– 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.
A package tour, package vacation, or package holiday comprises transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided such as a rental car, activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via automobile, buses, charter airline, and may also include travel between areas as part of the holiday. Package holidays are a form of product bundling.
Package holidays are organised by a tour operator and sold to a consumer by a travel agent. Some travel agents are employees of tour operators, others are independent.