Celebrating the New Year and Christmas abroad has become available to many Russian citizens. Increased demand creates supply. The high profitability of the tourism business has led to the appearance on the market of services of a huge number of travel agencies. But the quality of services depends not only on the professionalism of the organizers. As the tourist season of 2014 showed, the most stable tour operators are not insured against the crisis.
The situation in 2014 has no analogues in the history of domestic tourism. In connection with the suspension of the activities of a number of travel agencies suffered nearly 200,000 tourists who entrusted them with the organization of their holidays.
Factors that caused the collapse of travel agencies
Analysts disagree. One of the main reasons is the drop in demand for European destinations due to the unstable political situation. However, the situation is offset by the demand for tours in the South-East direction.
Another reason is the adventurous financial policies of some firms. The mechanism, when last-minute tours are paid for by prepayment for booked tours, worked with stable demand.
Many tour operators work on credit. The surge in the dollar and euro, coupled with falling demand, has left many firms financially insolvent.
First of all, tourists who paid for the services of the tour operator and who got into unpaid tours were affected.
How to spend a vacation abroad and not become a victim of a tour operator
Whatever the reasons for the collapse of the travel agency, it is important for a tourist to receive all the declared services and spend time with benefit and pleasure.
To do this, you must choose the right tour operator. Before buying a ticket for the New Year, it is necessary, no matter how trite it sounds, to study the company offering its services.
It is not a fact that a long existence in the travel services market and an extensive client base can guarantee uninterrupted work - this was clearly demonstrated by the practice of the 2014 season.
- The travel agency must have a contract with an insurance company that will provide travel insurance, which guarantees against many unpleasant situations. The tour can be guaranteed by a loan agreement concluded by a tour operator with a reliable bank. The guarantor or insurance organization will take on the responsibility to reimburse claims, therefore, before buying a hot tour, it is necessary to check the financial situation of the company. All insurances and contracts must be valid for the entire duration of the tour.
- There is an organization: "Association of tour operators in the field of outbound tourism" Tourpomosch ". Membership in this organization guarantees the clients of the travel agency emergency assistance in any force majeure situation that a tourist may encounter on a foreign tour. Membership data can be checked in the Unified Federal Register, on the resource Association. Actually, a self-respecting travel agency must provide all certificates, licenses and agreements in the form of documents displayed in the frames at the entrance to the office. There should also be contact information for "Tourist assistance".
- Before putting the final signature on the contract, you need to make sure that the departure dates, the possibility of transferring the flight, the availability of guarantees and penalties are required.
Tour operator, travel agency - what's the difference
The travel agent cooperates directly with the client. The tour operator creates a product and sells it through agencies, which can be several. Sometimes the tour operator can independently act as a travel agent. When organizing a tour, the tour operator and the travel agent enter into a financial relationship. It is important for the client to see the movement of funds and have documentary evidence of payment for the tour. Only in the presence of these documents, a tourist can count on insurance payments in case of an unsuccessful trip.
