TYPES OF TOUR AND TOUR

PACKAGES
 TYPE OF TRANSFERS AND
TOURS
SIB or Seat-in-Bus (Also known as SIC Seat-in-
Coach, Group Tour or Servicio Regular)
• When purchasing a seat in a bus tour. You will
join a different party for every service. One day
your tour group may have fifteen persons; next
day your tour group may have four persons or
even just the two of you. But always with the
services of a local host, you will never be on your
own during the operation of a transfer or a tour.
 Private Tour
• It is based on private transportation and
private services of a bilingual tour guide.
The tour guide will guide only in one
language. Each transfer or tour you receive
will be in a similar basis.
 TYPES OF TOUR PACKAGES
FIT or Foreign Independent Traveler
• For travelers who do not want to be part of a
group, but they want to travel in an organized tour.
This is the most popular way to travel to Latin
America. A tour for FIT's can be operated as a
Seat-in-Bus tour (SIB) or as a Private Tour.
Foreign Independent Traveler "does not mean"
you will be on your own; you will always have a
local host for every service you have arranged.
 Group Tour
When the same group follows the same itinerary
from beginning to end. Variations or modifications
of the itinerary are impossible. Optional Pre and Post
Tours are very popular for group tours. A group tour
can be locally hosted or fully escorted.
 Locally Hosted

• Every service you receive will be hosted by

a local representative or by a bilingual tour
guide.
 Fully Escorted
• In addition to your local tour guide, a tour manager travels
with you throughout the complete itinerary, and he is
available 24-hours a day. The Tour Manager main
responsibilities are to oversee the complete operation of
the itinerary, organize dining outing and activities during
the free time in the itinerary. Sort of hold your hand during
the whole trip. Fully Escorted Group Departures were very
popular several years ago when Latin America was less
popular than it is today.
• The price of a fully escorted tour is higher
because all the participants must share the
cost of the airline ticket, meals, hotels and
remuneration of the tour manager. Airlines
usually provide one free ticket for groups
larger than 25 persons and hotels will grant
one complimentary room for groups using
15 or more rooms.
GUIDE | PLANNING A TOUR
ITINERARY
 STEP 1: Research other
tours in the marketplace
• Careful planning is required when developing an
itinerary for your tour. A helpful exercise is to take a
tour which will be similar to the tour you wish to
develop and obtain copies of other tour brochures for
comparison. This will help you develop ideas for your
tour, give you an idea of what is already in the
marketplace, give you detailed information on terms
and conditions and provide possible ideas for brochure
design and content.
 STEP 2: Name your tour
STEP 3: Map out the duration,
frequency and departure details

When will your tour depart?

When will your tour return?
How often will the tour operate?
Where will the central departure point be?
Will you offer accommodation pick up?
 STEP 4: List the major locations
and tour highlights

Where will your tour travel to?

What are the main locations and highlights that
visitors are going to experience?
 STEP 5: Research tour content
and draft commentary

List the main topics you wish to include in your

commentary, such as flora, fauna, history, culture,
as well as the main points to consider with each
of these topics and the resources you will use to
find the information.
 STEP 6: List any 3rd party
activities, attractions, entrance
fees and inclusions

List any activities offered by other companies or

entrance fees and determine if they will be
included in your tour price or offered as extras.
 Step 7: Organize suppliers for
meals
What meals will you provide during your tour - morning
and afternoon tea, lunch or dinner?
You may wish to provide meals yourself or make
arrangements for a restaurant, roadhouse, hotel or farm
to provide them for you. Should you choose to prepare
your own meals, you will need to ensure you have
adequate food handling knowledge, food supplies and
cooking facilities. You may also need to seek food
handling approval from your local council and meet
health department regulations.
 STEP 8: Organize accommodation
approvals (if required)
Whether you are passing through, stopping for meals or
visiting attractions, it is imperative you obtain
permission in writing from the property owner prior to
accessing any private property. If travelling through
property managed by the Parks and Wildlife you will
need to apply for a Commercial Operator’s License.
If your itinerary includes entering Aboriginal Land, you
will be required to apply for Entry Permits from the
Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA).
 Step 9: Perfect your timing

It is crucially important to map out your tour itinerary

accurately to ensure that you arrive on time for activity
and meal stops and return to your original destination at
a reasonable time. Prepare a table that shows start, stop
and duration times for each location, attraction or
activity.
 Step 10: Test drive your itinerary

It is very important to several 'dry runs' of your itinerary to

ensure you get the timing right. It is also a very good
idea to invite people who have some knowledge of the
industry and are prepared to give you constructive
comments, to do a tour.