Selecting tour operators
and companies in a tourist destination is a daunting task, given the large pool
of players and exotic tourist sites that require expertise. The situation is
not different in any of the highly coveted tourist destinations across the
globe but you can learn to point out the features of a good operator and
subsequently apply this definitive guide in sifting through the list of
potential companies before picking the best. Cost notwithstanding, there are
subtle features such as the knowledge of tourist sites, communication
proficiency, responsiveness and customer reviews that go into determining
whether a company is best suited for the job or not. Wondering how? Here is a perfect
guide into selecting the best:
1.
Select a Company with Some Online Presence
It is apparent that even
the most reputable tour operators sometimes make fundamental errors in their
treatment of clients but when looking for a good operator, it is imperative to
choose a company that has some online presence. A website will help you in finding
positive and negative reviews geared towards deciding as to whether it is a
company worth hiring or not. In case one is keen on booking online or through
the phone, however, upmarket tour operators and companies should be selected
first, given the fact that mid-range operators are probably struggling to
shrink their budgets. Upmarket tour operators are not only ranked highly on
search engines but they also boast of a stable and positive track record,
indicating the precise perks that they offer their clients. Companies with an
active, simple and responsive website save the clients a lot of time and money
since it is fairly easier to make online comparisons before coming up with an
operator who offers services that are synonymous with their charges.
2.
Understand the Demographic Factors of Your Group
This is particularly
important for the visitors and natives that are travelling as part of a group. Even
so, single travelers need to understand the demographic factors in their target
destinations as well in order to determine the kind of tour operator that will
befit the job. Features such as age, gender, social status and marital status
must be taken into consideration before approaching tour operators for a deal. Whereas
some companies have special packages for a specific group, others lack the
expertise required to satisfactorily handle fragile groups such as young
children. Collecting this information beforehand is highly recommended because
online reviews barely contain such vital information. Some of the tour
operators appear to be missing in some of the tips that help specific groups
such as women to travel safely. You could be a backpacker determined to party,
an older couple that is interested in history or even a family with young
children. Some destinations do not welcome the LGBT group, which makes it
essential to understand these features and restrictions of any particular tour
operator.
3.
Experience is Key Amongst Tour Operators and Companies in Kenya
The prospects of enjoying
and succeeding in any vacation partly depend on personal preparedness and mostly,
on the expertise of the tour guide or tour operator. Knowledgeable tour
operators and companies in Kenya for instance, are loaded with highly-trained
personnel in aspects such as geology, the topographic and climatic features of
various locations, wildlife behavior, first response and first aid skills as
well as handling of special groups such as children. Such skills do not
necessarily mean that a company will deliver to the expectations of the client
but they indicate the seriousness with which a company operates in this
competitive industry. The presence of highly-trained personnel, travel tools,
guidebooks and elaborate communication protocols indicates that a company has
been in the industry long enough and dealt with numerous uncertainties to the
point of taking absolute caution. Gauging experience should not begin and end
with the number of years that a company has operated but also the number of
tours that have been successfully completed, the number of positive reviews
that a company has received and the presence of a clear guideline regarding how
they handle uncertainties.
4.
Insist on Pre-tour Orientation
A company that is
confident in its operations will not be hesitant in giving the prospective clients
some pre-tour orientation. It is this process that will offer a blueprint of
the tour program, some background information regarding the places that will be
visited, the number of stopovers that will be made and the approximate duration
that the entire journey will take. This information in turn helps in pre-tour
planning, identifying the necessities that will be carried and the
precautionary measures that will be put in place to ensure that the journey is
a success. A proficient tour company will obviously insist on knowing whether
the clients have some medical insurance and if not, they should help in
procuring one. Knowledge of the target destinations is easily deduced from the
subtle descriptions that are given in this session and this goes into selecting
the final list of operators that will be considered for the job. Some zoos in
the world contain solely nocturnal animals for example, allowing people to walk
along cage-free trials but unless one is treated to such an orientation, tour
operators may overlook it to save time and money.
5.
Shop Around
There are numerous tour operators in any part of the
world as long as there are tourist attraction sites. Shopping around helps in
narrowing down the potential companies before making an informed choice. When carrying
out any form of research, it is important to ignore budgetary constraints
temporarily because there are companies that are construed to be expensive, yet
they offer the best travel services in the industry. Shopping around should
begin with internet searches, in an age where nearly all reputable companies have
a website to connect with potential clients. On the ground, it is imperative to
seek real-time reviews and references to the most reputable tour operators and
companies. Asking relevant questions will serve every prospective tourist with
the details needed to make an informed choice. Being hesitant on the other
hand, will prompt some mid-range companies to conceal or manipulate information
in order to put a contract on paper.
Final
Take
It is just as hard
finding reputable tour operators and companies in Kenya just as it is in any
part of the world. Tourism is one of the most lucrative industries that has
attracted all forms of players, some of whom are just unscrupulous and
concerned with money while downplaying the safety of their clients. When shopping
around for the best tour operators, therefore, it is advised that you look for
trusted reviews, ask relevant questions, insist on pre-tour orientation and determine
whether a company has enough experience. Prior to the selection of a tour
operator, understanding the demographic features of fellow travelers will
suffice in determining whether a company has the precise packages that will
make the trip a success.
