– History:
– Thomas Cook chartered a train for temperance campaigners in 1841.
– Thomas Cook & Son became a renowned travel agent.
– The company shifted to promoting foreign holidays in the 1950s.
– Thomas Cook faced decline but was rescued by a buy-out in 1972.
– Thomas Cook Group ceased operations in 2019.
– Organised tours:
– Vladimir Raitz pioneered mass package holidays abroad in the 1950s.
– Cheap package holidays opened up affordable travel abroad.
– The package tour industry declined in the 1970s.
– Package holiday bookings saw a comeback in 2009.
– Jet2holidays is currently the UK’s largest tour operator.
– Group tours:
– Charter flights and package holidays started in the 1950s.
– Charter airlines like Euravia began operations in the 1960s.
– The collapse of Court Line in 1974 shook the industry.
– Consumers shifted to budget airlines and booking own accommodation in 2005.
– Package holiday market consolidation occurred in the UK.
– Dynamic packaging:
– Dynamic packaging allows consumers to build their own holiday package.
– It enables flexibility in choosing flights, accommodation, and rental cars.
– Guests can create their vacation itinerary using a company’s services.
– Dynamic packaging is similar to private or custom tours.
– It is increasingly used in modern package holiday booking procedures.
– See also:
– Escorted tour.
– Hotel consolidator.
– Tourism.
