As the year draws to a close, more and more agencies across the country are becoming more vocal about their position and combating negative market trends. For example, Blagoveshchensk agents on the portal change.org posted a petition against TA discounters. The petition was sent to the address of Rostourism, RST, ATA, as well as tour operators: Biblio-Globus, Anex Tour, Pegas Touristik, Coral Travel, Sanmar, ICS, Tez Tour, Natalie Tours, Natalie Tours, Rus Tour, Intourist, Intravel Stoleshniki, Pax, TUI, PAC GROUP.
"Back in 2010-11, we actively opposed 'discount-selling travel agencies' that offered maximum discounts to tourists from the commission portion of tour packages. The 'Charter for Supporting the Agency Market,' when agency professionalism was prioritized over client flow, mandated a commission reduction for agencies that offered discounts exceeding 50%. Now, in Blagoveshchensk, some travel agencies are defaulting on offering 10% discounts to clients from the 12% commission, thereby effectively nullifying the value of the travel industry and their work.
Such agencies, which display a complete disrespect and demeaning attitude toward their work, should not go unnoticed by industry authorities. After all, this policy has already resulted in a significant deterioration in the financial situation of a large number of travel agencies, tour operators, and airlines.
It's no secret that these agencies "steal" clients from other agencies through dumping, calling into question the professionalism of the people working day and night with tourists. The fact remains that many agencies simply collected tourists' money and disappeared from the market, leaving their directors with multi-million dollar debts," the text of the petition says.
According to the petition's authors, this state of affairs will soon lead to the departure of many agencies from the market.
"Now, with the rapid growth of individual tourism and the availability of booking systems, we fill charter flights solely through our own professionalism, becoming both a consultant and a friend to our clients. But due to price-cutting, the value of the relationship is lost when tourists waste their personal time and energy searching for a price that's a thousand rubles cheaper."
Dear colleagues and tourism industry leaders! We ask you to support us in this situation and protest travel agencies that offer maximum discounts at a loss to attract customers. We also ask you to encourage leading travel agencies to regulate unjustified discounts and impose sanctions when such cases are detected. In Blagoveshchensk (Amur Region), and elsewhere, there is a complete chaos regarding discounts.
We, travel agencies, want to work on a level playing field so that clients can choose their travel consultant based on professionalism, not price,” conclude the TA.
The petition's authors also addressed the issue of reducing commissions and promotional rates. You can read the petition in more detail here. Here.
Source: trn-news.ru