MAIN JOBS IN TOURISM

The Tour Operator -The tour operator works in a tourist company. He develops tours also known as tour packages. Tour packages include transportation, accommodation, catering, transfers and other services.

To develop a tour package the tour operator works with transportation companies (carriers), hotels, restaurants, museums and other suppliers. The tour operator usually markets the tours. He advertises them in mass media or in brochures. The tour operator is a wholesaler. He sells tour packages to travel agents wholesale and pays commission to them. Sometimes he sells tour packages direct to the public. Tour operators organize tours, so they are the main producers in the tourist industry.

The Travel Agent -The travel agent works in a travel company. The travel agent like the shop-assistant sells goods to customers. The goods which he offers are tour operator's packages. The travel agent is a retailer. He sells tour packages retail to consumers. He gets a commission from the tour operator. The commission is from 5 to 10 per cent of the tour cost. The travel agent also sells separate services: flights, hotel rooms, sightseeing tours, car rentals, travel insurances and so on. The travel agent works directly with the public. Travel agents are the main sellers in the tourist industry.

The Tourism Manager -The tour manager works in a tourist company. He runs some tourist business. He supervises all kind of operations in a tourist company and the tourist company staff.

Sometimes the tourism manager is just the head of some department in a large tourist company: a sales department, a marketing department, or a public relations department. In this case he reports to the general manager. The tourism manager plans tourist business: operations, new products, profits. He controls the results. In a travel company - a tour operator or a travel agency - he decides on development and promotion of new tour packages, advertising and sales. He also decides on prices and discounts. The tourism manager hires employees. He selects them and provides their training.

The Tour Guide -The tour guide handles tour groups. He shows tourists round a city, a sight, or a museum. The tour guide conducts sightseeing tours or tours of museums and exhibitions and is also called a conductor. The tour guide accompanies tourists during a local tour or during the whole journey. He or she caters to the needs of tourists. During a journey the tour guide deals with all kinds of problems. The tour guide interprets and translates well from one language into another. The tour guide knows a lot on history, geography, art and culture. He or she knows all the sights in a travel destination. He answers a lot of questions. The tour-guide is a friendly, easy-going and helpful person. Tourists also tip their guides if they like them.

The Animator -The animator organizes and provides entertainments for guests in a hotel, a holiday resort or on a cruise ship. He organizes and conducts parties, shows, sports or arts contests, games for children and grown-ups. He involves guests in action: games and shows. The chief animator manages the staff of animators. He is also called the social director. He communicates with guests a lot. The animator speaks a lot of languages. He is very artistic and usually dances and sings well and acts like an actor. The animator is an easy-going and cheerful person. He is a pretty good mixer. The animator is the main entertainer in the tourist industry.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 1315