specialist tour meaning

What Is Specialised Tourism?

By Michael Ferguson

Specialized tourism is a growing trend in the travel industry, where travelers seek unique and tailored experiences that cater to their interests. This type of tourism goes beyond the typical beach or city vacation and offers visitors an opportunity to explore a specific area or activity in-depth.

What Is Specialized Tourism?

Specialized tourism can be defined as a type of travel that focuses on particular interests, hobbies, or activities. It is becoming increasingly popular as people strive to tailor their vacations to suit their individual preferences and passions. Some examples of specialized tourism include culinary tours, adventure travel, ecotourism, cultural tourism, wellness retreats, religious pilgrimages, and many more.

Types of Specialized Tourism

1. Culinary Tourism: Food is an essential part of any culture and exploring local cuisine can be an exciting experience for foodies. Culinary tours offer visitors an opportunity to taste local delicacies, learn cooking skills from local chefs and explore food markets.

2. Adventure Travel: Adventure travel caters to thrill-seekers who enjoy activities such as hiking, trekking, rock climbing, rafting, bungee jumping, skydiving or other adrenaline-pumping sports.

3. Ecotourism: Ecotourism focuses on sustainable travel practices that promote conservation and preservation of natural resources. Visitors participate in activities like wildlife safaris or bird watching while learning about the environment and its biodiversity.

4. Cultural Tourism: Cultural tourism allows visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture by learning about history, traditions, art forms or festivals of the region they are visiting.

5. Wellness Retreats: These retreats offer visitors an opportunity to rejuvenate their mind and body through activities like yoga, meditation or spa treatments.

6. Religious Pilgrimages: Religious tourism involves traveling to religious sites such as Mecca for Muslims or Varanasi for Hindus.

The Benefits of Specialized Tourism

Specialized tourism offers several benefits to both travelers and local communities. It helps to promote local businesses and create jobs, preserve cultural heritage, and protect the natural environment.

Travelers benefit from gaining knowledge, skills, and experiences that are specific to their interests. They also get an opportunity to meet like-minded people and make new friends.

The Future of Specialized Tourism

As travelers become more discerning, specialized tourism is expected to grow in popularity. The trend towards sustainable travel practices is also influencing the development of specialized tourism. With advances in technology and changing demographics, there is a growing demand for customized travel experiences that cater to different age groups, interests and budgets.

In conclusion, specialized tourism offers visitors a chance to explore their passions while contributing positively to the local economy and environment. With its increasing popularity, it’s no wonder that more people are seeking out unique travel experiences that cater to their individual preferences.

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What Does a Specialist Tour Operator Do?

A specialized tour operator creates one-of-a-kind travel experiences for a specific clientele. More specifically, these people plan trips for people who share common hobbies or interests, such as cycling or hiking, and who want to participate in such activities while on vacation. This type of tour operator may work for a company that specializes in organizing such trips or as a freelance travel planner.

The majority of specialized tour operators plan trips from start to finish. This includes arranging for air and ground transportation, as well as lodging and special events. In order to complete certain travel activities, a specialized tour operator may collaborate with other professional tour guides. For example, he or she may be the primary organizer for a group’s safari adventure, but he or she may also work with a wildlife guide or tracker who is more knowledgeable about the finer points of leading a safari tour.

While this term usually refers to a single person performing the duties of a specialist tour operator, it can also refer to entire companies that provide such services. Rather than a traditional travel agency, travelers frequently seek out an agency that specializes in unique travel adventures. It’s common for such a company to hire only tour operators who have experience creating specialty tours. Other desirable qualities include a keen eye for detail, excellent communication, the ability to work under pressure, and general knowledge of the tourism industry.

A specialist tour operator is likely to have participated in one or more specialized tours as a traveler, in addition to prior experience working in the tourism industry. Many people choose specialized tourism jobs because they enjoy adventure travel, such as safari expeditions, international cycling tours, or hunting trips. Specialized tour agencies often value firsthand experience because the useful knowledge and experience gained during such vacations can be passed on to clients.

Beyond making travel arrangements, specific specialist tour operator responsibilities may vary depending on the types of travel activities in which they have previous experience. Operators work with clients to tailor their vacations to a specific interest that can be shared with other travelers or enjoyed by family members. Some tour operators specialize in foreign or exotic destinations that are only available for a limited time, but many also plan local excursions for weekend getaways or short-term activities like skiing or fly fishing.

What is a Specialist Tour Operator?

A specialized tour operator provides unique and niche travel experiences. You can think of food tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, and hiking tours. Any tour provider that offers services in a niche is a specialized tour operator.

In recent years, there has been a rising interest in specialized tourism. For example, 2021 data shows that 68% of travelers are shifting towards sustainable tourism. Also, the Global Wellness Institute reports that 64% of travelers want wellness vacations. In addition to these, food tourism is constantly growing. In the U.S. alone, 95% are looking for 'some kind of unique food experience', and the numbers are growing globally.

In this blog, we'll learn more about specialized tour operations. If you are a travel agent or tour provider looking for a fresh marketing approach in 2024, this is for you. Below are 5 ideas on how to curate specialized travel experiences that meet travelers' demands.

1. Niche Expertise

Specialist tour operators have in-depth knowledge and expertise in specific travel niches or themes, such as adventure travel, wildlife safaris, cultural immersions, or culinary tours.

Did you know that some specialist tour operators specialize in niche markets like "dark tourism," offering tours to historically significant but often somber places such as battlefields, prisons, or disaster sites?

Tips for tour operators:

Know Your Stuff : Really get to know everything about the special travel area you're focusing on, like history and interesting facts.
Tell Great Stories : Make your tours interesting by telling cool stories. Work with local people who know a lot about the place to make it more real.
Listen and Change : Pay attention to what your travelers like and don't like. Use their feedback to make your tours even better.

2. Customized Experiences

They often have travel agency to offer customized or tailor-made itineraries to cater to the unique interests and preferences of their target audience, allowing travelers to personalize their journeys.

Many specialist tour operators provide travelers with the opportunity to design their own itineraries, offering a level of personalization that can include specific activities, accommodations, travel arrangements, or even dietary preferences.

Offer Tailor-Made Options : Give your travelers the chance to create their own itinerary. This could mean letting them pick specific activities, choose their own accommodation, or even request special meals.
Ask for Preferences : Before the trip, ask your travelers about their interests, what they want to see and do, and any special needs they might have. Use this info to make their experience more personal.
Flexible Scheduling : Allow some flexibility in your itinerary. This way, travelers can spend more time on the activities they enjoy most or explore additional sites that catch their interest during the tour.

3. Destination Specialization

Some specialist tour operators concentrate on specific destinations or regions, becoming experts in those areas and offering comprehensive experiences within them.

Other specialist tour operators focus exclusively on regions with unique natural wonders, like the Galápagos Islands, where they specialize in eco-friendly and sustainable travel experiences.

Be a Local Expert : Learn everything about the specific region or destination you focus on, including its culture, history, and natural wonders. This knowledge will help you create in-depth, engaging tours.
Highlight Unique Features : Showcase what makes your destination special, like unique natural attractions or cultural experiences. For example, if you specialize in the Galápagos Islands, emphasize eco-friendly tours that highlight the unique wildlife and ecosystems.
Sustainable Practices : If your destination is known for its natural beauty, like the Galápagos, prioritize sustainable and eco-friendly travel practices to preserve the environment. This is not only good for the planet but also appeals to eco-conscious travelers.

4. Exclusive Access

They may provide package tours with exclusive access to attractions, accommodations, or activities that are not readily available to mass-market tour operators, enhancing the uniqueness of the tours.

Specialist tour operators might arrange exclusive access to archaeological sites before or after regular opening hours, allowing travelers to explore these historic treasures without the crowds.

Arrange Special Visits : Work to get special access to popular sites, like arranging visits to archaeological sites outside of normal hours. This lets travelers enjoy these places without the usual crowds.
Unique Experiences : Offer activities or experiences that aren't usually available to the general public. This could be anything from a private tour with a local expert to exclusive access to certain areas.
Build Relationships : Develop good relationships with local attractions and accommodation providers. This can help you arrange special access or unique experiences for your travelers.

5. Passionate Guides

Specialist tour operators often employ passionate and knowledgeable tour guides who are experts in the niche or destination, ensuring travelers receive a high level of expertise and engagement during their journeys.

In the world of birdwatching tours, specialist operators often employ ornithologist guides who are not only experts in bird identification but also passionate advocates for bird conservation, enriching travelers' experiences with their deep knowledge and enthusiasm.

Hire Expert Guides : Look for guides who are not just knowledgeable but also passionate about the niche. For example, in birdwatching tours, hire ornithologists who are experts in bird species and conservation.
Train for Engagement : Ensure your guides are trained not only in factual knowledge but also in engaging storytelling and interaction with travelers. This enhances the overall experience.
Focus on Special Interests : Match guides with specific interests or expertise to relevant tours. A guide's enthusiasm for their specialty, like bird conservation, can greatly enrich a traveler's experience.

Key Takeaways

As we wrap up our exploration of specialized tour operators, it's clear that this niche-focused approach in the tourism industry is not just a trend, but a growing sector meeting diverse traveler demands.

From the increasing interest in sustainable tourism and responsible travel, to the rise of wellness vacations and unique culinary experiences, the opportunities for specialized tour operators are vast and varied.

To stand out in this competitive market, here are three key actionable tips that you, as tour and activity providers, can implement:

Embrace Your Niche : Whether it's eco-tourism, culinary experiences, or wellness retreats, dive deep into your niche. Know your audience and tailor your offerings to their specific interests and needs.
Prioritize Authentic Experiences : Travelers are seeking genuine, immersive experiences. Collaborate with local communities and experts to offer authentic and unique tours that cannot be found elsewhere.
Leverage Technology and Innovation : Utilize the latest technology, like AI for personalized itinerary planning or virtual reality previews of tours, to enhance the customer experience and streamline operations.

