Itinerary Preparation and Tour Packaging (MTTM 302)
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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 Uttarakhand Open University 1 ITINERARY PERPARATION AND TOUR PACKAGING MTTM 302 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 Uttarakhand Open University 2 ITINERARY PERPARATION AND TOUR PACKAGING MTTM 302 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 Uttarakhand Open University 3 ITINERARY PERPARATION AND TOUR PACKAGING MTTM 302 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. Uttarakhand Open University 4 ITINERARY PERPARATION AND TOUR PACKAGING MTTM 302 There are essentially two types of itineraries: 1. A General Itinerary that is aimed at and marketed to a wide variety