| Tour Operators & travel Agents are | | | | travelers, promote and sell the tour packages |
| different in Malaysia! And the public have had the | | | | that they have from various Tour Operators, |
| wrong perception for long time. In Malaysia, Tour | | | | then administer the tour bookings. Travel Agents |
| Operators and Travel Agents are different and | | | | usually are set up in prime locations with heavy |
| play different roles. In a factory scenario, a Tour | | | | traffic such as beside the main roads, inside |
| Operator is like the production department and | | | | crowed shopping malls or at the ground floor of a |
| the Travel Agent is like the Sales Department... | | | | landmark building. |
| A Tour Operator is the organizer and provider of | | | | The roles & responsibilities of a Travel Agent |
| package holidays. It is often referred as the | | | | are: |
| Ground Handler. The Tour Company will make | | | | - Selling ells travel related products and services, |
| contracts with hotels and resorts, airlines and | | | | particularly package tours to end-user customers |
| ground transport companies like private cars, | | | | on behalf of third party travel suppliers, such as |
| buses, vans, ferries and trains & etc. With all | | | | airlines, hotels, tour operator and tour companies, |
| the necessary pricing and information compiled, | | | | and cruise lines & etc. |
| the Tour Operator will draft detailed tour | | | | - Most travel agents have a special department |
| packages and distribute to Travel Agents in | | | | devoted to travel arrangements for business |
| Travel Agent Directory in Malaysia and even | | | | travelers, while some agencies specialize in |
| overseas. | | | | commercial and business travelers. |
| The roles & responsibilities of a Tour | | | | - Some also serve as general service agents for |
| Operator are booking and arranging: | | | | foreign travel companies in different countries. |
| - Transportation: Chaffered Car, Chartered Bus | | | | - Act as an agent for tour packages: |
| & Van, Air Ticket, Train Ticket, Ferry Ticket, | | | | - Buy tour packages or tour services at discounts |
| Cruise Ticket, other transit modes and even | | | | & sell with profits. |
| special vehicles like trishaw. | | | | - Get commissions from suppliers & other |
| - Tour Guide: All Tour Guides must be licensed by | | | | tour companies. |
| the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia after attending | | | | - Act as a ticketing agent for transportation (e.g. |
| and examined in a professional Tourist Guide | | | | airlines, ferry, bus, train & etc). |
| Courses. | | | | - Other commercial operations are undertaken: |
| - Sight Seeing: Entrance for tourist destinations, | | | | insurance, travel guides, car rental, Bureau de |
| eco-tour, adventures tour, jungle trekking, | | | | change, private tour guide & etc. |
| snorkeling & scuba diving, island hopping and | | | | - Offer impartial travel advice to the customer. |
| even handicraft or cultural & living | | | | Next time, if you traveling in small group less than |
| experiences. | | | | 10 travelers, it is advisable to engage a Travel |
| - Food & Beverage: Breakfast, Tea Time or | | | | Agent. Do not try to find the best travel agent in |
| Tea Break, Lunch & Dinner, whether by set, | | | | Malaysia. There is no such myth! Just go with the |
| buffet or packed food. | | | | travel agent that suit your traveling needs and |
| - Accommodation: Hotels, Resorts, Service | | | | budgets or the tour agent that you trusted the |
| Apartments, Camping Sites, Dormitories, Training | | | | most. However, if you are organizing a group tour |
| Camps, Chalets, Tree Houses or traditional houses | | | | like company tour, a Tour Operator will be able to |
| & habitats that accommodating travelers. | | | | provide you a more suitable tailor-made service. |
| - Activities: Tele-match, treasure hunt, paint ball, | | | | The above information are guidelines and advices |
| team building, outside office meeting... | | | | that 88Holidays provided to its Corporate Clients |
| - Special Events: Company dinner, karaoke | | | | in organizing group tour. It is simple but useful |
| contest. | | | | information to help organizing a successful |
| On the other hand, Travel Agents do not operate | | | | company tour with many years experiences. |
| tours. Travel agencies gives traveling advices to | | | | |