Updated March 2023 – Considering how to set up a tour operator business in your area?

You could be about to launch into one of the most exciting industries around and give people amazing lifelong memories – but the nitty gritty of getting started can still be a little daunting! We’ve covered some of the essential steps that will help you steer and launch your tour business ideas successfully.

Here are 6 steps on how to start your tour and travel company the right way.

First, starting a business in a commitment

Starting a tour business requires a lot of time, effort, and dedication. Before diving in, it is important to understand that starting any business is a commitment. It requires a significant investment of time, money, and energy. You need to be passionate about what you do and prepared to face challenges and setbacks.

But with the right planning, strategies, and mindset, you can overcome any obstacle and fully understand how to start a tour guide business that is successful and enjoyable to run.

1. Getting started

Identify your target market and niche

The first step in starting a tour operator business is to identify your target market and niche. Who are your ideal customers, and what types of tours and activities do they enjoy? Are you targeting adventure seekers, families, or history enthusiasts? Once you have identified your target market, you can develop tours and activities that cater to their needs and interests.

Develop a business plan

how to start a tour guide business

A business plan is a crucial document that outlines your company’s mission, goals, strategies, and financial projections. It serves as a roadmap that guides your business decisions and helps you stay focused and organized. A good tour operator business plan should include an executive summary, market analysis, marketing and sales strategies, operations plan, financial projections, and funding requirements. It will also take into account the permits and licenses you may need to apply for.

When finalized, your business plan will set out your roadmap for success, and minimize wasted time and resources as you build your business. 

Secure financing for your business

Starting a tour business can be expensive, and you will need to secure financing to cover your startup costs. Whether you are starting with a modest budget or have a large amount of money to invest, there are various options for financing your business, including personal savings, bank loans, crowdfunding, and angel investors. Before choosing a financing option, it is essential to have a clear understanding of your business’s financial needs, cash flow, and revenue projections. You should also research the pros and cons of each financing option and choose the one that best suits your business’s needs and goals.

2. Legal requirements 

Get your business registered

Before launching your tour business, you will need to register your company with the appropriate government agencies. This process may vary depending on your location but typically involves registering your business name, obtaining a business license, and registering for taxes. You may also need to obtain permits or licenses specific to your industry, such as a tour operator license or transportation permit.

Check local and national regulations

In addition to registering your business, you will need to ensure that you comply with local and national regulations. These regulations may include safety standards, environmental regulations, insurance requirements, and labor laws. It is crucial to research and understand the regulations that apply to your business to avoid legal issues or fines down the line.

Consider liability insurance

how to start a tour operator business

Liability insurance is essential for any tour business. It protects your company from financial losses in the event of accidents, injuries, or property damage during your tours. Liability insurance can also help build trust and credibility with your customers, as it shows that you take their safety and well-being seriously.

3. Building your tour

Establish your tour’s Unique Selling Point

To stand out in the crowded tour industry when starting a tour business, it is essential to establish a Unique Selling Point (USP) for your tours. Your USP is what sets your tours apart from your competitors and makes them more attractive to your target customers. It could be anything from a unique itinerary, a particular theme, or an exclusive experience that only your company can offer.

Develop tour pricing strategies

Pricing your tours correctly is crucial for the success of your business. You need to find the right balance between profitability and affordability to attract customers and generate revenue. Researching your competitors’ pricing strategies can help you set competitive prices, but it is also essential to consider your costs, profit margins, and customer value.

Build relationships with suppliers

To provide high-quality tours and experiences, you need to build strong relationships with your suppliers when starting a tour guide business, such as hotels, transportation providers, and activity operators. Building long-term relationships with your suppliers can help you negotiate better prices, ensure availability, and provide a seamless customer experience.

4. Your brand identity and store

Develop a brand that resonates with your target audience

Your brand image can make all the difference to whether and how your customers book with you. First, check out our guide to creating the right name for your tourism business. 

Consider how you want to come across to your customers. Are you a warm and welcoming family company, or would you like to exude a sense of exclusivity and luxury? These decisions will shape how you design your visual branding, tell your brand story, come up with tour package name ideas and build your online presence over web, social media, and reseller websites. 