By focusing on these areas and continually adapting to the evolving desires of travelers, you can create memorable and distinctive experiences that not only meet but exceed the expectations of your clientele. Remember, in the world of specialized tourism, it's all about delivering uniqueness, authenticity, and quality.

Our Happy Specialized Tour Operators

TicketingHub has worked with specialized tour and activity providers for years now. Some of them are now renowned for their food tours, city tours, and special events. Read our case studies below and see what helped them succeed in this rising market.

The Secret Food Tours
Egypt's Sound and Light Show
Belfast City Tours

2. What is a specialist tour operator?

Specialist tour operators are tour operators in the travel industry who focuses on offering specialized and niche travel experiences. Unlike mass market tour operators who cater to broad, general travel demands, specialist tour operators offer in-depth expertise in specific areas.

These can range from eco-tourism, adventure travel, cultural tours, to specific country or regional focuses. They provide tailored package holidays and tours that cater to specific interests and often offer more personalized service than other tour operators.

3. What is a specialized tour?

A specialized tour is a travel package designed to cater to specific interests or themes. Unlike general tour packages offered by many travel agencies, specialized tours delve deep into a particular area, offering unique experiences such as eco-tourism adventures, culinary tours in specific countries, or in-depth exploration of national parks.

These tours are usually crafted by specialist tour operators who possess deep knowledge and passion for the niche, ensuring an enriching and authentic experience for the traveler.

4. What are the main three types of tour operators?

The three main types of tour operators in the travel industry are inbound tour operators, outbound tour operators, and domestic tour operators.

Inbound Tour Operators : These operators specialize in arranging tours and travel packages for travelers coming into a country. They work closely with hotels, airlines, and ground operators to provide a comprehensive travel experience in the destination country.
Outbound Tour Operators : These receptive tour operators organize trips for travelers stepping out of their home country to visit other destinations worldwide. They often work with airlines, hotels, and travel operators in different countries to arrange all travel components.
Domestic Tour Operators : They organize tours for domestic travelers within their own country. They specialize in knowing the best local spots and experiences that appeal to domestic travelers, including hotels, transport, and leisure travel activities.

Each type of tour operator plays a crucial role in the tourism ecosystem, catering to different segments of holidaymakers and travelers. It offers varied services like transport, accommodation, and travel packages.

5. What types of niche travel experiences do specialist tour operators offer?

Specialist tour operators offer a wide range of niche experiences, including wildlife safaris, cultural immersions, adventure travel, culinary tours, and more. They cater to specific interests and passions, providing travelers with unique and customized journeys.

6. Are specialist tour operators more expensive than regular tour companies?

Specialist tours can cost widely depending on niche and customization. While some specialist tours may have a premium price due to exclusive access or unique experiences, others can be competitively priced. It's essential to compare options and assess the value of all arrangements and experiences offered.

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Discover 5 Types of Tour Operators

Starting a tour operating business can be an exciting and rewarding experience. However, with so many different types of tour operators out there, it can be challenging to decide which market to pursue. In this blog, we will provide guidance on the different types of tour operators available and help you choose the right market for your tour operating business.

Inbound Tour Operators

Definition of Inbound Tour Operators; An inbound tour operator is a company that specializes in organizing tours and activities within their country, working with travel agents to create packages for international visitors. They are responsible for organizing itineraries, accommodations, transportation, and activities for incoming tourists.

Their role in managing domestic tours and activities; they welcome international travelers and assist them with planning their travel to suit their needs using their country-specific knowledge.

Advantages of working with an inbound tour operator; They use their local knowledge to create a seamless, stress-free travel itinerary for their customers.

Outbound Tour Operators

Definition of Outbound Tour Operators; An outbound tour operator is a company that works with clients who are traveling outside of their home country. They offer packages that include flights, accommodations, and activities. For example, if a US resident is planning a trip to Asia, an outbound US tour operator will take care of all the details.

Their role in managing international tours and activities; They work with local travel partners in different countries to provide travelers with a complete travel experience.

Advantages of working with an outbound tour operator; They allow customers to work with someone from their home country to plan and book international travel itineraries.

Domestic Tour Operators

Definition of Domestic Tour Operators; A domestic tour operator specializes in organizing tours and activities within a specific country. They cater to locals who want to explore their own country.

Their role in managing tours and activities within a particular country; They cater to locals who want to explore their own country and have specialized knowledge on trips and activities that locals don’t often experience.

Advantages of working with a domestic tour operator; Domestic tour operators often cater to native travelers who want to experience new areas within their home country. They typically have a collection of specific holiday and weekend trips that are ideal for travelers looking to book around their work and family schedules.

Specialist Tour Operators

Definition of Specialist Tour Operators; A specialist tour operator is a company that focuses on a specific niche or interest. They create packages that cater to travelers with specific interests or needs. Some examples include adventure, luxury, cultural, or wildlife travel.

Their role in managing niche travel experiences; They specialize in creating tour packages that match travelers with experiences that they are particularly interested in or wanting to learn more about. They work with local partners to create these unique offerings.

Advantages of working with a specialist tour operator; They offer tour packages specifically crafted for different interests and often allow the traveler to learn more about their destination than other options.

Ground Operators

Definition of Ground Operator; Similar to domestic operators, ground operators work on travel itineraries within their home country. The difference is that they specialize in providing local services on behalf of other travel agencies and operators to the clients throughout their trip.

Their role in managing tours and activities; They work with travel agents to create customized travel itineraries for groups and individual travelers. Their services may include directly taking care of a client’s transportation, accommodations, meals, and activities during their trip.

Advantages of working with a ground operator; They provide a high level of support and assistance throughout the trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and according to plan.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, choosing the right market for your tour operating business depends on your interests, expertise, and resources. Whether you choose to specialize in inbound or outbound tours, domestic or international travel, or a particular niche, there are endless opportunities to create unique and memorable travel experiences for your customers.

With the guidance and support of TripMatrix, you can start your tour operating business and pursue the market that best suits your vision and goals as well as connect with other operators. Discover how TripMatrix tour operator software is helping true operators aound the world to manage their travel business more efficient.

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Different types of tour operators that you should know about.

Tour operators are an integral part of the travel industry. They play a crucial role in creating and selling travel packages to different destinations worldwide. A tour operator is a company that puts together travel packages, which usually include transportation, accommodation, and activities, and sells them to consumers. This blog will discuss the different types of tour operators and their roles in the travel industry. Knowing the types will help one to choose the better fit.

Types of tour operators

As per the requirement, there are different types of tour operators in the travel industry. Some of these include inbound tour operators, outbound tour operators, domestic, specialist among others. Let us explore them one by one.

1. Inbound Tour Operators

Inbound tour operators organize and sell travel packages for visitors coming into the country. They are responsible for creating itineraries and ensuring that visitors have a memorable experience during their stay. They typically work with local suppliers, such as hotels, transportation companies, and tour guides, to assemble their packages.

2. Outbound Tour Operators

Outbound tour operators are companies that organize and sell travel packages for consumers who are traveling out of their home country. They are responsible for creating itineraries and ensuring that travelers have everything they need for their trip. They work with local suppliers in the destination country to ensure everything is in place when their clients arrive.

3. Domestic Tour Operators

Domestic tour operators organize and sell travel packages within their home country. They specialize in creating tours that showcase the best that their country has to offer. They work with local suppliers, such as hotels, transportation companies, and attractions, to create their packages.

4. Specialist Tour Operators

Specialist tour operators focus on specific niches within the travel industry. They may specialize in adventure, education, luxury, or any other type of travel that appeals to a particular group of travelers. They typically have a deep knowledge of their niche and can create unique and memorable client experiences.

5. Travel Agency and Tour Operators

Travel agencies and tour operators are often used interchangeably, but there is a noticeable difference between the two. Travel agencies typically sell flights, hotels, and transportation, while tour operators create and sell complete travel packages that include activities and accommodation.

6. Luxury Tour Operators

Luxury tour operators create and sell high-end travel packages to discerning travelers. They typically offer personalized service, exclusive access to attractions and activities, and top-of-the-line accommodations. Luxury tour operators cater to travelers who are looking for a one-of-a-kind experience.

7. International Tour Operators

International tour operators are companies that create and sell travel packages to destinations around the world. They work with local suppliers in each destination to develop itineraries that showcase the best of what the goal has to offer.

8. Coach Tour Operators

Coach tour operators are companies that organize and sell tours that are conducted on a coach or bus. These tours typically cover a large area or several countries. They offer a convenient and affordable way to see multiple destinations in one trip.

9. Receptive Tour Operators

Receptive tour operators work with other tour operators to create travel packages for a specific destination. They are responsible for coordinating the local suppliers and ensuring that everything runs smoothly during the trip.

10. Adventure Tour Operators

Adventure tour operators specialize in creating and selling travel packages that offer outdoor activities and adventures. These tours may include hiking, rafting, or wildlife safaris and are designed for travelers looking for an adrenaline rush.

11. Educational Tour Operators

Educational tour operators create and sell travel packages that focus on educational experiences. These tours may include visits to historical sites, museums, or cultural events and are designed to give travelers a deeper understanding of the destination.

Why tour operators are crucial?

Tour operators play a vital role in the travel industry as they create and sell travel packages that offer unique and memorable experiences for travelers. By understanding the different types of tour operators, travelers can choose the right tour operator for their specific needs and preferences.

It's also worth noting that many travel agencies also offer tour operator services, so it's important to do your research and choose a reputable company with experience in the destinations and types of travel that interest you.

Whether planning a domestic trip or an international adventure, working with a tour operator can save time and hassle while providing unique and memorable travel experiences. In addition, many tour operators are now offering more sustainable travel options, such as eco-tourism and responsible travel. These tours aim to minimize the impact of tourism on the environment and local communities while providing travelers with unique and authentic travel experiences.

