth a visit.
Day 05: Mysore - Nagarhole National Park
Just 90 kms south-west of Mysore lies Nagarhole National Park an excellent
sanctuary for viewing elephants and a rich variety of bird life. View by jeep and
on elephant back. Stay at hotel.
Day 06: Nagarhole - Ooty – Coonoor
Morning drive to Ooty (90 kms/3hrs) the famous hill station in the Nilgiri hills.
Coonoor is just 13 kms from Ooty and offers a relaxing alternative. Afternoon free
Day 07: Coonoor
Today leave for a visit to the tea plantations, The Botanical Gardens, and Sima
Park in Coonoor. In Coonoor also see the views from Lady Canning's Seat and
Dolphins Nose.
Day 08: Coonoor to Cochin

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Drive south to the Malabar Coast to Cochin (280 kms/7 hrs). Over the centuries
the Portuguese, Dutch and British have all influenced this fascinating city.
Day 09: Cochin
This morning visit the synagogue, Dutch Palace, St Francis Church and the spice
market. In the afternoon take a harbour cruise to see some of the nearby island
and Chinese fishing nets.
Day 10: Cochin to Periyar
After breakfast drive along the coast to Alleppey (70 kms) and take a backwater
cruise for 2½ hours through some of the most picturesque backwaters in Kerala
to Changancherry. Continue on by car to Lake Periyar wildlife sanctuary in the
heart of the Cardamon hills. Evening viewing by an exclusive boat ride on Lake
Periyar. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Periyar to Kodaikanal
Drive this morning upto the Palani hills to Kodaikanal (160 kms/4 hrs) a peaceful
backwater hill station noted for its beautiful scenery and lake. Stay at the hotel.
Day 12: Kodaikanal to Madurai
This morning drive down to Madurai (90 kms/4 hrs) where life in the bustling
pilgrimage city is centred on the great Meenakshi temple. In the afternoon visit
this living temple returning in the evening to witness the temple music. Stay
overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Madurai to Chennai
Return by air or train to Chennai. Alternatively, continue by car to Chennai.

ITINERARY 4: SPA HOLIDAYS TOUR

Duration: 04 Nights / 05 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Ananda - Delhi
Rediscover tranquility and attain sanctuary the mind & body in the
mystical embrace of the Himalayan Mountains. Presenting an experience unlike
any other at Ananda - In the Himalayas, a luxury destination spa. At Ananda the
programs are designed to meet individual needs and give guidance in areas of
stress management, antiageing, beauty and to create health, balance, joy and
Ananda. - Bliss and contentment.

Day 01: Arrive Delhi

On arrive in Delhi transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city tour of Old and New Delhi.
In Old Delhi visit the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana. In
New Delhi visit the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the India Gate, The Laxminarayan
Temple, Qutab Minar, and the lotus-shaped Bahai Temple. Overnight at the
hotel.
Day 02: Delhi-Ananda
In the morning proceed for Ananda (260 km / 5 hrs), or board Dehradun Shatabdi
Express up to Haridwar. On arrival check in at the Ananda. Later in the day meet

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lifestyle assistant who will offer professional guidance as per individual needs
and requirements.
Day 03: Ananda
Today enjoy Hydrotherapy Aromatic Bath and other therapies as per your
package. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: Ananda
Customized Massage Therapy is part of the Ananda Bliss Package and one can
avail this therapy once during one’s stay. Customized Body Exfoliation Therapy
is another program one can avail of.
Day 05: Ananda - Delhi Onward Destination
After breakfast proceed for Delhi. On arrive transfer to International airport for
flight to onward destination.

ITINERARY 5: YOGA & MEDITATION TOUR

Duration: 9 Nights / 10 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Rishikesh - Haridwar
Described by the ancient Indian scriptures as the communion of individual soul
with the universal soul or God, "Yoga" the ancient Indian discipline is highly
relevant in the modern day context. There are different forms of Yoga, i.e Hatha
Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Mantra Yoga and
Laya Yoga, provides the finest system of education and brings out the best in a
person. Since the ages, Rishikesh ("The Land of Yoga") has been a spiritual
centre for learning Yoga and also offers a major platform for exchanging and
sharing of ideas, Knowledge of Indian Mythology, understanding different cultural
modes and promoting universal spirit of brotherhood.