Build a user-friendly website to market your tours

In today’s digital age, having a user-friendly website is essential for marketing your tours and reaching your target customers. Your website should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and optimized for search engines. It should also provide all the necessary information about your tours, such as itineraries, prices, and booking options.

Learn how you can improve your website’s health by following these steps in our FREE website health checklist.

Promote your tours on social media

Tourism marketing idea

Social media is a powerful marketing tool for tour businesses. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can help you reach a broader audience, engage with your customers, and promote your tours. You can use social media to showcase your tours’ unique features, share customer testimonials, and run promotional campaigns.

Partner with DMOs and travel agencies

Partnering with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and travel agencies can help you reach a broader audience and increase your bookings. DMOs and travel agencies have established relationships with tourists and travelers, and they can help you market and promote your tours to their clients.

To begin with, you should identify the DMOs and travel agencies in your area that cater to your target market. Once you have a list, reach out to them and set up a meeting to discuss your partnership. Highlight your unique selling points, tour offerings, and target audience to them. It’s important to showcase the value that you bring to the table and how your partnership can benefit both parties.

5. Customer service and operations

Hire knowledgeable and friendly tour guides

Your tour guides are the face of your business and can make or break the customer experience. Hire guides who are knowledgeable about the destinations you visit, passionate about their work, and have excellent communication skills.

Train guides to handle complaints effectively

No matter how well you plan, unexpected situations can arise during a tour, and complaints can happen. Train your guides to handle complaints effectively and to find solutions that can satisfy customers.

Ensure smooth tour operators

Before every tour, make sure that everything is in order, such as transportation, tickets, and reservations. Communicate any changes or delays to your customers promptly and professionally.

Collect customer feedback

starting a tour guide business

Feedback will help you to really understand and refine your offerings both before and after you launch your tourism business. Take your friends and family on your tours and activities before you launch and gauge their responses. Consider offering local concierges or travel agents a free version of the experience, then gather their feedback and ask for recommendations. And most importantly, request and respond to customer feedback and analytics once you launch. Success all comes down to your customer experience

6. Launch and beyond

 

Expand your tour business

As you begin growing your tours and activity business, consider expanding your tour offerings to attract new customers and increase your revenue. You may even be able to add new destinations, activities, or packages that cater to your target market!

Invest in technology

Investing in technology can help tour operators save time, streamline operations, and enhance customer experiences. With the right technology, tour operators can automate their booking process, manage inventory, and stay organized.

One tool that can help with this is tour booking management software, such as Rezdy. Rezdy allows tour operators to manage their bookings and inventory in one central location, automating much of the administrative work that comes with running a tour business. Additionally, it allows tour operators to create and manage tour schedules, set up payment processing, and track their performance in real-time.

starting a tour operator business

Nurture your network

Networking can be a large part of how tour operators work and thrive as distribution and referral channels are key. Are there local hotels that could benefit by recommending your tours or activities to guests? Could you offer delectable treats from a local food producer in the middle of your tours to enhance your customer experience?

It may be worth connecting with your local chamber of commerce or business network, and almost certainly reaching out on Rezdy Marketplace to see which resellers you can connect with in the area. The platform makes it easy to set custom commission rates for each travel agent.

Build a loyal customer base

Building a loyal customer base is essential for any tour business. A loyal customer base can provide a steady stream of revenue and act as advocates for your business, referring new customers and leaving positive reviews.

To build a loyal customer base, tour operators should focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences. This means going above and beyond to meet customer needs, answering their questions, and providing a memorable experience that they will want to share with others. When customers have a positive experience with a tour operator, they are more likely to return and recommend the business to others.

One way to build a loyal customer base is to offer personalized experiences tailored to individual customer preferences. This means taking the time to get to know your customers and their interests and providing customized recommendations for tours and activities. Tour operators can also offer loyalty programs, such as discounts for repeat customers or incentives for referrals, to encourage customers to return and refer others.

Start your tour and activity business with Rezdy

When learning how to start a business within the tours and activity space, the right support and resources can be key. Book a personalized product demo of Rezdy today, or get started with a free 21-day trial of our powerful booking software.

If you enjoyed this article then make sure to follow the Rezdy blog. There are a lot of marketing, business & industry tips for operators and resellers.

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