How to convince your clients to take a coach tour
POPULAR culture tends to
portray escorted, or coach
tours, as the preferred
travel method of choice for the
elderly or unadventurous. As
a result, agents have had to
work hard to combat some of
the misperceptions travellers
already have and focus on the
many benefits associated with
bus tours. In fact, with the
volatility of the rand and global
political instability, coach tours
could be poised to make a
dramatic comeback.
Research released by the
UK-based Coach Tourism
Association, found that 43%
of respondents who had never
taken a coach tour said they
were likely to try it for the first
time within five years.
Chris Wales, chief executive
of the Coach Tourism
Association, says: “As you
might expect, coach travel is
most favoured by the over-
65s, but almost 40% of our
respondents are below
that age.
“Luxury is a third
assumption. More than a
third of over-65s see coaches
as a luxury form of travel,
which any coach traveller
knows, and almost a quarter
of those who don’t use
coaches, nevertheless regard
them as luxury. Luxury coach
tours, with premium hotels
and upmarket destinations,
are one of the most popular
holidays people want to try,
just beaten by all-inclusive
holidays.”
Traveller convenience
The study also showed that
the main reason non-coach
travellers were thinking about
giving this mode of travel
a try was simply because
coach holidays are so easy to
book, taking the hassle out of
travelling. Pre-designed, wellresearched
coach tours allow
time-pressed travellers who
don’t want to be overwhelmed
with too many options, a
simple solution to get the
best out of their destination
of choice.
Some coach tour operators
offer an all-inclusive solution,
taking care of every aspect
of travel from visas and travel
insurance, through to flights,
accommodation and activities.
In an age where people suffer
from information overload –
having an operator do all the
work can be an appealing
prospect.
Operators are able to secure
group discounts, which often
results in packages being far
more cost-effective than they
would be for the same hotels
and activities on an FIT rate.
Globus says savings can
be in the region of 40%,
compared with purchasing
components individually.
Also, as many tours are allinclusive,
travellers can avoid
incurring unexpected extra
expenses.
A social experience
Annemarie Lexow, sales and
marketing manager of Travel
Vision, says a coach tour is
a great option for travellers
looking to mingle with others
and meet people from all over
the world. Travellers who opt
for group escorted tours are
usually the type of people who
don’t mind sharing confined
spaces, like a coach, for long
periods, and they usually want
to chat to ‘strangers’ and get
to know people along the way.
Travellers who are nervous
of travelling on their own are
also a great target market
for coach travel, and some
operators offer trips aimed
at specific demographics
or interest groups, such as
female travellers, foodies or
history buffs.
Read your clients
Getting to know your
client is essential when
it comes to matching
the right tour to the
traveller. Annemarie says,
for example, an agent
booking a trip for a more
senior traveller who is
interested in art, history
and architecture should
ensure the tour includes
these elements, while if
it’s a younger person who
wants to interact with the
locals and enjoy nightlife,
then the agent should
consider destinations with
festivals taking place, or
perhaps a food tour. “It
all comes down to seeing
who is in front of you,
what their expectation
is, and what they want to
experience, and then the
agent finding the tour that
fits these criteria.”
Globus launches new Europe packages
GLOBUS has unveiled four new
tours in its Europe 2017 brochure,
through Norway, Iceland, Germany
and Ireland.
The seven-day Best of Norway
package takes travellers to Oslo,
Gold, Borgund, Flam, Bergen and
other destinations, spending a night
at the historic hotel Ullensvang
between the Hardanger Fjord and
mountains, while also taking a ride
on the Flam railway.
Also new is Globus’s six-day Gems
of Iceland tour, which includes a
whale-watching boat cruise, a walk
through a rift valley, a waterfall
tour of Gullfoss, Skogafoss and
Seljalandsfoss, while also enjoying a
day at Lake Jökulsárlón.
The nine-day From Ireland’s Ancient
East to the Wild Atlantic Way package
includes Dublin, Kilkenny, Blarney and
Limerick, amongst others, and will
see travellers riding the Waterford
and Suir River Railway before touring
the House of Waterford Crystal,
boating to Garnish Island, viewing the
thatched cottages in Adare, as well
the Cliffs of Moher.