Another trend in the tour operator industry is using technology to enhance the travel experience. For example, some tour operators now use virtual reality to provide travelers with a preview of their destination or to offer immersive experiences during the trip. Tour operators will likely continue to adapt and innovate as the travel industry continues to evolve to meet travelers' changing needs and preferences. Suggested Read: How to Become a Travel Agent

In summary, tour operators play a vital role in the travel industry, offering travelers a wide range of options and experiences. By understanding the different types of tour operators and their functions, travelers can make more informed choices when planning their trips. With the increasing focus on sustainability, responsible travel, and technological innovation, the tour operator industry is poised to continue growing and evolving in the years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. what are the criteria for classifying tour operators, q2. who do tour operators collaborate with, q3. what industry does a tour operator work in, q4. what is the role of an inbound tour operator, q5. what sets luxury tour operators apart.

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The 17 different types of travel

Travel and tourism is a diverse industry and there are many different types of travel. The type of travel will determine the methods of business, the types of customer that it attracts and the the destination type that is facilitating tourism. In this article I will tell you all about the main types of travel and give you some examples of each.

The different types of travel

Short breaks, city breaks, countryside breaks, stag and hen parties, special events, mice tourism, short-term work contracts, types of specialist travel, vfr: migrants and expats, types of day trips, to conclude: types of travel, further reading.

Separating the different types of travel into clear segments or categories isn’t always an easy task.

Some types of travel may span more than one category- for example a person can go on a short break that is also corporate travel.

And others may be somewhat subjective- what is a short break? Is it two days? Is it four days? This is not clear-cut.

However, whilst accurately segregating types of travel into distinct categories may not be an easy task, it can be useful to have general classifications.

Categorising holidays into different types of travel helps us to better understand and assess the market segment in question. It also enables better tourism management and planning .

So what are the different types of travel? If video is your thing, watch the short video below, which covers all of the different types of travel, if not, read on…

Leisure travel

Leisure travel generally refers to travel that is undertaken for the purpose of pleasure, enjoyment, relaxation or special interests.

Leisure travel is an important component of tourism , and makes up a significant part of the tourism industry .

There are different ways that someone can undertake leisure travel. I have outlined these below.

Short breaks have become increasingly popular since the advent of the low cost airline .

Cheaper fares and regular flights have meant that people have been able to jet off for a weekend break that may not have previously been possible. In fact, [pre COVID] trends have shown that many people are now choosing to take 2-3 short breaks each year rather than a singular, more traditional summer holiday.

Short breaks are especially popular in areas that are well-connected. In Europe, for instance, it is easy to go on a short break from London to Paris. However, if you lived in Australia , the vast distances between destinations may mean that short breaks are less feasible.

City breaks are a popular type of travel.

Cities have lots to offer such as entertainment options (eating out, shows, events etc), as well as a range of tourist attractions and business tourism opportunities.

Cities are usually well connected by transport, making them easily reachable for tourists.

Rural tourism is very popular since the COVID pandemic. Countryside breaks enable people to enjoy the fresh air and to be socially distant from others.

There are many things to do on a countryside break, from hiking the Mendips , to adventure sports such as rock climbing in places like Cheddar Gorge .

It is a tradition for brides and grroms-to-be to celebrate their forthcoming marriage with a stag party or hen party. Whilst this might last for just a few hours, many people are now choosing to travel to a place outside of their home for a short break.

There are many destinations that are popular for stag or hen parties. These are usually destinations which have a substantial nightlife scene.

In Europe, many people go on a stag or hen party to Riga , Barcelona, Manchester, London, Lisbon, Benidorm, Krakow, Liverpool, Amsterdam… to name but a few.

There are different types of holidays that constitute leisure tourism.

Throughout the history of tourism , package holidays have been a popular type of travel. Packages are put together by tour operators and are then sold by different types of travel agent . This makes travel easier for the consumer.

Many people also choose to undertake independent travel. Whether tourists choose to create a dynamic package or travel on the fly, this is a popular method of leisure travel.

Cruise tourism has also grown considerably in recent years. Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes and are popular with a wide variety of tourist types. Cruising is a form of enclave tourism .

Many people who travel for leisure are doing so to spectate or be involved in a major sporting event .

There are a large number of events that make up an important part of the sports tourism industry. Some examples include the annual Wimbledon Tennis tournament, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Football World Cup.

There are also other major events that people may choose to travel for. This could be, for example, the Chelsea Flower Show in London, the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico , Songkran in Thailand or the Glastonbury music festival.

Corporate travel

One of the most important (but often forgotten about!) types of travel is corporate travel.

Corporate travel, also referred to as business tourism , is any travel that is associated with or related to a person’s job or work.

Corporate travel may or may not involve staying away from home overnight.

Some types of corporate travel that you may encounter include:

MICE stands for- meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions. These are four important areas of the corporate travel market.

Many people will travel to attend meetings. Although, with the growth of the shut-in economy and software programmes such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, travel for meetings has decreased significantly.

Incentive travel is travel which is given as a reward for good performance at work. It is designed to act as a motivator for staff; encouraging them to worker harder, ac hive better results and ultimately make more money for the business.

Conferences and exhibitions are an important tool for sharing ideas and networking. Similarly to meetings, many of these have now been moved online. However, it is unlikely that the conference market will disappear completely, as networking via a computer screen will never yield the same benefits as having a face-to-face conversation.

Training courses are, and will continue to be, essential to successful tourism operations management. Staff need to be trained for the position that they will/are working in and will need to be regularly unskilled.

Staff may also wish to undertake extra training for promotions or to keep up to date with industry developments.

Training courses can be in your place of work, but they can take place in alternative destinations; meaning that they facilitate a form of corporate travel.

Corporate travel can also consist of temporary work contracts. This is when a person is required to work in a location outside of their home environment for a specified period of time.

Whilst the time-frame is not clearly defined, if somebody relocates for work, they are then classified as an expatriate rather than a business tourist.

Work contracts such as these can be based within the employee’s home country or they can be based overseas.

Specialist travel

Specialist travel, often referred to as special interest tourism, is a form of niche tourism. It groups together an indefinite number of types of tourism that are specialist in nature.

Specialist tourism is often linked to a personal hobby, sport or interest. It may also be a type of travel that meets a specific need of a particular tourist or group of tourists.

I have outlined over 150 different types of specialist tourism in my types of tourism glossary – I told you, there are A LOT of different tourism types!

Some of the most common types of tourism include adventure tourism, health tourism, educational tourism, heritage and cultural tourism , gap year travel, conservation, sustainable tourism , responsible tourism and honeymoon tourism.

Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR)

Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) is one of the biggest market segments in travel and tourism and is one of the most important types of travel.

People travel all around the world to visit their friends and relatives. This is an important form of domestic tourism as well as inbound tourism and outbound tourism .

Sometimes VFR will involve an overnight stay, and other times it will not. Travellers may choose to stay with their friends or relatives in their home or they may book accommodation of their own.

VFR is an especially prominent type of travel in areas with high migration or expatriation. For example, there are thousands of tourists who travel from the UK to India and Poland each year to visit family and friends, This is because there are a high number of Indian and Polish migrants in the UK.

Another important type of travel is day trips. Whilst according to some definitions of tourism, one may not technically be classified as a tourist unless they stay away from home overnight, they are nonetheless a valuable contribution to the tourism economy.

Most people who undertake a day trip will be visiting friends and relatives or in search of leisure or business.

Many people will choose to take a day trip to visit a tourist attraction, to go shopping, to attend an event, to visit the countryside or to take part in various activities.

A day trip can take part close to your home or it can form part of a holiday, i.e. you take a tour from your hotel whilst on holiday.

As you can see, there are many different types of travel, which can broadly be categorised as: leisure travel, corporate travel, specialist travel, visiting friends and relatives and day trips. All of these types of travel provide important contributions to the wider tourism industry and segmentation in this way allows us to assess and organise the industry according to the types of travel that are under scrutiny.

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Special Interest Tourism: Find Your Niche

Special interest tourism (SIT) is on the rise, and for good reason. It provides travelers the chance to explore their passions and gives you the opportunity to curate a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Special interest tourism focuses on providing leisure and adventure activities that cater to the needs of a specific audience. Tapping into your special interest niche will connect you to a smaller, yet highly-devoted audience. Think quality over quantity.

In a sector that celebrates individuality and personalization, there is something for everyone. Special interest tourism examples range from spiritual, adventure, and food tourism to military, nostalgia, and lighthouse tourism. These are just a few examples from the long list of special interest tourism options – you just have to find the niche that works for you and your audience!

What does SIT look like in 2022? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a shift in consciousness that has changed the way that travelers want to explore their destinations. In the summer of 2020, Booking.com conducted a global survey with 60 percent of respondents saying they would use an app or website that recommended itineraries where tours would have a positive impact on locals. Special interest tourism concepts and cases have shifted as travelers are increasingly concerned about the impact of their travels on the climate and local community.

Top Types of Special Interest Tourism

Environmental tourism:.

As sustainability remains a chief driver in SIT, environmental tourism has emerged as a dominant niche. Often referred to as ecotourism, sustainable tourism and responsible tourism, environmental tourism focuses on activities that don’t compromise the needs of future generations. Environmental tourism is at the forefront of special interest tourism trends and will continue to grow in demand.

In its 2025 Megatrends prediction report, Skift reveals how this is already influencing travel decisions. In a global survey, 51 percent of respondents claimed they would change their chosen travel destination and head instead to a less-popular one if that decision would have less of an adverse environmental impact.

Some online travel agencies and tour operators now offer guests the option of dedicating a day or two of their trip to activities like helping to construct a local water purification system or planting trees along shorelines devastated by hurricanes.

Adventure Tourism:

According to Future Market Insights , adventure tourism is resilient and supports local economies by attracting high-value customers. With an increasing number of Millennial and Gen-Z travelers who prefer adventure sports, adventure tourism is creating a lucrative scope for expansion in the activities segment. Adventure tourism activities vary in risk and difficulty and can include hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking and snowshoeing.

