ITINERARY PREPRATION AND TOUR PACKAGING BTTM 302 BLOCK 1 ITINERARY MEANING, NATURE AND SCOPE Uttarakhand Open University 1 ITINERARY PREPRATION AND TOUR PACKAGING BTTM 302 UNIT 1 ITINERARY: HISTORICAL EVOLUTION, CONCEPT AND DEFINITION 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. Uttarakhand Open University 2 ITINERARY PREPRATION AND TOUR PACKAGING BTTM 302 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 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 Uttarakhand Open University 3 ITINERARY PREPRATION AND TOUR PACKAGING BTTM 302 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. 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. Uttarakhand Open University 4 ITINERARY PREPRATION AND TOUR PACKAGING BTTM 302 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, 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 communications 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 specially 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 Uttarakhand Open University 5 ITINERARY PREPRATION AND TOUR PACKAGING BTTM 302 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.