Finally, Globus has unveiled an
eight-day German Vista package that
takes travellers to the Bavarian Alps,
with a night spent in a hotel between
the two castles of Hohenschwangau
and Neuschwanstein, as well as a
night in medieval Rothenburg.
Also in 2017, Globus continues
to enhance its ‘Local Favourites’
offerings, giving travellers access to
hidden gems without hidden charges.
Avoca goes green
IN LINE with the global focus
on responsible travel, Avoca
Travel has embraced ‘green’
principles and committed
to providing travellers with
opportunities with minimal
negative impact on the
environment, natural resources
and local cultures.
Avoca Travel explains that,
historically, many all-inclusive
tour packages brought busloads
of tourists to developing
countries, but very little
revenue remained in these
destinations. According to the
United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP): “In most
all-inclusive package tours,
about 80% of travellers’
expenditures go to the airlines,
hotels and other international
companies – who often have
their headquarters in the
travellers’ home countries –
and not to local businesses or
workers.”
In response, Avoca Travel
has committed to conduct
business in positive, respectful,
sustainable ways, bringing
tangible gains to the people
and places they visit. These
include considering offsets and
environmental policies, ensuring
money is spent locally, respect
for local culture and efficient
use of water and energy.
Book it!
Cosmos Tours, which is part of the Globus Family of Brands, is offering discounted
rates on selected Cosmos Europe tours and departures. Rates for the 10-day
European Variety tour from Paris to Milan start from R20 225pps (a saving of
R5 046); for the eight-day Paris, Normandy and the Loire tour rates start from
R15 340pps (a saving of R3 834); for the 12-day Viking Explorer tour from
Amsterdam to Bergen rates start from R22 240pps (a saving of R5 557); and for
the 12-day Shrines of France & Lourdes, rates start from R20 780pps (save
R5 193). For the full list of discounted departures, see Travelinfo.
Eastern Europe opens up to SA travellers
AUSTRIA Connection says that
expansion of the EU has meant that
many Eastern European countries
are now classified as Central
European countries and are part of
the Schengen visa agreement.
“These are Hungary, the Czech
Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,”
says Inge Dobihal, owner of Austria
Connection, which offers a variety of
coach tours to these destinations.
The tours are offered through
Kompas – a tour operator based in
Slovenia – and Atlas and Katarina
Line, both based in Croatia. All tour
departures are guaranteed and are
led by experienced leaders with
insider destination knowledge.
Inge explains that Kompas and
Atlas also both offer flexibility, so
travellers can start tours early or
end a day later, or book a section of
the tour.
Book with Trafalgar for the chance to visit Sicily
TRAFALGAR is offering agents the
opportunity to see Sicily as part
of its 2017 Acclaim Trip. To apply,
agents need to book 15 CostSaver
or Trafalgar guests departing in
2017, complete the new e-learning
course, as well as book 2017
sales from the Europe and Britain
brochure, and sales from Asia,
Australia/New Zealand, the USA
and Canada, and South America
brochures. Full payment for these
bookings are required.
The 2017 Acclaim Trip will include
sightseeing in Sicily’s capital,
Palermo, and the opportunity to
gain insight into Agrigento’s Greek
heritage in the Valley of the Temples
and Mount Etna. Flights from
Johannesburg are included, along
with taxes, as well as six nights’
twin-share accommodation, six
breakfasts and dinners, gratuities
for the travel director, driver and
local specialists, and sightseeing.
A total of 32 seats are available
and the trip will take place from
November 23-29, 2017.
Eight of the best specials
1.CostSaver Holidays is
offering savings of
R2 500 per couple on
its Highlights of Bohemia
package. Rates start from
R24 500pps (or R1 654
per day). Highlights include
Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate,
the Warsaw Ghetto and
Old Town Square of Prague
and a stop in the medieval
fortress of Rothenburg. Valid
for travel for set departures
between April and October.