Wellness Tourism:

Wellness tourism is a growing industry, supported by travelers actively seeking ways to enhance their well-being. Dating back to the ancient baths in Rome, traveling for the purpose of improving our well-being has always been a priority, and now there are seemingly endless ways to provide customers with a wellness-centered experience. Whether it’s nutrient-rich food, a trip to a natural hot spring, or meditation and yoga, wellness tourism is an attractive niche for travelers because the desire for self-improvement is part of being human.

Finding your special interest niche

What is unique about your tours that makes you stand out? What values do you share with your customers? These are things to consider when choosing your niche. For example, female-run Travel Insights offers “Wander Women” tours. These all-female trips are centered around local women’s businesses and achievements, focusing on those who work within their communities to sustain their culture, heritage and the planet’s future. This is brilliant for a number of reasons: it ties into the growing desire for sustainable tourism, while allowing female travelers to develop lasting relationships with other like-minded women. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we all need connection in our lives.

You know your audience better than anyone, so why not consider personalizing your tour packages? According to Think With Google , nearly 57% of travelers are in favor of personalizing their buying experiences based on their personal preferences. It might be wise to think of ways that you can offer flexible packages and tailor them to suit the traveler’s needs. There is a rising demand for personalization, and it will aid in the expansion of the market in the coming years.

We see this happening in Kenya, which is home to over 3000 tour operators offering safari excursions. This has led many operators to begin incorporating unique features to meet their customer’s needs. On top of seeing wildlife, a customer might be passionate about food, so they might consider pairing their tour with culinary lunches and dinners. Or perhaps they value wellness, so an operator might pair their tour with yoga classes. The possibilities are endless!

Another great way to find your niche is to focus on your local area. Consider the heritage sites , national parks, or landmarks in your region that make it special. Are there any sites in your area that have been formally recognized? A popular destination in adventure tourism is the hike across the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim trail, which was made even more popular in 2019 when it was declared an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Awards like this are worth noting because they increase tourist popularity and attract people based on the title alone. Chances are you’re already aware of how amazing your area is, and it’s already accessible to you, so think of the ways that you like to enjoy it, and build your niche around makes you passionate about where you live.

Reaching the right audience

With special interest tourism, you’re not providing an experience for the masses and your marketing should reflect that. You want your messaging to reach those who will appreciate what you have to offer and get excited to book with you. In order to target your audience, you need to know who they are. Consider factors like their budget, age, gender, values and interests. The great thing about having a niche is that it allows you to become an expert in that area, and with expertise comes credibility.

Once you have chosen your niche, you can focus your research to pinpoint exactly what your audience is looking for and market to them accordingly. If you are a smaller business, consider moving to an online booking system rather than booking over the phone or in person. Online analytics can give you the data you need to make a big impact even with a small marketing budget.

Social media is also a great way for small businesses to market to their audience. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, but content is also targeted towards users based on their tastes and preferences. There are a number of ways to promote your tour on social media . With the right strategy and audience information, you’ll attract business organically.

Making special interest tourism work for you

The beauty of special interest tourism is that you can focus all your attention on one thing and really excel in a specific area. Lasting relationships are formed with your customers because you understand their needs and interests. You’ll gain credibility by having a clear mission and executing it well. The importance of special interest tourism is that it gives travelers the chance to bond with like-minded people and form genuine connections, and in a disconnected world, that is invaluable.

Written By | Caitlyn McGee

Caitlyn is Vancouver-based freelance writer covering the tourism industry. With a Communication Studies degree, she specializes in digital and content marketing.

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Special Interest Tourism

Adventuresome Experiences
Learning Experiences.

Clients engaged with SIT are seeking to learn more, enrich their awareness, and express themselves. They expect high standards of service and individualized focus. Many wish to travel in an environmentally sound manner and to have authentic experiences be they: cultural, social or environmental, in which they have a positive engagement with the host community. The range of special interest tours is enormous. It may range from a women’s only trek down the Larapinta Track in outback Australia to a bike tour of one of France's wine growing regions where it is possible to meet those responsible for the production of the wine being sampled, or from gay-only resorts to whale watching in Antarctica. One way of classifying different types of tourism is according to the dominant interest or reason that causes people to travel. If a tourism manager understands why a person or group of people are travelling to a particular destination, they can then design a package of services tailored to support that reason for travelling. Some travel aims or categories of tourists occur often enough that tourism providers have found it profitable to establish packages specifically tailored to cater to them. Others may require special packages or arrangements that will meet their distinctive, particular needs. The Tourism Product The tourism product is defined as “attractions” plus “the tourism industry”. Attractions are commonly divided into two main groups: a) Natural – including natural sites and natural events b) Cultural – including cultural sites and cultural events. Natural Attractions These include:

Topographic sites: e.g. mountains, beaches, valleys, caves, canyons, volcanoes, reefs
Climatic sites: e.g. hot places, cold places, humid places, dry places
Sites defined by location: e.g. central or accessible sites, isolated or difficult-to-access sites
Sites that feature certain plant or animal life: e.g. forests, jungles, grasslands, meadows, deserts, zoos, botanic gardens
Hydrological sites: e.g. lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls, mineral springs
Natural events: e.g. eclipse of the moon, tidal changes, seasonal occurrences such as mating, animal and bird migrations, volcanic eruptions, rainy or dry season, and changes in sea conditions that might attract surfers, for instance.

Travel to natural attractions has a very long history and probably occurred when humans first developed a sense of aesthetics, maybe even earlier. Travel to these destinations was often arduous and required determination, courage, a level of fitness, and sufficient wealth to allow the traveller to purchase food, labour, accommodation, transport and other materials for long periods. Today’s traveller, on the other hand, can reach most destinations easily and quickly, services and facilities are usually readily available at the site or nearby, and he or she need not be fit or wealthy. With travel to natural sites easier than ever and travel more affordable generally, the main concern in developing and maintaining natural sites is how to manage tourism in order to avoid damage to the attraction that draws people there. This issue is discussed further in the lesson on environmental tourism but it is also a significant issue for all kinds of tourism that attract travellers to places where they can enjoy the sights, smells, sounds and delights of nature. Cultural Attractions The main categories of these are:

Prehistoric sites: e.g. Stonehenge, cave paintings
Historic sites: e.g. museums, ancient monuments, graveyards, heritage-listed buildings, sites of significant events
Religious sites of significance: e.g. cathedrals, mosques, holy sites
Contemporary cultural displays and events: e.g. museums, art galleries, modern architecture, theatre, festivals, fairs, exhibitions, international sporting events (e.g. World Cup or Olympics)
Rural attractions: farms, wineries, mines, agricultural regions, agricultural technology or museums
Retail attractions: large shopping malls, small specialist shops, markets, fashion houses, craft fairs or shows
Recreational attractions: resorts, theme parks, golf courses, casinos, sports events
Cultural events e.g. festivals.

Through an understanding of the diversity that can occur within the travel product, you become better equipped to select, develop and provide a more diverse variety of services to accommodate the traveller.

Tourism II is a Distance Education course that covers all aspects of Special Interest Tourism

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[12/09/2024 18:47:23]

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Tour Operators

Tour operator is an organization, firm, or company who buys individual travel components, separately from their suppliers and combines them into a package tour, which is sold with their own price tag to the public directly or through middlemen, is called a Tour Operator .

More precise tour operators are primarily responsible for delivering and performing the services specified in a given package tour. They can provide these services themselves as some have their own cars and coaches, hotels, and other travel-related services or can obtain these from the other suppliers. That is why they are called manufacturers of tourism products .

Tour operators are sometimes called wholesalers but this is partially true because a wholesaler buys goods and services in bulk at his own account to prepare a tour package and then retails it through the travel agencies or directly to clients. However, a tour operator who has his own one or more tourists products components, (SOTC, TCI, Thomas Cook, Indo Asia KUONI formulates a new tourist product for example ‘ inclusive tours .’

Tour operators generally offer a variety of package tours to cater to the needs of different kinds of travelers.

Definitions of Tour Operator

Poyther (1993) defines, “tour operator is one who has the responsibility of putting the tour ingredients together, marketing it, making reservations and handling actual operation.”

Holloway (1992) stated that tour operations undertake a distinct function in the tourism industry, they purchase separate elements of tourism products/services and combine them into a package tour which they sell directly or indirectly to the tourists.

Today, tour operators have become highly competitive. They endeavor to achieve a high volume of turnover, and maximum International and domestic market share by effectively operating. Moreover, the success of many developed and developing nations as tourists destinations depend heavily on a tour operator’s ability to attract tourists, development and promotion of tourism plant, diversification of tourism product and their social responsibilities to develop a remote and backward area.

Types of Tour Operators

Tour operators are basically categorized into four types . These are categories on the basis of their nature of the business and its operations.

Inbound Tour Operators

Outbound tour operators, domestic tour operators.

Ground Operators

These are also known as incoming tour operators . Technically, the operators who receive guests, clients/tourists, and handle arrangements in the host country are c alled inbound tour operators . For example, a group of American Tourists is coming through TCI Ltd. to India and the company makes arrangements and handles the group in India then TCI is called an inbound tour operator.

Incidentally, the inbound traffic to the country for the last two decades has been decreasing. Essentially the tour operators need to adopt innovative marketing strategies and should introduce a special interest tour to cater the special needs of Japanese, Americans, French and British people.

Tour operator who promote tours for foreign destinations, maybe business tour or leisure tour is called outbound tour operators . For example a group of American tourists going to a trip of India and Thomas Cook handle arrangement in America like as ticket reservation, hotel booking etc. then Thomas Cook is called Outbound Tour operators in the context of America.

Domestic tour operators are those who assemble, combine tourist components into inclusive tours and sell it to the domestic travelers. In general, these tour operators provide travel services within the tourist’s native country.

The domestic tour operators operate within the boundary of the home country and offer package tour to the travelers viz. Domestic inclusive tours or independent tours.

