NIOS Class 12 Tourism Chapter 24 Itinerary Planning and Tour Packaging

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NIOS Class 12 Tourism Chapter 24 Itinerary Planning and Tour Packaging

Also, you can read the NIOS book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of NIOS All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NIOS Class 12 Tourism Chapter 24 Itinerary Planning and Tour Packaging Solutions, NIOS Senior Secondary Course Tourism Solutions for All Chapter, You can practice these here.

Itinerary Planning and Tour Packaging

Chapter: 24

TEXTUAL QUESTION ANSWER

INTEX QUESTIONS 22.1

1. What is an itinerary?

Ans: Itinerary is a schedule or timetable prepared in association with a package tour.

2. Name the types of itinerary.

Ans: Client’s itinerary, tour manager’s itinerary, escort or guide’s itinerary, coach driver’s itinerary, vendor’s itinerary.

3. What is the difference between client’s and vendors itinerary?

Ans: Client’s itinerary is given to the client or tourist which carries actual route, points of halt, activities, stay etc. Whereas vendor’s itinerary is given to vendor of his specific portions so as to provide the agreed services when the group arrives at his point.

4. List the steps in planning an itinerary.

Ans: Research other similar tours in the market, naming the tour, list major locations and highlights, researching tour content, list third party activities etc., obtaining required permits, perfecting the timings and test driving the itinerary.

5. What types of permissions are required before finalising an itinerary?

Ans: Permissions such as access to private property, forest, sensitive zones, aboriginal lands, restricted areas etc.

INTEX QUESTIONS 22.2

1. What background information is required while preparing an itinerary?

Ans: Duration of tour, visiting time required, purpose, city and attractions information, mode of travel, special fares, cuisines of areas, special permits, nature of the group etc.

2. List out some major do’s of itinerary preparation.

Ans: Add all places of halt, summary and details of places of visit, hotel, vehicle information, route maps.

3. List out some major don’ts of itinerary preparation.

Ans: Don’t add too much of information, not to leave directions confusing, not to include shops, places and services which are not registered.

4. Mention any two features of itinerary for FIT.

Ans: Flexible for changes, designed with inputs of tourist’s interest, enough space for tourist’s personal activities.

5. Mention any two features of itinerary for GIT.

Ans: Fixed itinerary, religiously follows the schedule, no room for personal choice, cheaper than FIT, travel time limits.

INTEX QUESTIONS 22.3

1. What is package tour?

Ans: Package tour is the sum total of variety of services offered to the tourists in one price, which is normally less expensive than that of each individual item.

2. Name the types of tour package.

Ans: Independent tours, escorted tours, incentive tours, hosted tours and freedom tours.

3. What is an escorted package tour?

Ans: An escorted tour is conducted sending along with the group/individual a well trained, experienced and qualified, guide/escort to provide information and assistance to the group.

4. List some major elements of package tours.

Ans: Transportation (means of travel such as flights, railways, buses, ships etc.), accommodation facilities to stay at different points of halt, ground services such as luxury and other coaches, car rentals. Guides and interpreters, entertainment and activities, attractions at the destinations, insurance cover.

5. What is the major difference between an FIT and GIT package tour?

Ans: FITs are customised, flexible in changes and are generally costlier where as GITs follow fixed itinerary and provide only pre-decided services, cheaper compared to FITs and are based on common interest of a group.

INTEX QUESTIONS 22.4

1. List the steps involved in package tour formulation process.

Ans: Market research, itinerary preparation, deciding on type of services and suppliers, signing contracts, costing, designing brochures, marketing and documentation.

2. Who should the operators sign contracts with?

Ans: With service providers such as hotels, transportation, ground handlers etc.

3. Mention some tips for a good tour brochure.

Ans: Visually appealing, convey the right amount of information, consistent, simple to follow.

4. What is your voucher?

Ans: Tour vouchers/travel vouchers are ‘proof of payment’ for the services by the clients in advance, to the tour operators.

5. What is the benefit of tour programming?

Ans: Programming adds value to a package and makes it more appealing. This is done by adding attractive elements to a package. In the process, including itinerary with attractive programmes makes the clients feel the worth of it in purchasing the packages.

6. What is docketing in tour packaging?

Ans: Docketing in package tours is integral part of the whole process that involves necessary documents pertaining to a particular package tour are added to the list of docket and given to each tourist. Documents such as package purchase receipts, permit certificates, tour vouchers, special entry tickets, package tour client’s itinerary, brochure of the package tour, copies of deal agreement, sheets of terms and conditions, do’s and don’ts during the tour etc.