Day 01: Arrive Delhi

Upon arrival meet and greet and transfer to Hotel. Check in at Hotel. Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
Morning after breakfast, proceed for full day sightseeing of Old & New Delhi.
Visit, Red fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Raj Ghat, Humayun's Tomb, India
Gate, Round around President House and Parliament House, Qutab Minar and
Lotus temple. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 03: Delhi -Rishikesh (260 Kms / 6 hrs)
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Rishikesh (The capital of Yoga &
Meditation). Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Relax, sightseeing, Bhajan Sandhya,
Ganga Aarti Devotional song of holiest river Ganga) & Bhojan distribution of
Yoga kits. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04: Rishikesh
Morning breakfast, after breakfast, Inaugural ceremony. Lunch. Initiation and
Introduction of Yoga Tea break Meditation & Pranayam etc. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05: Rishkesh

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Morning universal prayer and Yoga Demonstration and practice of Asanas Tea /
Coffee break. Practice of Asanas and Consultation for specific problems &
remedies through Yoga. Lunch Break. Visit to Kunjapuri temple / Vashishatha
Gufa (Cave) -spiritual activities centre. Meditation. Dinner Overnight at Hotel.
Day 06: Rishikesh
Yoga practice / Prayer & Demonstration. Lunch Break. Pranayam & Meditation.
Dinner overnight at Hotel.
Day 07: Rishikesh
Yoga practice / Prayer & Demonstration. Local sightseeing & souvenir Ayurvedic
Herbal Massage. Lunch Break. Pranayam and Meditation. Dinner Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 08: Rishikesh
Yoga practice / Prayer & Demonstration. Lunch Break Question answer session.
Closing ceremony. Dinner Overnight at Hotel.
Day 09: Rishikesh - Haridwar (24 Kms. / ½ hrs.)
Breakfast. After breakfast, drive towards Haridwar called, (Gate way to Heaven).
Upon arrival at Haridwar, (checkin) at Hotel. Afternoon visit Haridwar "The Place
of Kumbha" takes places once in 12 years and Enjoy rope way at Har-ki- podi
etc. Overnight at Haridwar.
Day 10: Haridwar - Delhi (220 Kms/ 6 hrs) - Onward Destination
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Delhi. Over night at Hotel OR you may
depart to onward destination as per your flight schedule.

16.4 Significance and future trends of Special Interest tour

package
For the past years, a majority of tourism development plans have been
targeted primarily at luxury tourism and beach holiday attractions. Some areas in
the coastal regions have already exceeded their social and physical carrying
capacity. Increasingly, special interest tourism in India are considered as niche
travel products yet to reach their growth potential. Promotion of SIT the interior is
perceived as a sustainable alternative for economic development, especially in
poor rural communities. Meanwhile, SIT, the fastest growing segment in the
tourism sector, has been promoted as a means to divert tourists from the sun
and beach holiday attractions to other natural/cultural attractions.
A number of small tourism operators have been established to promote
SIT such as Nature tourism “off-the-beaten-track” in. The industry Network aims
at promoting socially responsible tourism that is based on the local traditional
forest culture, and hence minimises the negative social and cultural effects of
tourism development. Another example of SIT is Woodlands’ tours that offer a
variety of activities, including nature walks, excursions to tea estates and
culture/religious sites, train rides through the mountains, and culinary lessons
using indigenous food and gastronomy (i.e. vegetables, spices and tea). Industry

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has attracted an increasing number of foreign independent tourists (mostly from
Germany) who prefer SIT such as learning about the customs, food habits,
culture, environment and history of the countries they visit. The professionally
developed itineraries of "SIT" can explain the following benefits
 Can help in satisfying individual interests and purposes appearing with
post-modern social change
 avoid the environmental destruction and ensure experiencing the
untouched nature
 manages various matters such as gathering information and making
reservation through Internet
The term "SIT" can be used from the suppliers' point of view as well as
the customers' in the following concepts.
 Creating a new type of tourism product by connecting tourism industry
with other industries. (ex. Medical Tourism, )
 Developing environmentally and socially sustainable tourist attractions
 Utilizing IT technology such as internet and ubiquitous systems to
promote and sale the tourism products

Check your progress - 1

Answer the following questions.