Ground Operators/Destination Management Companies

These are commonly known as handling agencies and their main function is to organize tour arrangements for incoming tourists on the behalf of overseas operators. Let us take the case of India as a destination that – has a varied culture.

When a tour operator himself promotes beach holidays, wildlife holidays, adventure tours, heritage tours at the different places, the difficulty arises. It is the ground operator then who by handling the incoming travelers in the same season but at different places ensures that the entire operation is according to the package tours or agreements.

Sometime when a handling agency is at a prominent tourist place i.e., Delhi and it has to make arrangements to Goa, then it contracts (If it has no office of its own) with a local operator (known as excursion agent) to handle the arrangement on his behalf.

Why Ground Operators?

Obviously, the tour operation companies do not have close contact with suppliers, governments, destinations and so on. It leaves no choice with the companies but to appoint handling agencies at the destinations. The main reasons are:

Introduction of new products or plant to promote an exotic destination.
Lack of Government regulations.
Lack of personal contract.
Language problem.
The company cannot establish its own branch.

Recognizing the very fact that the reputation, performance, and profitability of tour company in its own market largely depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of ground operators, it has because necessary for the company to consider various factors before the selection of a handling agency, they are:

Size of business
Professional staff
Length of business
Area of operation/Product line
Market share

Functions of Ground Tour Operators

Over the years of functions and activities of the destination, companies have changed drastically to cope with the changing environment of the tourism industry. In fact, today’s destination companies have become more professional and are bound to provide personalized travel services to the tourists. The following functions are performed by ground tours operators:

Land arrangement
Contract and Negotiate with other vendors
Handling of Arrival and departure procedure
Planning and organizing local package tour
Escorting the tourists
Providing market information
Costing and pricing package tour

Practically, if we see the working of the travel agencies and tour operators in the industry we find that most of the organizations are performing different types of activities like the retail travel agency , wholesale travel agency, and tour operators.

The travel agency business is no longer an amateurism. Over the last two decades, the pattern and structure of travel agencies have changed to meet tough challenges in the international market. Today, small-scale agencies are finding the travel industry increasingly complex.

Thus, the small and medium scale travel agencies are disappearing or merging or falling instead of rising. On the other hand, a new concept has also emerged i.e. tour operation business . The tour operation business is new but a maturing business at the global level.

Functions of Tour Operator

A tour operator is an organization, firm, or person who is responsible for the actual arrangement of transport and accommodation facilities on any tour or vacations. They are also responsible for operating and providing vacation through contracting, booking, and packaging together of the various components of the tour such as hotel, transportation, meals, guides, optional tours, and sometimes flights.

A tour operator is like a service provider, providing the most convenient option for tourists to stay, visit, as well as leave from the city. A tour operator owns a high volume of travel services across carriers, services, and accommodation. Some most important functions of the tour operators are following as:

Planning a Tour

The most important functions of the tour operators are planning a tour. Tour operators plan a tour and make tour itinerary which contains the identification of the origin, destination and all the stopping point in a traveler’s tours. A prospective tour operator also gives advice to intending tourists in various types of tour programmes, which they may choose for their leisure or commercial travel.

Making Tour Package

Tour operator buys individual travel components, separately from there suppliers and combines them into a package tour. Tour operators make tour package by assembling various travel components into a final product that is called tour package which is sold to tourist with own price tag. Making tour packages is also an important function of Tour Operator.

Arranging a Tour

Tour operators make tour package and also arrange a tour according to tourist demands. Tour operators arrange the tour package and various tourists activities to provide the best experience to tourists/traveler.

Travel Information

Whatever the size of tour operators, it has provided necessary travel information to the tourists. This task is utterly difficult and very complicated. A tour operator must give up-to-date, accurate and timely information regarding destinations, modes of travel, accommodation, sightseeing, immigration, health and security rules about various permits required to travel in a particular area etc.

Reservation

It is a very important function of all type tour operators and travel agencies. Tour operator makes all the reservation by making linkages with accommodation sector, transport sector and other entertainment organizations to reserve rooms, and seats in cultural programmes and transportation.

Travel Management

Tour operators manage tour from beginning to the end of the tour. A tour operator has the responsibility to look after the finer details of a vacation or tour such as hotel, accommodation, meals, conveyance etc. Tour operators provide travel guide, escorting services and arrange all travel related needs and wants.

Evaluate the Option Available

Tour operators evaluate all available options to provide a unique or unforgettable travel experience to tourists during their journey. Tour operators evaluate the various options available for a tour package and provide best of them to tourists.

Tour Operators makes tour packages and promote them into various tourists markets at domestic as well international level. Tour operators promote a travel destination to attract a large group of tourists at domestic as well as international level. In the promotion of tourist destination, tour operators play a key role. Travel agencies or tour operators are called as image builder of a country.

Sales and Marketing

Tour operators do sales and marketing of tourist products. Tour operators buy individual travel components, separately and combine them into a tour package, which is sold with their own price tag to the public directly. Tour operators do marketing of tourist destinations and tourism product to attracts the attention of the tourists/travelers.

Taking Care of Glitch

Tours operators are also called handling agencies which handles tour package and take care of all the glitches and problems arises during a tour package. Tour operators fix the glitches and provide the best available alternative to tourists during their journey.

Importance of Tour Operators

Tours operators play a key role in the tourism sector. Tour operators create tourist products, promote them a finally sold them to tourists.

Tour operators provide the best and competitive price to the tourist. Tour operators negotiate with suppliers of tourism products such as hotels, airlines and provide the best possible price to the tourist. Tour operators buy tourist products in bulk and get huge discounts from suppliers. So that they provide tourist products at a cheap price.

Tour operators organized a tour in the best way. They personalize and make sure each and every component of the tour is well-taken care. Tour operators provide the best travel experience during a tour. Tour operators save tourists time and money.

Tour operators provide immediate support systems at the host country as well as a foreign land. When tourists travel to a foreign land and things get uncertain, maybe its a health or loss of documents and need to return back or change of travel plan. A qualified tour operator takes care of all these unseen events with efficiency.

Tour operator caters to the needs of tourists on the based on their taste of travel. Tour operator provides all the best available option according to tourist needs and demands

Difference between Travel Agent and Tour Operator

There is a lot of confusion about the difference between tour operators and travel agents what exactly makes them different. The main difference between a Travel agent and Tour operator are following as:

A travel agent is a person who has full knowledge of tourist product – destinations, modes of travel, climate, accommodation, and other areas of the service sector. He acts on the behalf of the product providers/principals and in return get a commission.
Tour operator is an organization, firm, or company that buys individual travel components, separately from their suppliers and combines them into a package tour, which is sold with their own price tag to the public directly or through middlemen.
Tour operators are like wholesalers and travel agents are the retailers.
A tour operator makes the package holidays up and the travel agents sell them on.
Tour operator taking up the bulk of the responsibilities and his fee is obviously much greater than a travel agent.
A tour operator has the responsibility to look after the finer details of a vacation or tour such as hotel, accommodation, meals, conveyance, etc.

The wholesale travel agencies may offer or operate the package tours or may specialize in developing tours for inbound as well as outbound travelers. They are often referred to as tour operators, but there is a difference between Wholesale Travel Agencies and Tour operators .

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Six of the best specialist travel companies

Updated on August 9 by Mark Hodson

If you want a special travel experience, you should try one of the these specialist travel companies.

As the big names in travel increasingly dominate the market, it’s easy to forget the little guys – the small independent operators that stick to a single destination and know it inside out.

Many of these companies are owned and managed by true enthusiasts, who can take you beyond the brochure clichés to an authentic and unspoilt part of the country. Here are six of the best.

Best for Italy: Bellini Travel

Who they are: founder Emily FitzRoy provides insider tours of Italy, getting under the skin of the country and offering unique experiences. She works with only about 70 clients a year.

Why they’re good: Bellini can achieve what might appear to be impossible, whether it’s a royal box at La Scala or a private evening visit to the Sistine Chapel. But it’s not all glitz: FitzRoy knows Venice backwards and enjoys taking clients off the tourist trail to trattoria in the working class district of Cannareggio and to eat seafood at fishermen’s huts on the lagoon.

Best for Greece: Travel à la Carte

Who they are: founded in 1979 by Tony Wells and his late wife Mary, it is one of the last remaining family-owned holiday specialists to the Mediterranean. It has survived by focusing on small islands including Symi, Halki and Paxos.

Why they’re good: with two directors living year-round in Greece, Travel à la Carte knows its islands intimately and provides great customer service (it claims a client satisfaction rating of 9.9 out of 10). With no charter flights to sell, it can also offer total flexibility on arrival and departure dates.

Best for Japan: Inside Japan Tours

Who they are: founders Alastair Donnelly and Simon King met at university, worked as English teachers in Japan then decided to set up a specialist travel company. They offer private travel, group tours and self-guided tours for all budgets.

Why they’re good: the core team all speak Japanese, travel regularly to the country and have great local contacts – handy if you want to enter the Tokyo Marathon or arrange an evening with a geisha in Kyoto. They provide honest expert advice and go the extra mile. For one client staying at a luxury hotel in Tokyo, they hand-delivered gluten-free soy sauce from Nagoya, a round trip of 600 miles.

Best for America: Bon Voyage

See Central Park in New York with specialist travel companies like Bon Voyage

Who they are: US fanatics Alan Wilson and Alan Orsmond started the company as a specialist travel agency in the late 1970s then focussed on creating their own tours to America.

Why they’re good: the company only employs staff that have lived or travelled extensively in the States and share the founders’ love of the country. Knowledgable sales staff combined with keen pricing keep the clients coming back.

Best for India: Greaves

Who they are: founded in 1973, Greaves is a family-owned company that offers private escorted tours of the Indian subcontinent. Managing director Mehra Dalton campaigns actively for sustainable tourism and is co-founder of Jaisalmer in Jeopardy.

Why they’re good: travel in India can be – shall we say – unpredictable. Greaves has a reputation for total reliability, ensuring every client is met on arrival with a private car and chauffeur, and ironing out every detail of every trip.

