There are many factors that can affect how much a state makes from tourism, including the quality of attractions and amenities available to tourists, the strength of local economies, and how well marketing campaigns target specific tourist markets.
According to data compiled by The Travel Channel, seven states in the Northeast make more money from tourism than any other region in the U.S.: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay Area (San Francisco and Oakland), Rhode Island and Maine. In second place is Florida with six out of 10 states making at least some revenue from tourism; followed by California with five out of nine states earning income through visitor spending. Texas comes in last place with only four out of 38 states making a profit from tourism-related activities.
So why do certain states earn more money from tourism? There are a number of reasons – but one common factor is that these areas have invested heavily in marketing their destinations aggressively over the past few years. By targeting specific market segments (such as luxury vacationers or families) and developing innovative advertising strategies (such as virtual reality tours), businesses can maximize profits while also attracting new visitors who may not have considered visiting before.
How to manage a travel agency?
Travel agencies are key players within the framework of the tourism sector. The wholesalers offer the product after having bought it at good prices from the suppliers and the retailers are in direct contact with the client.
For this reason, travel agencies must have powerful software to give customer satisfaction.
A tourism sector that today is, together with the electronic commerce sector, the one that contributes the most Gross Domestic Product to Spain with 13 percent.
Of course we cannot forget that it is a sector that generates thousands and thousands of jobs. It is a basic sector for the economy.
However, A sector that also has a lot of competition, there are many agents that are in continuous search for the client, the tourist. It is a very competitive sector, without a doubt.
And what should be done to stand out from that competition today?
Surely you already know. Bet on digitization. Having integrated into your tourism business those technological tools that allow you to attract and retain customers.
In order to satisfy the client, it is necessary to have a travel agency management program with all the functions and benefits. And we are going to tell you about those functions and benefits in the following lines.
Travel agency management program to engage with customers
Everything revolves around the customer. In creating an attractive product for you to buy. An attractive product with a competitive price capable of reaching thousands and thousands of people.
For this management program for travel agencies to attract customers, you must be able to perform the following tasks
1. Marketing
In other words, after creating a tourist product, this tool can promote it through the most varied channels so that it reaches the final consumer. It will be the task of the travel agency’s marketing team to devise the most appropriate strategies so that this product reaches as many people as possible.
This marketing team must know perfectly the customer to whom the product is directed and adapt the pertinent messages.
A good software for travel agencies will allow you to know “by heart” the client’s profile, with which the preparation of the different promotional campaigns will be much easier.
2. Sales
No one doubts the importance of a marketing team for a travel agency, nor does anyone doubt the importance of a good sales team.
This sales team must be able to sell their product through the most varied channels, both physical and online, and everything must be centralized on the same computer screen to avoid duplication.
Although sales are made through various channels, one of the objectives of the management program must be to avoid duplication.
3. Customer service
No one doubts that we are moving towards digitization. But online channels do not mean that you do not have to pay attention to the customer. Quite the opposite.
In addition, travel agencies must be prepared because doubts or questions can come both through the physical channel and online.
Customer service must therefore be multidisciplinary. Able to serve a customer over the phone or program a chatbot.
Do not forget that the sale is made 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. This is how the client wants it and this is how it has to be offered.
4. Administration
Another of the sections of a company that is very important because it is in charge of the daily management, that everything works perfectly: collections, payments and many other tasks.
The administration department has to ensure that everything is being sold properly, that expenses and income balance.
In short, that the business is profitable.
All the departments that we have listed must be perfectly connected. Each of them has to know what the other is doing so that the gear is perfect. And all this from the same computer screen to promote productivity.
Improve productivity with a travel agency management program
Be productive and decisive in each and every one of the steps that have to be taken to sell a plane ticket, a hotel reservation or a ticket to a theme park.
Any priced tourist reservation system must have productivity on its roadmap. And productivity can be achieved by taking into account the following issues:
1. Stock control, essential in the travel agency management program
We are going to stop at this point because it is extremely important. We explain ourselves.
To satisfy the current customer, a travel agency must be able to sell an infinite number of products from an infinite number of suppliers.
In other words, on your computer you must be able to load products from various hotel chains or from various airlines or multiple activities, transfers, etc…
As well. There will be many travel agencies that are selling the same product and the management program must be able to report directly which product has been sold at a given time.
In this way, the feared overbooking will be avoided, that is, selling the same product twice to two different people. This would be fatal for the business because its image would be greatly affected. His reputation would be in tatters.
All centralized reservations, all at the same point. This aspect must never be lost sight of if a certain travel agency wants to get ahead of its competition.
2. Upload XML Integrations
This point is closely related to the previous one. In order for a given travel agency to be able to sell many products from different providers, its management program must be able to load as many XML integrations as possible.
These XML integrations will allow you to sell the products and instantly know what stock is left to avoid the dreaded duplication.
XML is a computer language that travels at the speed of light and allows the customer to see what product is being offered instantly, without waiting.
Another point that must be avoided at all costs if a travel agency wants to be competitive: the wait.
If a customer needs a certain product, requests it but it does not load on their computer screen, they will immediately abandon the search to go to another company from your competition.
The loading speed is essential. Not only to retain the customer and buy but also to position in Google.
3. An accounting module is key in a travel agency management program
The sales pace of a certain product can be frantic shortly after the marketing and sales departments have done their job effectively.
What do we mean by an accounting module? Well, it is that function that will allow the person in charge of the business that is being sold in an appropriate way. That it is being sold according to the laws of the market, to supply and demand.
Depending on supply and demand, prices may go up and down. But they will do it in a matter of seconds.
If a certain product is scarce, it is time to raise its price and get more of the profit. But it is clear that the opposite can happen.
But a good tourist reservation software will know how to “catch” these opportunities.
Everything in the tourist world travels at the speed of light and only the most advanced technological tools will be able to ensure that you do not miss any opportunity.
4. Payment module
The tourist reservation software must allow the client to pay with the method with which they feel most secure and comfortable.
What is recommended is that you can make the payment with your credit card, with a payment gateway such as paypal or similar or do everything possible so that you pay with bizzum, a formula that is having great success.
But there is more. Imagine that what they are selling are very expensive trips, of several weeks or a safari. Then it is possible that you would be interested in having the option of platforms such as “aplazame” (or another that offers the same functionalities) on your website so that your client can buy in installments.
In short, and if you allow us the expression, it is about “making life easy” for your client when hiring one of your tourist packages.
5. Permanent communication with the entire team
Due to the characteristics of the tourism sector, there must be permanent contact with the entire team. It is very logical that work shifts be done in an online travel agency because the customer, the tourist, can choose any time to make their purchase.
For this reason, all the information must be clearly visible to the entire team. Let everyone know what steps have been taken throughout the day so that the business continues to flow like silk.
6. The importance of chatbots in the travel agency management program
You have to be aware of these new tools because they can bring a lot of added value to a tourism business.
We are talking about “educating” robots so that they can answer all customer questions at any time of the day, in wholesale agencies or in receptive agencies.
Also that they are sales-oriented and that they are capable of increasing the billing of the travel agency.
These chatbots have “self-learning” functions to answer customers more and more accurately.
What was said: The current client does not want everything at the moment and does not have to wait. He wants to answer a question or make a purchase when he needs it, not when the business is open, as was the case in the past with online travel agencies.
Everything depends on advancing towards better digitization and for this, it is necessary to have a state-of-the-art travel agency management program.