2.Topdeck is offering
a four-day ‘I Love Paris’
special with rates starting
from R5 590pp. Rate
includes three nights’ hotel
accommodation, three
breakfasts, one dinner, airconditioned
coach with free
WiFi and trip leader.
Highlights include a
Paris city driving tour
and gourmet picnic beside
the Eiffel Tower. Valid for
travel during April and May.
3.Azure Travel is offering
a special on its eight-day
Israel Highlights Tour, with
rates starting from
R16 759. Highlights include
sightseeing in Jerusalem
including Yad Vashem
Holocaust Memorial, the
ruins of the Crusader
city and Caesarea and
a visit to the Dead Sea.
The rate includes two
nights’ accommodation
in Tel Aviv, three nights’
accommodation in
Jerusalem and two nights’
accommodation in Tiberias,
seven breakfasts, transfers
and transportation,
sightseeing in a modern airconditioned
coach, Englishspeaking
guide and entrance
fees. The rate excludes
international flights and
taxes. Valid from April 23 to
July 29.
4.Travel Vision is
offering special rates
for set departures on
its 11-day Classics of
Turkey package. The
itinerary is Istanbul-AnkaraCappadocia-PamukkaleKusadasi-Pergamum-TroyCanakkale-Gallipoli-Istanbul.
Valid for Friday departures:
May 5-October 22, the rate
is from R9 358pps, inclusive
of four-star hotel stays with
breakfast, seven dinners,
transfers and touring in a
luxury coach.
5.CostSaver Holidays is
offering savings of R2 500
per couple on its Splendours
of Italy package. Rates
start from R24 500pps
(or R1 885 per day) for
a 13-day tour. Highlights
include Assisi, sightseeing
in Florence and the Italian
Lakes, the Leaning Tower
in Pisa, the Colosseum in
Rome and the Piazza del
Campo in Siena. Guests will
also enjoy a private boat
cruise to St Mark’s Square
in Venice and a visit to
Juliet’s Balcony in Verona.
Valid for set departure dates
between April and October.
6.Azure Travel is offering a
special rate for its two-day
bus tour through Granada
and Toledo, starting from
R2 858pps. The tour
departs from Costa
del Sol and highlights
include visiting the
Alhambra in Granada
and the Imperial City of
Toledo. The rate includes
accommodation in threestar
hotels, transportation
in air-conditioned coaches,
multilingual tour conductor,
local sightseeing tours,
entrance fees and selected
meals. It excludes
international and domestic
airfares and taxes and is
valid during May and June.
Tours depart Wednesdays,
Fridays and Sundays.
7.Wendy Wu Tours is
offering a 15-day fully
inclusive escorted group
‘Magic Yangtze’ special with
rates starting from
R38 840pps. Highlights
include four nights on
the Yangtze, viewing giant
pandas and the Terracotta
Army, walk the Great Wall
and discover ancient Ciqikou.
The rate includes flights from
Johannesburg and taxes,
China visas for SA passport
holders, all accommodation,
all meals (12 breakfasts,
11 lunches and 12 dinners)
and national escorts for
group touring.
8.ICAN Holidays is offering
a seven-night Sri Lanka
package with rates from
R16 220pps. Rate includes
accommodation in Colombo,
Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara
Eliva and Bentota;
transportation by airconditioned
vehicle and
English-speaking guide. Rate
excludes international flights.
Valid until September 30.
Take a note!
Don’t forget to take advantage
of Globus’s 5% saving on 2017
Europe Holidays, valid until the
end of this year. The offer is
combinable with an additional
saving of 5% for travellers’ second
tour discount and another 5% as
a repeat traveller.
Did you know?
Earlier in the year, Trafalgar
announced an unprecedented
86% of confirmed departures for
its Europe and UK tours in 2017
due to huge demand for travel to
the region. Since then, Trafalgar
has been able to extend this to
100% confirmed departures for its
Europe and Britain tours, as well
as 100% of its Asia departures.
Trafalgar attributes this surge
in demand to the operator’s
effort to simplify the sales process
for its partners, which has
included adding independent,
transparent reviews on its website
and offering complication-free air
deals to agents.