Best for Croatia: Completely Croatia

Enjoy the islands of Croatia with specialist travel companies like Completely Croatia

Who they are: founder Alison Jago spent 20 years in the travel industry before deciding her employers were getting it wrong and she could do better on her own. Completely Croatia specialises in small boutique properties and family-run hotels neglected by the larger tour operators.

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Even if Rahm remains eligible for the Ryder Cup, he would possibly need Luke Donald, the European team captain, to use one of his six captain’s picks on him.

Rahm’s Legion XIII team is second in LIV Golf’s team standing behind only Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC squad.

The team championship will take place next week in Texas.

Jon Rahm is trying to maintain his DP World Tour standing but does not want to pay the fine of defecting to LIV Golf.

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Key Components

Criticisms and Challenges

Background of kamala harris’s economic priorities, the bottom line.

Government & Policy

What Kamala Harris’s Economic Plan Could Mean for Your Future

Detailing the key components and potential impact of her economic plan and what it could mean for the future

Jeff Kowalsky / Getty Images

Vice president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris's economic plan includes policies aimed at lowering the cost of living for middle- and working-class families, creating opportunities for economic growth in underserved communities, supporting social service programs, and more.

However, while Harris's plans overlap with aspects of Bidenomics , there are also key differences.

Key Takeaways

Kamala Harris’s economic plan includes revising the tax code, lowering the cost of living, and addressing income inequality.
Harris's economic plan aims to support middle—and working-class families, focus on job creation, and increase economic growth overall.
The presidential candidate originally faced criticism for a lack of clarity around her specific plans.

Key Components of Kamala Harris’s Economic Plan

The Harris-Walz campaign says it's focus is "building up the middle class." They Harris has said she will cut taxes, lower costs for every day items, create jobs, and grow the economy.

Cost of Housing

Lowering the cost of housing—an issue that is top of mind for many Americans as home prices reach a record high —is a key component of the Kamala Harris plan.

Her campaign has called for the construction of 3 million new housing units to ease the housing supply shortage across the country. The presidential candidate also plans to implement a tax incentive for homebuilders who build starter homes that are sold to first-time homebuyers, and to propose a new $40 billion innovation fund to support local governments in finding solutions to housing shortages . Her agenda also mentions taking action to make certain federal lands eligible to be repurposed for affordable housing.

Harris also said she would provide $25,000 in downpayment support for first-time homeowners—an extension of her initial plan to provide $25,000 in downpayment assistance for 400,000 first-generation home buyers and a $10,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers.

When it comes to renting, the Harris-Walz administration said it would call on Congress to pass two bills. The first is the Stop Predatory Investing Act, a bill introduced in 2023, which would remove tax benefits for investors owning 50 or more single-family homes to rent, and the second is the Preventing the Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act, a bill introduced in 2024 to crack down on companies inflating rental prices.

Harris's plan also includes lowering the cost of prescription drugs and the burden of medical debt. The presidential candidate said she would do this by capping the cost of insulin at $35 and out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs at $2,000. She also said she would allow Medicare to speed up negotiations so drug prices can come down faster and to work to stop pharmaceutical companies from blocking competition. Building on her work as vice president, the candidate said she plans to work with states to cancel medical debt for millions of people.

Harris also proposed a ban on price gouging from grocery chains and an end to taxes on tips.

The Harris-Walz campaign relesed its policy website "A New Way Forward" in September 2024.

Investments in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

During her vice presidency, Harris has supported providing access to capital in underserved communities. In 2022, she formed the Economic Opportunity Coalition (EOC) to help minority, rural, and low-income communities develop small businesses. The move was an expansion of Harris's support of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) , institutions that provide funds to support economic growth in rural and low-income parts of the country.

In April 2023, Harris and the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the fund had awarded more than $1.73 billion in grants to CDFIs.

At the 2024 Freedman’s Bank Summer Symposium, the Biden-Harris administration announced that the EOC had plans to commit $3 billion in corporate deposits to CDFIs by 2025. The administration also highlighted that the Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP)—a program that the vice president helped pass when she was a senator to support financial institutions in lending to underserved communities—had invested $8.57 billion into community financial institutions to support small businesses and consumers who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact on Middle- and Working-Class Families

Harris's proposals to lower the cost of living —including her plans to decrease housing and grocery prices—are aimed at helping the middle and working class.

"Costs are still too high. And on a deeper level, for too many people, no matter how much they work, it feels so hard to just be able to get ahead," the candidate said in a speech delivered on the campaign trail in North Carolina in August. "As president, I will be laser-focused on creating opportunities for the middle class that advance their economic security, stability and dignity."

Harris has proposed more tax relief, including an expansion of the Child Tax Credit that would provide a $6,000 tax cut to families with newborn children and restoring the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit of up to $3,600 per child tax credit for middle-class and working families.

The Harris-Walz administration said it would also expand the Earned Income Tax Credit , which helps workers with low and moderate incomes by reducing their tax burden. Harris's plan includes cutting taxes to make health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace .

Job Creation and Economic Growth

Job creation and economic growth have been in the spotlight recently following years of high inflation, interest rate hikes, and continuous concern about a potential recession.

At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, Harris talked about creating an "opportunity economy" in which everyone has the chance to compete and succeed.

"As president, I will bring together labor and workers and small business owners and entrepreneurs and American companies to create jobs, to grow our economy and to lower the cost of everyday needs," Harris said.

Many of her proposals regarding economic growth revolve around her plans to lower the cost of housing, groceries, and other essentials and provide access to capital to small business owners. Her plans for these proposals have been more detailed than her proposals for job creation.

Addressing Income Inequality

Harris's economic plan includes proposals aimed at bringing down costs for lower-income Americans and cracking down on what she calls predatory practices by large corporations and investors. Her proposed ban on price gouging, for example, would make groceries more affordable for everyday Americans while curbing profits for retail giants. Her proposals around housing affordability include lowering rental costs and discouraging real estate investors from buying up and renting out single-family homes by cutting their tax incentives.

The vice president's proposed "opportunity economy" focuses on economic fairness: She has said that part of this plan would be ensuring every American has economic security. Her push for providing financing for underserved communities could also help break down income inequality, since it would enable more people in rural and low-income communities to start businesses.

In a continuation of the work of the Biden-Harris administration, the candidate has also pushed for the protection of social safety programs, including Social Security and Medicare.

One of Harris's challenges is outlining a clear vision for the future that both builds on Biden's presidency but isn't solely defined by it. Harris has also faced some criticism that her background as a prosecutor has made it difficult for her to hone that vision.

Prior to becoming a senator, Kamala Harris was attorney general of California.

Harris has also garnered pushback for her proposal to ban price gouging at the grocery store. Economist Carl Schramm, a professor at Syracuse, characterized such a proposal as " price controls ," Investopedia previously reported . “The real issue with price controls is who you drive out in the market,” he said. “If you put price controls on housing, no investor is going to build houses to rent.”

Harris, like her rival Trump, has also proposed ending income taxes on tips—a move some economists say would reach a very small percentage of the workforce and lowest paid, and could encourage other professions to replace wages with tips.

Before Kamala Harris was vice president, she was as a senator from California. In 2018, Harris introduced the LIFT (Livable Incomes for Families Today) the Middle Class Act, which would have created a $3,000 per year tax credit for individuals and $6,000 for married couples, benefitting lower-income earners via the tax code.

During her 2020 presidential run, Harris said that if she became president, she would repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed by Donald Trump that implemented broad tax cuts for both high-income individuals and corporations.

As vice president, Harris supported Biden in his attempts to reinvigorate the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan, which passed in March of 2021, included $1,400 stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits. The administration also fought to protect and expand on the Affordable Care Act , empowering Medicare to debate drug prices and making health care plans more affordable.

The Biden-Harris administration forgave up to $20,000 in student loan debt for borrowers whose income is less than $125,000 and who were Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for those who were not Pell Grant recipients. It attempted to forgive more than $430 billion in student loan debts in 2023 and implement an income-driven repayment plan called Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, though both attempts were blocked.

Biden and Harris also passed the CHIPS and Science Act , which invested in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research, the Inflation Reduction Act , and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act .

Harris previously proposed a Medicare For All plan funded through taxes on financial transactions, including a 0.2% tax on stock trades and a 0.1% tax on bond trades. But in August 2024, a campaign official said Medicare for All is no longer on Harris's agenda.

What Has Kamala Harris Accomplished as Vice President?

As vice president, Harris launched Central America Forward (CAF) to invest northern Central America and create jobs to slow migration. In March of 2024, she announced CAF had generated more than $5.2 billion since May 2021. She has also been active in protecting voting rights, reproductive freedom, and maternal health, and oversees the White House's first-ever Office of Gun Violence Protection.

What Would be Kamala Harris's Priority if Elected?

Harris's top priorities include lowering the costs of living for everyday Americans, cracking down on corporations that are increasing those costs, and creating economic opportunities in underserved communities. Many aspects of her plan include expansions of the work her and Biden have overseen during their administration.

How Do Trump and Harris Compare on Economic Policy?

When he was president, Donald Trump's economic policies were mainly characterized by tax cuts, trade wars and tariffs, deregulation, and restrictions on immigration. The TCJA—which includes many reforms that expire in 2025—lowered taxes for both individuals and corporations, while his tariffs and trade war with China are also among the best-known aspects of his policy. There are not many details on what a second Trump term would look like, but the former president has signaled the U.S. could expect more tariffs and tax cuts.

How Would Kamala Harris's Agenda Differ From Biden’s if Elected?

Harris's call to repeal the TCJA differs from what Biden has said about the act. Instead of calling for a complete repeal, Biden has said that he would extend tax breaks past their expiration in 2025, but only for those earning under $400,000. Overall, many of Harris's economic proposals don't look starkly different from Biden's.

What’s Kamala Harris's Position on on Student Loan Debt and Medical Debt Forgiveness?

