Destination
Why Customized Travel Packages are Increasing in Importance
Today, people are looking for holidays that will suit their interests, budget, and style of travelling. Learn how customised travel packages can assist travel agencies in creating flexible experiences for their clients.
No longer are the travellers looking for ready-made trips that follow the same itinerary for all customers. Today, travellers look for a trip which corresponds to their tastes, financial situation, style of travelling, and expectations. Thus, personalised travel packages become more and more important for travel agents and tour operators.
What Is a Personalised Travel Package?
A personalised travel package is created taking into account the particular needs of the traveller or travellers. In contrast to conventional packages offered to any customer, in the case of a personalised one, it is possible to change different aspects of the journey, including:
Experience at the destination
Accommodation
Activities
Transportation
Length of the stay
Meal options
Sightseeing
Cost
Thus, there is greater flexibility in travelling.
Why Do Travellers Need Personalisation?
All the travellers have different expectations about their holidays. One family needs comfortable accommodations and family-orientated activities, whereas a couple prefers an intimate atmosphere and leisure. Friends need adventure, entertainment, and local experience. Personalisation makes it possible for travel companies to satisfy these different needs of travellers.
Improving Utilisation of the Traveller’s Budget
Personalisation need not necessarily make the journey costlier. Personalisation enables the traveller to spend his/her budget in areas he/she is interested in. For instance, one traveller might want a comfortable hotel stay and does not care much about activities, while another traveller would opt for a basic hotel package and invest in activities. Such insights enable the travel agent to design packages accordingly and give added value.
The Significance of DMCs in Personalisation
Destination Management Companies (DMCs) can be instrumental in designing a personalised experience for the traveller. A good DMC can help its travel partners with destination information, local suppliers, transport, hotels, activities and on-ground arrangements. This can provide the travel agent with more options to build up a package for the customer.
Incorporating Local Experiences Into the Travel Experience
Personalisation of travel need not necessarily exclude popular destinations. The travel agent can add the famous sightseeing destinations with the traveller’s interests. For instance, the itinerary can incorporate the top sightseeing destinations with local food experience, cultural activity, shopping experience or nature trips.
Flexibility Matters
Travel plans can be altered. It could mean an additional stay, substituting one thing with another or just staying put longer. Flexible tour programmes facilitate the changes. Working with flexible destination partners makes this task easier for travel agencies.
Implications for Travel Agents
Personalised offers may help the travel agency shift from the traditional marketing of fixed packages to the development of a trip according to the client's needs.
A simple scheme may look like that:
Understand → Plan → Personalise → Coordinate → Deliver
Thus a more customer-oriented travel service can be offered.
Future of Travel Planning
Traveling becomes increasingly personal. People do not wish to go through the same itinerary but would like to have a holiday that suits their preferences. It presents the travel agencies and DMCs with an opportunity to offer the clients a better deal. Personalisation does not mean offering something additional in a package. It means making the right choice