Terminal Exercise

1. Elaborate on the meaning, importance and types of tour itinerary.

Ans: Itinerary is a schedule for planning a journey that is basically designed to ídentify the route, day-by-day journey format, origin and destination including the enroute halting points, period of halts along with accommodation, mode of travel, activities and other services offered during a visitor’s tour. An itinerary is not just a piece of information but a selling point aimed at convincing potential customers. A package tour itinerary can be divided based on the duties and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in organizing a package.

Classification to remind individual responsibilities:

(i) Tourists’ itinerary: Tourists’ itinerary is given to a particular tourist for reference as part of the package tour in which the tour is expected to be organized as per the itinerary mentioned in the package tour purchased.

(ii) Tour manager’s itinerary: The role of tour manager is crucial to any package tour where he has to perform different duties from planning to actual operation of the tour continuously on the spot. Professional expertise, knowledge of different travel issues, crisis management and his own personal experiences matter a lot in organizing a tour.

(iii) Escort or guide’s itinerary: An escort or guide should know in detail where the group is being taken to, what activities and events are to be organized, time management of the tour and other group details.

(iv) Vendor’s itinerary: Vendors play a major role in delivering what is mentioned in the client’s itinerary.

(v) Coach driver’s itinerary: A typical coach driver’s itinerary includes group arrival point and time, pick-up points and time, turn around points, restricted areas of driving, sightseeing activities, other entertainment activities, parking spaces, entry points, drop-in points all with specific time.

2. Describe in detail the background information required for drawing a good itinerary and the steps involved in it.

Ans: Background information required for preparing itinerary:

(i) Duration of the tour.

(ii) Minimum time for visiting each city.

(iii) Purpose of travel and special interest.

(iv) Selecting cities to be included in the itinerary.

(v) Mode of intercity travel (by road, rail, air).

(vi) Selection of any special air fare or rail fare.

(vii) Selecting the hotels to be used.

(viii) First arrival and last departure from international airport.

(ix) Inclusion of places requiring restricted area permits.

(x) Best time for visiting.

Steps involved in planning a tour itinerary:

Step 1- Research other tours in the market place.

(i) Careful planning is required for developing an itinerary. 

(ii) A helpful exercise is to take a tour which will be similar to the tour you wish to develop and obtain copies of other tour brochures for comparison.

Step 2- Name your tour.

Step 3- Map out the duration, frequency and departure point of your tour.

Step 4- List the major locations and highlights of your tour.

Step 5- Research your tour content and commentary.

• List the main topics you wish to include in your commentary, such as flora, fauna, history, culture, as well as the main points to consider with each of these topics and the resources you will use to find the information.

Step 6- List any third party activities, attractions, entrance fees and inclusions.

• List any activities offered by other companies or entrance fees and determine if they will be included in your tour price or offered as extras.

Step 7- Obtain permission to access private and public properties.

(i) Permission needs to be accessed in prior from private property owners for passing through, stopping for meals or visiting attractions.

(ii) For the property managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation, one needs to apply for a Commercial Operator’s License for travelling in that area.

(iii) In case the itinerary includes entering Aboriginal Land or restricted area one is required to apply for Entry Permits for which access approval gain is needed. 

Step 8- Perfecting your tour timing.

(i) It is crucially important to map out your tour itinerary accurately to ensure that you arrive on time for activity and meal stops and return to your original destination at a reasonable time.

Step 9 – Test driving your tour itinerary.

(i) It is very important to do several ‘try runs’ of your tour itinerary to ensure you get the timing right.

3. List out the do’s and don’ts of itinerary preparation.

Ans: Do’s and Don’ts of itinerary preparation:

Do’s

(i) Do add all places of halt with date and time.

(ii) Do provide a brief summary of the city(s)/country and the sights.

(iii) Do provide name of the hotel, type of vehicle, time of arrival and departure.

(iv) Do include meal plans.

(v) Do provide links for additional information about the city, country, sights, restaurants, hotels.

(vi) Do provide as many relevant maps as possible.

(vii) Do provide names and places written in the local language.

(viii) Do provide unique information about the destination.

Don’ts

(i) Do add all places of halt with date and time.

(ii) Do provide a brief summary of the city(s)/country and the sights.

(iii) Do provide name of the hotel, type of vehicle, time of arrival and departure.

(iv) Do include meal plans.

(v) Do provide links for additional information about the city, country, sights, restaurants, hotels.

(vi) Do provide as many relevant maps as possible.

(vii) Do provide names and places written in the local language.

(viii) Do provide unique information about the destination.

4. Explain the meaning, types and elements of package tours.

Ans: Package tour is the sum total of a variety of services offered to the tourists in one price, which normally is less expensive than that of each individual item. Package tours are very economical and convenient for tourists as they help them locate tourist spots, hotel and modes of conveyance with ease and at the right moment.