Student debt forgiveness has been a top priority of the Biden-Harris administration. In April 2024, Biden forgave $7.4 billion for 277,000 borrowers and $1.2 billion for 35,000 additional borrowers in July 2024. Harris is expected to continue this trend should she become president.

In June 2024, the vice president announced a new proposal alongside the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that would eliminate medical debt from 15 million Americans' credit reports. Her economic plan also includes canceling medical debts for millions of people.

Amid the 2024 presidential campaign, Harris's positions include lowering the cost of living with proposals like a ban on price gouging at the grocery store and removal of tax benefits for investors renting many single-family homes. The candidate also plans to provide $25,000 in downpayment support for first-time homeowners and work to increase the housing supply. She's proposed ending taxes on tips, and furthering her accomplishments as vice president by lowering the cost for prescription drugs and the burden of medical debt and expanding the Child Tax Credit.

Harris-Walz. " Vice President Harris Lays Out Agenda to Lower Costs for American Families ."

U.S. Congress. " S.2224 - Stop Predatory Investing Act ."

U.S. Congress. " S.3692 - Preventing the Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act of 2024 ."

The New York Times. " Rallying in Las Vegas, Harris Pledges to End Federal Taxes on Tips ."

Kamalaharris.com. " A New Way Forward ."

The White House: Biden Administration. " FACT SHEET: Vice President Announces New Private and Public Sector Efforts to Align Tens of Billions in Investments in Underserved Communities ."

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. " U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Overview ." Page 1.

U.S. Department of the Treasury. " Vice President Harris, Treasury Department Announce Over $1.73 Billion to Improve Access to Capital, Financial Services in Underserved Communities ."

The White House: Biden Administration. " Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Highlights Success in Expanding Access to Capital and Private Contracting Opportunities for Underserved Communities Following Vice President’s 2023 Call to Action ."

PBS News House. " WATCH LIVE: Harris Debuts Economic Proposals to Lower Costs for Americans ." YouTube, (Video.) August 16, 2024.

Bloomberg Television. " Kamala Harris: We Will Create an 'Opportunity Economy' ." YouTube, (Video.) August 23, 2024.

The New York Times. " Kamala Harris’s Strengths and Weaknesses ."

Tax Foundation. " Frustrated with Tipping? No Tax on Tips Could Make It Worse ."

U.S. Congress. " S.3712 - LIFT (Livable Incomes for Families Today) the Middle Class Act ."

U.S. Congress. " H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ."

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. " Negotiating for Lower Drug Prices Works, Saves Billions ."

U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. " HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025 Final Rule ."

The White House: Biden Administration. " Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces Student Loan Relief for Borrowers Who Need It Most ."

U.S. Department of Education. " Department of Education Updates on Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE Plan) ."

Supreme Court of the United States. " 22-506 Biden v. Nebraska ."

Kamala Harris (via Medium). " My Plan For Medicare For All ."

POLITICO. " Harris Isn’t Pushing Medicare for All Anymore. Progressives Say That’s OK ."

The White House: Biden Administration. " FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces Public-Private Partnership Has Generated More Than $5.2 Billion in Private Sector Commitments for Northern Central America. "

The White House. " Office of Gun Violence Protection ."

The White House: Biden Administration. " FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget Cuts Taxes for Working Families and Makes Big Corporations and the Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share ."

U.S. Department of Education. " Biden-Harris Administration Announces Additional $7.4 Billion in Approved Student Debt Relief for 277,000 Borrowers ."

U.S. Department of Education. " Biden-Harris Administration Approves Additional $1.2 Billion in Student Debt Relief for 35,000 Public Service Workers ."

The White House: Biden Administration. " FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces Proposal to Prohibit Medical Bills from Being Included on Credit Reports and Calls on States and Localities to Take Further Actions to Reduce Medical Debt ."

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Frankie Beverly, Frontman of the Soul Group Maze, Is Dead at 77

A consistent hitmaker on the R&B charts for almost 50 years, he had announced just this year that he would be retiring.

Frankie Beverly, dressed all in white and wearing a white cap, stands on a stage with both arms extended and a microphone in his right hand.

By Derrick Bryson Taylor and Richard Sandomir

Frankie Beverly, the lead singer and songwriter of the soul and funk band Maze, whose songs, including “Golden Time of Day,” “Joy and Pain” and “ Happy Feelin’s,” provided the soundtrack to countless summer cookouts and family reunions for more than five decades, died on Tuesday. He was 77.

His death was announced in a statement by his family on his Instagram account . The statement did not say where he died or cite a cause.

“He lived his life with pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better,” the statement said. “He lived for his music, family and friends.”

Mr. Beverly had announced a farewell tour this year with a handful of dates. He had said that he would retire after going on the road one last time.

“Thank you so much for the support given to me for over 50 years as I pass on the lead vocalist torch to Tony Lindsay,” Mr. Beverly said in a statement to Billboard at the time. “The band will continue on as Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly. It’s been a great ride through the decades. Let the music of my legacy continue.”

With his smooth baritone, Mr. Beverly led Maze to success on the R&B charts and Black radio. But the band did not have a lot of crossover pop success.

“Frankie Beverly may be the biggest R&B star you never heard of,” J.D. Considine, the Baltimore Sun music critic, wrote in 1994.

That did not seem to bother him much.

“Yeah, I wish more people did know who I was,” he told Mr. Considine, “but if it’s at the expense of me giving up this thing we have, then I just have to wait until they find out. ’Cause whatever we have, whatever this thing is that we seem to have a part of, it’s a cult kind of thing.”

It would be difficult to count the number of artists who have cited Mr. Beverly’s music as inspiration or sampled from his ever-expanding playbook of infectious melodies and harmonies. Many have covered his work, some with more fanfare than others. His 1978 song “I Need You” was sampled in “Hustler’s Ambition” by 50 Cent, “Talk to Em” by Young Jeezy and “I Need U” by Lil Boosie and Webbie.

And Mr. Beverly’s song “Before I Let Go,” though not a big hit, was covered by Beyoncé on her live album “Homecoming” in 2019. In the New York Times podcast “Still Processing,” with Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham, the song was described in 2021 as having “a unique ability to gather and galvanize,” becoming “a unifying Black anthem and an unfailing source of joy.”

Howard Stanley Beverly was born on Dec. 6, 1946, in Philadelphia. His father was a truck driver, and his mother ran the household.

He was influenced as a child by the music he heard in church, by R&B singers like Sam Cooke and Lloyd Price, and by the doo-wop group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.

“I was so blown away by Frankie that I changed my own name — my birth name is Howard!” he was quoted as saying in an online biography . “But after I heard Frankie and the guys, I was totally bitten.”

As a 12-year-old, he said, he toured the East Coast for about a year with the Silhouettes (who had a No. 1 hit with “Get a Job” in 1958) after they heard he could sing like Mr. Lymon. He then formed a few doo-wop groups of his own and recorded for one of the early record labels of the songwriter and producer Kenneth Gamble — who, with his partner, Leon Huff, would help create the sound known as Philly Soul.

Mr. Beverly transformed his group Butlers from a traditional vocal harmony ensemble into Raw Soul, which bore the influence of Sly and the Family Stone’s adventurous fusion of soul, rock and funk.

He and the other members of Raw Soul moved to San Francisco in 1972, but they initially had trouble finding success.

“We were going through hell,” Mr. Beverly told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch n 1978. “San Francisco was no Disneyland. It was real, with real hurts and heartaches. We didn’t have any bread and we were out in the street.”

They did manage to get booked at a few small clubs; at one of them, Marvin Gaye’s sister-in-law saw them perform and alerted Mr. Gaye to their talent. He took them out on tour in 1976 as an opening act and helped them get a deal with Capitol Records.

“He loved me like a little brother,” Mr. Beverly said of Mr. Gaye in the online biography, “and certainly working with him helped bring our demos back to life.”

Raw Soul changed its name before its first album, “Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly,” was released in 1977. It was the first of nine albums by the group to be certified gold, including the two-disc “Anthology” (1996).

Information about survivors was not immediately available.

In 2009, when they closed the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans for the 15th straight year, Ben Ratliff of The Times described the experience of listening to Maze:

“The band’s shows are rehearsed rituals, working up to a rare and special audience feeling: deep, sentient serenity, not the usual kind of lose-yourself pop catharsis. It’s done by repetitive funk in slow to medium tempos, without a lot of instrumental flexing; moderation is everywhere.”

As for Mr. Beverly, he added: “His voice was half-scorched, and some of the usual traces of Donny Hathaway and Sam Cooke weren’t coming through. But he managed by keeping it in the middle register and by adding small vocal gestures to the rhythm cycles — percussive uh-uhs and dibba-dibbas, gospel grunts.

“His lyrics are about joy and desire, but he works realism, as well as a horror of hurting anyone, into his euphoria.”

Derrick Bryson Taylor covers breaking and trending news and is based in London. More about Derrick Bryson Taylor

Richard Sandomir, an obituaries reporter, has been writing for The Times for more than three decades. More about Richard Sandomir

How Biden is spending his final months as president

President Joe Biden is launching a new phase of his presidency this week.

Liberated from the constraints of a re-election campaign , he’s in the beginning stage of a strategy that will take him to places at home and abroad over the next five months that he most likely would have ignored as a candidate, not with the goal of keeping the White House , but of keeping his legacy and some of his most significant accomplishments secure.

On Thursday, Biden travels to a small town in a county in southwest Wisconsin that had voted reliably Democratic for two decades until Donald Trump carried it twice. Biden will make more trips like these, to Republican-leaning areas — and even eventually red states — to make the case that his agenda has also benefited those who voted against him, according to multiple Biden advisers.

Aides are also reallocating time Biden had reserved for domestic politics to focus instead on foreign policy, with plans for an international farewell tour of sorts that could include a long-promised trip to Africa in October.

“The schedule will be robust and he plans to leave it all on the field,” White House communications director Ben LaBolt said.

