Tour Operator | Career Planet

What is a Tour Operator?

A Tour Operator is usually responsible for creating and co-ordinating package holidays. They work independently or for large tour companies.

These packaged vacations usually include:

all necessary travel arrangements (flights, airport shuttles, busses, boat, trains, etc)
accommodation
entrance fees to museums, art galleries, parks, historical sites and other places of interest etc

Some Tour Operators specialise in a particular field of vacations.

For example:

wildlife photography holidays
art & painting holidays
adventure holidays (gorilla trekking, climbing Kilimanjaro etc)
golfing holidays
walking (slack-packing) holidays
4×4 holidays etc

If a Tour Operator specialises – then they usually come with in-depth knowledge and passion for that kind of tour. This is necessary as guests will have a load of questions and the Tour Operator will need to be on top of their game and be ready, most of the time, with the answers.

What does a Tour Operator do?

researching and visiting new places of interest so that they may be included in a ‘new’ tour
meeting with local communities to discuss possible inclusions in tours
planning and co-ordinating itineraries
working out costings
making bookings, paying deposits, issuing tickets
printing out itineraries for clients
assisting clients with any queries
dealing with problems: lost luggage, delayed flights etc
sometimes traveling with their tour group
keeping detailed records

Are you … ?

interested in the travel industry?
a peoples’ person?
organised?
polite and professional?
friendly and patient?
detail orientated?
fit and healthy?
a person with logistical skills?
a problem solver?
willing to work long and unusual hours?
have excellent communication skills
enthusiastic and energetic?
able to remain calm in emergencies?

How do I become a Tour Operator?

There are no direct ways of becoming a Tour Operator.

You may consider first becoming a Tour Guide for a couple of years and collect experience along route before becoming a Tour Operator or, you could complete various courses in tourism that will assist you in becoming a successful Tour Operator.

Obviously the more skills you collect, the more successful you will be.

Here are a few examples: