... Costa Rica Travel ... |
... What is a Tour Operator? ...
by infocostarica.com
staff
Thinking
of visiting Costa Rica? Then chances are you’ve searched
the web or purchased a travel guide in hopes of finding the best
value in flights, accommodations and tour options. Some people
prefer to go at it alone, booking a flight with an airline, reserving
their own hotel room and then maybe, if they’re lucky, stumbling
upon the perfect adventure tour. For the independent traveler
with a lot of time on his or her hands, this may be the way to
go. But for many of us, without the time to research every available
hotel and travel option, there is a solution – tour operators.
You may
well ask what’s the difference between a tour operator and
a travel agency? In many circles the distinction between the two
has become blurred. There are, however, some well-defined differences
well worth mentioning.
A tour
operator is a company that actually puts a vacation together,
taking all the various elements such as flights, transfers and
accommodation, and packaging them to sell. A travel agency, on
the other hand, acts as a retail outlet to sell the packages offered
by the many tour operators.
The rapid
rise of Costa Rica’s tourism industry, during the past fifteen
years, has brought a host of tour operators dedicated to offering
everything from white water rafting to bungee jumping or sightseeing
at a nearby volcano. Unfortunately, as is the case in most rapid
growth situations, quality has at times taken a back seat to quantity.
With the
variety of options available, choosing a reliable tour operator
may seem like a daunting task. But it really doesn’t have
to be. Look for a company with a proven safety record, check the
operator’s brochures, licenses and ask for references. Take
a look at the company’s website, who are they affiliated
with, is the company licensed by the Costa Rican Institute of
Tourism? Also, make sure you are dealing with a real “brick
and mortar “ operation, and not just a virtual “company”
with a P.O. Box and some travel broker looking for his next commission.
An established company with offices and employees will tend to
offer names and telephone numbers, copyright text and consistent
quality across the site.
While
you may choose to work with a tour operator from your own country
and reserve a trip before you arrive at your destination, it is
usually cheaper and easier to work with an experienced local tour
operator that has the inside knowledge of a destination and access
to certain areas or attractions that a foreign company may not.
Are there
any disadvantages to using a tour operator? Some point to a loss
of flexibility and having to pay higher prices for itinerary modifications.
The truth is most tour operators have now responded to the demands
of customers requiring more flexibility in their travel arrangements,
by offering custom-made itineraries and allowing travelers to
pick and choose only those elements they require.
So whether you’ve decided on an exciting jungle adventure,
a relaxing sun soaked beach resort, or both, a tour operator can
help make your vacation dreams come true!
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