Updated March 2023 – The travel industry has experienced a significant shift in recent years, with an increasing number of travelers opting for packaged tours instead of planning their own trips. Not only are these tours convenient and affordable, but they also provide an opportunity for travelers to experience new destinations without the stress of planning. As a tour operator, it’s important to understand the importance of selling your outbound or inbound tour operations online effectively.

In this article, we’ll explore eight key tips for how to promote tour packages.

What are tour packages?

Tour packages have become increasingly popular among travelers as they offer a hassle-free way to experience new destinations. With a variety of elements rolled into one, including accommodation, transportation, activities, and more, these packages are an easy solution for those looking to explore a new place without the stress of planning. Additionally, purchasing a tour package can be more cost-efficient than buying each service individually. As a tour operator, knowing how to sell a travel package effectively is particularly crucial. 

Now that you have an understanding of what tour packages are, let’s proceed to the 8 key tips on how to sell tour packages online.

8 tips on how to sell tour packages online 

1. Create appealing tour packages

First things first. To successfully sell tours online, you need to start creating the perfect tour package that is  enticing for your target market. By understanding your target market, you’ll understand what they want and how to effectively market towards them.

For example, if you’re trying to target ‘generation x’, you’ll come to understand that you’re mostly targeting a group of people that prioritize family-friendly tours. On top of that, they also seek affordability and the ability to relax and unwind when on vacation above any other factors.

Understanding your audience will help you curate the perfect tour packages and allow you to understand how to sell tour packages online that cater to a specific target market. 

2. Promote your tour packages effectively

Marketing plays a critical role in generating sales and promoting tour packages to customers. With so many different resellers in the market, it’s essential to have a robust marketing strategy that can help you stand out from the competition. While handing out flyers and brochures can be effective, the majority of customers now prefer to book online. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a strong online presence to attract and retain customers. To enhance your online marketing efforts and learn how to sell tour packages online effectively, consider the following:

  • Ensure you have a mobile-friendly website with 24/7 online booking 
  • Advertise via social media and/or paid search
  • Create quality content on your website and social media to drive organic traffic 
  • Request customer reviews through automated follow-up messaging
  • Make the most of your customer database by sending personalized email marketing
  • Maintain cohesive branding and storytelling across all channels for a rich customer experience.

3. Optimize your website

tips on how to sell tourism packages

Now that your future customers have discovered your business through your marketing, their next point of contact with your business is your website. Having an optimized website that’s both user-friendly and easy to navigate will add to a positive customer experience that will ease the booking process.

Key features of an optimized website include:

  • A mobile-friendly experience
  • Enhanced page speed
  • Search Engine Optimized (SEO)
  • Content that is both appealing and useful
  • Ease of navigation (i.e schemas, CTAs, efficient booking process)

To be able to accept online bookings is also essential for an optimized website. It allows your customers to book instantly and reduces your admin duties.

For instance, with an online booking system like Rezdy, you can optimize your website by providing your customers with real-time availability, automatic updates, a secure and easy payment process, and so much more. Plus, Rezdy makes it easy to create a website in one click, so you can start booking more tours and generating more revenue in no time. 

4. Keep your pricing consistent

Create a price early, and remain consistent. The price for your package should be established at least a year in advance. When creating a price for the package, be sure to take into consideration all of your operating costs, including equipment, staff, marketing, meals, maintenance, and product development.

5. Offer flexible payment options

benefits of online bookings

When it comes to knowing how to sell a travel package effectively, offering flexible payment options is an absolute must. 

As a tour operator, it’s important to remember that not every traveler has the same financial situation. Some travelers may prefer to pay in full upfront, while others may need the option to pay in installments to manage their budget. Offering flexible payment options ensures that you cater to a wide range of customers and make your packages more accessible to everyone.

Providing multiple payment options also helps build trust with your customers. It shows that you are willing to work with them to make their dream vacation a reality. By offering payment plans, you are sending a message that you understand and care about their needs, and are willing to accommodate them. This can help establish a loyal customer base and increase the likelihood of repeat business.

When promoting your tour packages, make sure to highlight the payment options available to your customers. This can be done through clear and concise messaging on your website and social media channels, as well as in your email marketing campaigns.

6. Partner up with resellers

Working with resellers is becoming an increasingly popular method to boost booking levels and generate multiple streams of income. By promoting your packages via resellers, you’re increasing your exposure and awareness to a wider audience. 

There are many ways you can partner up with agents to resell your products. One method is to join a tour operator marketplace that connects you with thousands of agents ready to resell your products.

For instance, Rezdy Channel Manager connects you instantly with thousands of resellers across the world. With Rezdy Channel Manager, you can remain in control of your commission rates, showcase real-time availability to avoid double booking and expand your reach to thousands of your future customers.

Curious to see if Rezdy Channel Manager is right for you? Book a demo today.

7. Respond helpfully to inquiries

When it comes to selling packaged tours, responding helpfully to customer inquiries is one of the most crucial aspects of the sales process. When a potential customer contacts a tour operator with questions or concerns, they are often seeking reassurance and guidance in making a purchasing decision. By providing helpful and informative responses, a seller can establish trust with the customer and showcase their expertise in the field.

positive reviews

One of the primary benefits of responding helpfully to customer inquiries is that it can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. When customers feel that their questions are being answered and their concerns are being addressed, they are more likely to feel confident in their decision to book a tour. This can result in a more positive overall experience, which can in turn lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

In addition to building trust with customers, responding helpfully to inquiries can also help sellers to differentiate themselves from their competitors. In today’s competitive travel industry, customers have a wide variety of options to choose from when it comes to booking a tour. By demonstrating a high level of knowledge and expertise, a seller can set themselves apart from the competition and position themselves as a trusted authority in their field.

8. Time your promotions right

How and when you sell your products is key to maximizing your bookings. Promoting your product during the high season may be the easiest way to gain bookings, but there’s also a high competition rate. Being strategic about your timing will help you have steady booking rates all year round.

In addition, you can also create an alternative package that helps you increase your bookings during the slow tourism season for your region. Have patience, it can take 2 years or more to see an increase in your profits, but if you package your products correctly, your business will begin growing to the next level.

Of course, if you are going to offer an incredible package to your travelers, you need to make it easy for your customers to book. One way to do this is to implement an online booking system that increases your efficiency and showcases your live availability. Rezdy is an online booking system created just for tour and activity providers. It provides customizable tools that allow you to personalize the system for your specific needs. In addition, it connects you with agents that make it easy for you to distribute your products.

Curious to see if Rezdy is right for you? Start your FREE 21-day trial or request a demo today.

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