Biden enters the twilight of his presidency with little recent precedent to guide him. Re-elected presidents begin their second terms knowing they have years to begin shaping their legacies. Recent one-term presidents, on the other hand, were fighting until their final weeks to hold onto the office.

Yet, one senior Biden adviser noted that the president has been mindful of the weight of history since the moment he first entered the Oval Office, weeks after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and amid public health and economic crises.

“It’s been ever present, because the stakes have been so high,” the adviser said.

Still, the president’s aides said a new approach was required after Biden made the consequential decision in late July to end his bid for a second term and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him on the Democratic ticket. One of the first directives Biden gave after bowing out was to his chief of staff, Jeff Zients, saying he wanted his final months in the Oval Office to be as consequential as any similar period in his term so far.

In general terms, that meant implementing the pillars of his legislative record — infrastructure investments, boosting manufacturing, climate change initiatives and expanded veterans care — while looking at where the president can lay the groundwork for unrealized or even new policy ideas that would give a potential Harris administration a running start.

Zients then set about working with other top advisers to put a specific action plan in place, the early contours of which were presented to Biden when he began a two-week, bicoastal vacation following his farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, Biden aides said.

Advisers said it focuses on four goals: finding new ways to increase investment in U.S. infrastructure; reducing costs for Americans; safeguarding freedoms the president believes are under siege; and strengthening U.S. alliances to confront global challenges.

Each goal aims to burnish Biden’s legacy, but the president’s aides said they also will help make a case against Trump that they hope will help Harris’ campaign.

“Good governance is a way to show contrast,” one official said.

Biden’s team is regularly in touch with the Harris campaign operation — one, advisers note, they largely built — to ensure the president’s actions are helpful, Biden aides said. The goal, they said, is for Biden to act “surgically” and to campaign where it is “strategically impactful” for him to go, as one of them put it.

The plan is for Biden to focus on constituencies where he has had appeal, such as senior voters and blue-collar communities, aides said.

The Biden official also argued that the president's record continues to be popular among Democrats. “It’s not like 2008,” the official noted, when then-President George W. Bush was poised to leave office with approval ratings as low as the 20% range and an economy in free fall.

Much of Biden’s domestic travel will be under the guise of official administration business, such as stops he plans Thursday and Friday in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Biden also is expected to travel extensively overseas, including in October after the annual gathering of world leaders in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, according to two senior administration officials and two former senior U.S. officials familiar with the plans.

The possible countries he could visit in October, as the presidential campaign is at a fever pitch, include Germany, as well as at least one stop in sub-Saharan Africa, the officials said.

None of the ideas under discussion have been finalized on the president’s schedule, one of the senior administration officials said, adding: “The team is pulling together options.”

Biden does plan to travel to Brazil for the Group of 20 summit and to Peru for a gathering of Asia-Pacific leaders, officials said. He is looking to hold high-profile meetings with key world leaders, including at the U.N. General Assembly later this month and a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November on the sidelines of the G20, the officials said.

Since dropping out of the 2024 race, Biden has had a lot more time to devote to foreign policy matters than his senior aides had planned for when they thought he would be campaigning nonstop for re-election, the officials said.

“His foreign policy agenda is very full” in these final months, according to White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett.

Now, Biden can chat longer on the phone with world leaders, extending calls that previously would have been curtailed with a more jam-packed schedule. In recent conversations, the president has mentioned to his counterparts that he looks forward to seeing them again before leaving office and has even joked about how much more free time he has on his hands, a Biden aide said.

While Biden’s goals for his final months in office are set, specific plans beyond September remain subject to change, aides said, noting the presidency naturally comes with unseen events.

His role in the campaign won’t be as robust as then-President Barack Obama’s was eight years ago for then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, which included regular campaign events in battleground states including a large, closing joint rally in Philadelphia.

But Biden aides pointed to the president’s event Monday in Pittsburgh as indicative of what they believe he can do for Harris, starting with vouching for her character and commitment to supporting the kind of working- and middle-class voters he has long considered his political base.

“We can help strengthen the argument, fortify the argument for her in the way that we did as vice president to President Obama, and the same way Vice President Harris helped us to win in 2020,” the senior Biden adviser said.

On Tuesday at a White House event, Biden said he would in the weeks ahead “talk with Americans all across the country about the progress we’re seeing in their communities.” He also indicated he wants to make the most of his final months there.

“I’m not going to be in the White House much longer, but you got to come and see me,” Biden told the four local officials who participated virtually in Tuesday’s event.

Mike Memoli is an NBC News correspondent.

Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.

Monica Alba is a White House correspondent for NBC News.

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Special interest tourism (or specialist interest tourism) is a type of tourism that focuses on specific activities, interests, or experiences. It can include anything from environmental tourism to responsible tourism to film tourism. Special interest tourists are looking for unique experiences that they won't find elsewhere, so tour businesses ...
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Specialist tourism has emerged as a popular trend in the travel industry. It refers to niche areas of travel that cater to specific interests, hobbies, and activities. While traditional tourism focuses on visiting popular destinations and attractions, specialist tourism offers unique experiences that are tailored to suit individual preferences.
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A specialist tour operator is likely to have participated in one or more specialized tours as a traveler, in addition to prior experience working in the tourism industry. Many people choose specialized tourism jobs because they enjoy adventure travel, such as safari expeditions, international cycling tours, or hunting trips. ...
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Specialist tour operators focus on niche segments of travel, such as adventure, luxury, or education. Their expertise in specific realms enables them to curate tailor-made experiences that ...
The 17 Different Types Of Travel
Specialist travel. Specialist travel, often referred to as special interest tourism, is a form of niche tourism. It groups together an indefinite number of types of tourism that are specialist in nature. Specialist tourism is often linked to a personal hobby, sport or interest. It may also be a type of travel that meets a specific need of a ...
Special Interest Tourism: Find Your Niche
Special interest tourism focuses on providing leisure and adventure activities that cater to the needs of a specific audience. Tapping into your special interest niche will connect you to a smaller, yet highly-devoted audience. Think quality over quantity. In a sector that celebrates individuality and personalization, there is something for ...
Special Interest Tourism
Special Interest Tourism. Special interest tourism (SIT) is the provision of customised tourism activities that caters to the specific interests of groups and individuals. In this case, tourism is undertaken to satisfy a particular interest or need. It has been proposed that SIT consists of four main experiences: Rewarding. Enriching.
AITO
AITO ensures that all specialist members are professional, so you don't have to do the research. All package holidays sold by AITO members have financial protection, allowing you to travel with full confidence. AITO members promote an ethical and sustainable approach to travel, to help maintain their travel destinations.
Trends in specialist travel revealed in the AITO Travel Insights Report
Some 40 companies participated in the research - a mix of AITO tour operators and AITO Agents - and 26,000 customers responded to the detailed survey. About AITO. AITO, The Specialist Travel Association, is a group of unique and specialist travel companies, which collectively provide an unrivalled range of holidays. When booking with an ...
Association of Independent Tour Operators
AITO - The Specialist Travel Association (formerly known as The Association of Independent Tour Operators), is a British-based travel industry trade association established in 1976 that represents around 120 specialist and independent tour operators.. Members of AITO operate in over 170 countries, including the UK, with activities spanning a range of interests including adventure, city ...
Tour Operators
Tour operator is an organization, firm, or company that buys individual travel components, separately from their suppliers and combines them into a package tour, which is sold with their own price tag to the public directly or through middlemen. Tour operators are like wholesalers and travel agents are the retailers.
Special Interest Tourism (SIT) » Concepts, Meaning, History, Features
The existence of SIT finds its root in the era of Grand Tour when the noble families in Rome used to visit some designated area but as a phenomenon, this concept is relatively new and can be traced its history in 1980. SIT is denoted by various other names like new age tourism, niche tourism. It is also promoted by some other names like ...
Six of the best specialist travel companies
Best for America: Bon Voyage. Who they are: US fanatics Alan Wilson and Alan Orsmond started the company as a specialist travel agency in the late 1970s then focussed on creating their own tours to America. Why they're good: the company only employs staff that have lived or travelled extensively in the States and share the founders' love of ...
tour operators
Tour operators are the holiday companies that many of us use when booking a holiday, they make contracts with airlines, hotels and other transport companies to put the package together then all the holiday details gets distributed to travel agents or straigth to the customers. types of tour operators: * Mass market operator, examples are first ...
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The rise of specialist tour operators
The rise of specialist tour operators, whether they are offering family holidays, safaris, specific wildlife watching, cycling, hiking, cross country skiing or sailing, inspires not only us but also our travellers. They might not have their own hotels, but they are bursting with chutzpah. And they might not have their own planes, but in terms ...
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What Is Specialised Tourism?

The Future of Specialized Tourism

10 Related Question Answers Found

What Does a Specialist Tour Operator Do?

What is a Specialist Tour Operator?

1. Niche Expertise

2. Customized Experiences

3. Destination Specialization

4. Exclusive Access

5. Passionate Guides

Key Takeaways

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2. What is a specialist tour operator?

3. What is a specialized tour?

4. What are the main three types of tour operators?

5. What types of niche travel experiences do specialist tour operators offer?

6. Are specialist tour operators more expensive than regular tour companies?

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Types of tour operators

1. Inbound Tour Operators

2. Outbound Tour Operators

3. Domestic Tour Operators

4. Specialist Tour Operators

5. Travel Agency and Tour Operators

6. Luxury Tour Operators

7. International Tour Operators

8. Coach Tour Operators

9. Receptive Tour Operators

10. Adventure Tour Operators

11. Educational Tour Operators

Why tour operators are crucial?

Frequently Asked Questions

The 17 different types of travel

The different types of travel

Leisure travel

Corporate travel

Specialist travel

Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR)

Special Interest Tourism: Find Your Niche

Top Types of Special Interest Tourism

Adventure Tourism:

Wellness Tourism:

Finding your special interest niche

Reaching the right audience

Making special interest tourism work for you

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