1. Define Special Interest tour package.
2. What is Ethnic and eco-tour package?
3. Describe Medical and Health tour ?
4. Discuss the significance of special interest tour?
Check your answer with the one given at the end of the unit.

16.5 Summary
Specific markets and specialized market segments like special interest tourism
and Conference and Incentive tourism that are not adequately serviced under the
present conditions, are expected to acquire a new momentum, and present
renewed potential and opportunities that will contribute to the increase of tourist
arrivals and alleviate the problem of seasonality. In addition, special interest
tourism, such as Ayurveda health packages (i.e. courses of traditional herbal
massage therapy designed to rejuvenate and detoxify bodies), exotic weddings,
and adventure activities (e.g. trekking, para-gliding, bird watching and
archaeological tours).

Answer to Check Your Progress

1) See sec. 16.2
2) See sec. 16.2
3) See sec. 16.3

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4) See sec. 16.4
16.6 Glossary
 Cultural tourism - type of international tourist travel, where tourists get
familiar with national cultures, customs and traditions in the host country.
 Medical and health tourism - type of tourism, carried out with health or
medical purposes. Resorts often offer their tourists the therapeutic
procedures, and services of massage rooms, etc.
 Ski tourism – a type of sports tourism, providing ascent on skis across
the plains and foothills. Ski tourism requires special training of
participants and special attention of organizers
 Museum tourism - type of tourism, the specificity of which consists in the
use of the tourist potential of museums and the surrounding areas. The
cooperation of museums and tourism is based on the formation of the
system of historical and cultural and natural areas.
 Ecotourism - visiting of places with relatively unspoiled nature and well-
preserved cultural and historical heritage.

16.7 Review Questions

1. Explain the meaning and definition of Special Interest Tourism.
2. Explain the role and significance of Special Interest Tourism towards
development of tourism industry in India.
3. Explain the scope and potential of Special Interest Tourism in India.
4. Explain various Special Interest Tourism activities possible in India along
with the favourable destinations foe each sports activity
5. Develop an itinerary (with route map) for a group of senior citizen interested
for Char Dham yatra of India.
6. Develop an itinerary for a group of a hotel management students from UK
interested to understand and experience Indian cuisine.
7. Explain the role and significance of itineraries towards Special Interest
Tourism.

16.8 Suggested Readings

 Gee, Chuck and Y. Makens, Professional Travel Agency Management,
Prentice Hall, New York, 1990.
 Mohinder Chand, Travel Agency Management: An Introductory Text, Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2007.
 Foster .D.L. The Business of Travel Agency Operations and Administration,
McGraw Hill, Singapore, 1990.
 Frenmount P. , How to open and Run a Money Making Travel Agency , John
Wiley and Sons , New York.1994.

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 Yole P., The Business of Tour Operations, Pitman, London, 1995.
 Gregory A., The Travel Agent: Dealer in Dreams, Prentice Hall, London,
1990.
 Witt S.,and Moutinho L., Tourism, marketing and management handbook
(ed.) Prentice hall , UK.,1989.
 Holloway, J.C., The Business of Tourism, Pitman, 1992.
 Kamra K.K. and Chand Mohinder, Basics of Tourism- Theory, operation and
Practice,
 Kanishka publishers, and distributors, New Delhi, 2002.
 Syratt G., Manual of Travel Agency Practice, Butterworth, Oxford, 1995.
 IATA Manual
 Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Reports and guidelines for travel agency
and tour operators.
 Mill, Robert Christie, and Morrison, Alastair, M., The Tourism System.
 Leiper,N., Tourism System, 1990, p.22
 http://www.indialine.com/travel/heritage/
 http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31

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Department of Tourism Management

विभाग - पर्यटन प्रबंधन

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