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A Quick Guide to Starting a Tour & Travel Business in India!
Does the hospitality industry intrigue you? Are you passionate about everything that relates to tours, travel, leisure, and cuisine? If yes, you are born to launch your own tour and travel business! Owning a travel agency is a lot of fun. You meet new people who are as passionate about travel as you are. You spread holiday vibes all across and enjoy a joyful work environment.
However, opening your own travel agency in India can be hectic at the beginning. But once, opened, you will enjoy a long period of fun. So, if you are excited to know how you can start your own travel business in India, here we offer the complete guide to you! Let’s scroll down and find out.
What Does A Tour & Travel Agency Do?
Simply put, a travel agency is responsible for organizing and managing people’s tours. From online ticket booking to itinerary planning, travel agencies organize and manage everything while also ensuring safe travel and sound returns. So, as a travel agency, you will be:
✓ Booking Ticket for the Travelers
✓ Planning Hassle-free Trips
✓ Helping Them in Budget Management
✓ Plan Itinerary for Them
✓ Suggest Multiple Travel Packages
✓ Ensure A Safe & Sound Travel Experience
The Evolution of the Tour & Travel Industry with Growing Digitalization
Previously, tour and travel agencies were confined to brick-and-mortar stores. But these days, information technology is a crucial part of every business industry. Be it healthcare, education, real estate, or even tour & travel.
Therefore, just by opening a physical office, you cannot become an independent and leading business. Rather, you will also have to equip different digital tools, such as:
✓ A Comprehensive Travel Booking Software
✓ Itinerary Planning Software
✓ Customer Relation Management Software (CRM)
✓ Employee Management Software (for internal use)
These digital weapons will help you fight your daily battles effortlessly. So, let’s now get a quick look at how you can start your own tour & travel agency, step by step.
How Can I Start My Own Tour & Travel Company in India?
With the above introduction, a lot must be clear to you already. However, let us have a quick view on some further details for a better launch in the travel market. Here is a step-by-step approach to starting a tour and travel business in India:
- Start With Market Research & Competitor Analysis
First of all, you must research the market trends that your existing competitors are setting. By competitors, we mean by the existing business giants and also the top-performing travel businesses in your area. These will include:
- Make My Trip
- Go iBibo
- Yatra
- Thomas Cook
- Trivago
- Other Travel Agencies within 7-8 Kms of your target area
Check their websites, and services (niche and value-added), and try to get information on their pricing plans and offers they provide. Understand what makes them demanded among travellers. This will help you understand how you can differentiate, and do better.
- Check Your Savings & Plan A Budget
Next, plan your budget wisely. As stated earlier, you are not supposed to open a small workspace alone. Rather, you will also need some digital solutions, such as travel booking software and more. Therefore, you will need to allocate your finances separately for both offline and online business assets.
To get a clear idea on the distribution, it is best to contact the real estate agents and travel booking software development company simultaneously. Get quotations from them and analyse your budget accordingly.
- Search for Office Space
Always remember, that establishing rapport with your clients is very important. Especially in the travel industry. The travelers come with high spirits and they love leisure. They also crave hospitable staff in their surroundings to match their vibes.
Therefore, as a travel company, we advise that you must have a cosy and joyful workspace where you can meet your clients (who will be travellers). This is the chance to impress them with your hospitality and establish rapport with them. Therefore, always open a physical agency before anything and make its environment lively. Even if it is a small place, it does not matter. But it must exist.
- Do Not Overlook Online Presence (software, website, app etc)
Once, established rapport with the clients, they might not like the idea of visiting your office even for small things. Therefore, in addition to a physical workspace, you must also have the following digital essentials:
- Travel Booking Software
- A Website with Travel API, Bus Booking API, Hotel Booking API, and Flight Booking API
- If possible, A Travel Booking Mobile App
- Online KYC Facilities
- Pay Online Facilities
You can avail of these facilities from any travel software development company of your choice. Now you are good to go!
- Register Your Company with IATA & Other Indian Government Bodies
So, once you have set up all the physical and digital essentials for your tour and travel business, it is now time to register your company with the government bodies. Registration is the third pillar of your travel agency after physical workspace and online presence.
So, ensure that you get approvals from authorities like the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Tourism etc. Also, seek the GST registration number. This way, you can function hassle-free.
- Now Tie-Up With Your Subordinates
Now, it is time to make partnerships with hotels, bus agencies, airlines, and cab companies. Get them registered on your online travel portal so that travellers can search and filter varying options at their convenience.
Also, when you tie up with these companies, there is a chance that you might have special pricing plans and offers from them. The more competitive you keep the pricing, the more customers you get on your list.
Therefore, making tie-ups with these subordinates helps you run your business in a better and smoother way.
- Start Marketing Your Services
Finally, you are all set to launch your travel agency on the market. Now Market your business using print media and electronic media. Always start with your local surroundings. Distribute colourful and eye-catching pamphlets, print advertisements in the newspapers and magazines, and put stylish banners in the city.
Also, use digital marketing services, work on your website’s SEO, and social media campaigns, and create as many business listings for yourself as possible. Certainly, you will begin to get traffic in-store and online!
Congratulations! Now You’re A Renowned Tour & Travel Agency in India!
So, many congratulations on your pompous launch. We hope that you will outshine the market competition in the travel industry much sooner. Do not forget to combine your offline presence with an elevated online presence. While choosing and designing the business property, also finalise a reliable travel portal development company! This will speed up the establishment phase for your business, and you will be able to launch it seamlessly. So, all the best for your journey ahead!
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