Types of Package Tours: 

(i) Escorted Tour: An escorted tour is conducted by sending along with the group/individual a well-trained, experienced, and qualified guide/escort. They provide information and assistance regarding flight boarding, baggage handling, hotel check-in, meal arrangements, and interpretation about tourist places during sightseeing and the entire trip.

(ii) Independent Tour: A package tour is called an independent tour when tourists want to travel on their own. It is designed for those who want only selected services of their interest included in the package.

(iii) Hosted Tour: A hosted tour refers to a tour handled by another agency, ground operator, or destination management agency acting as a representative of the tour operator, wholesaler, or principal provider.

(iv) Incentive Tour: Incentive tours are organized package tours conducted for employees and usually sponsored by business firms or corporate houses as incentives for performance.

(v) Freedom Tour: Such tours are designed according to the choices and preferences of the tourists.

Major Elements of a Package Tour:

(vi) Accommodation:

(a) Accommodation is a vital element and comprises a major part of the total cost of the tour.

(c) Primary service providers include star category hotels, resorts, business hotels, and international hotels.

(d)  Supplementary providers include lodges, homestays, guest houses, bungalows, and service apartments.

(vii) Attractions/Sightseeing: Sightseeing and visiting key attractions are among the most appealing and important components of a package tour.

(viii) Transportation:

Transportation is essential for any tour and is a focal component. Modes of transport include:

(a) Airways: Plays a major role in the modern travel industry.

(b) Railways: Widely used in countries like India and Europe for package tours.

(c) Ships/Cruise/Ferry Services: Used for water transport and cruise-based tourism.

(d) Bus Services: Commonly used for short-distance domestic package tours.

(ix) Ground Services:

(a)  These services support tourists at destinations for local travel, guidance, and interpretation.

(b)  Includes car rentals, luxury coaches, local cabs, and guide/interpreter services.

(c) They ensure better movement and understanding at the tourist destination.

5. Explain the steps involved in the tour package formulation process.

Ans: Package tour formulation process:  

(i) Formulation of a package tour involves managerial approach and the process involves proper planníng, itinerary preparation, designing, costing and marketing.

(ii) Research and development of firms invest time, money, experience and knowledge in the formulation of package tours.

Steps in Package Tour Formulation Process:

(i) Market Research: Marketing research involves the study of the economy of the country to be visited, foreign exchange rate, demand for the product, consumer profile, competitors in the market, studying the product components like sightseeing, transport, baggage allowance, ground service etc., sales status, channels of distribution, and promotional measures.

(ii) Prepare an Itinerary:  A well-planned itinerary holds the key to the success of a package tour. It needs to incorporate exciting places of interest and enough scope for events and activities.

(iii) Identification:  Identify and decide on mode of travel, hotels, destinations, dates, capacity, and other components.

(iv) Contracts: Sign contracts with principal service providers well in advance.
Contracts for timely delivery of services by hotels, transportation, entry permits, ground handlers etc. must be signed.

(v) Costing of the Package: After signing contracts and designing the package, systematic costing is done. The total cost incurred towards all elements of the package is summed up and a mark-up is added before finalizing the price tag.

(vi) Tour Brochure:  Promotional material is another important aspect of the formulation process. Both print and electronic media are used, but brochures are an integral part that play a major role.

(vii) Marketing of the Product: Based on market demand, suitable marketing strategies are framed, The product is marketed through brochures and other promotional materials.

(viii) Documentation: This final step includes providing a copy of the client’s itinerary, tour vouchers, travel and entry tickets, luggage labels, and other useful information for the client

6. Design a brochure of your own for a domestic tour package.

Ans: 

7. Write short notes on the following:

(a) Tour voucher.

Ans: Tour vouchers are ‘proof of payment’ for the services by the clients in advance to the tour operators. The client pays a lump sum amount to a tour operator for their entire package or parts of the package that are organized by a tour company. The tour company is responsible for paying each service provider in the package. As per the agreement vouchers should be accepted by the supplier as proof of payment, retained and submitted to the tour operator along with an invoice for payment, after the service has been provided.

(b) Docketing for package tours.

Ans: Docketing in package tours is integral to the whole process. All the necessary documents pertaining to a particular package tour are added to the list of docket and given to each tourist. Such documents include package purchase receipts, permit certificates, tour vouchers, special entry tickets, package tour client’s itinerary, brochure of the package tour, copies of deal agreement, sheets of terms and conditions, dos and don’ts during the tour etc.

(c) Tour programming.

Ans: Better programming of a package tour adds value to it and makes it more appealing other than the core activities of sightseeing and excursion. This is done by adding attractive elements to a package. In the process, including itinerary with attractive programmes makes the clients feel the worth of it in purchasing the packages. Programming increases the quality of packages as a variety of activities are added such as angling, dancing, photography, music, painting, sculpting, swimming, fishing, rowing, trekking, cooking, cultivating. surfing, canoeing, etc.