2. Ancillary Tourism Services
Ancillary services mean additional services. Having attempted
to compartmentalize travel services by sector, the industry is
left with a number of services and facilities not classified
which we include as ancillary tourism services. They can take
the form of either service to the tourist or services to the
supplier of tourism, although there may be considerable
overlap between these categories.
3. Ancillary services in travel and tourism :
• Ancillary services in travel and tourism are services that are
provided which make the entire travel experience very
comfortable, safe, secure and enjoyable.
• Ancillary services of tourism are the 'Extras' of a holiday, such
as; -Travel Insurance -Park/Event Tickets -Car Hire -Car
insurance -Airport Parking -Money; Foreign Exchange -
Luggage -Tour Guide -Chauffeur Service
4. EXAMPLE: ANCILLARY TOURISM SERVICE
• Travel Insurance which provides insurance for loss of
baggage, passport, or any valuables,
• Medical expenses while in a trip.
• Services like airport parking,
• Tickets for any kind of park/museums etc,
• Chauffeur service,
• Specialized services at major airports provided by major
airline companies,
• Foreign exchange,
• International SIM card services etc.
These services make an entire travel experience complete.
5. Financial Services
Insurance is an important and in some cases obligatory
aspect of a tourist’s travel arrangements. Insurance can
cover for one or more of the following:
• Medical care and hospitalisation
• Personal accident
• Cancellation or curtailment of holiday.
• Delayed departure
• Luggage loss or delay.
• Money loss
• Loss of personal belongings
• Personal liability.
6. Financial Services
• Traveller can purchase a policy for one or more of the items or can buy
“packages” policy travel that include some or most of these items.
• Rates usually vary depending on the cover that items and number of
travelling day.
• Most overseas travel companies encourage their clients to buy insurance
(through them and independently). Some travel companies by law in some
countries have to advise the client of the importance of insurance
coverage. Travel companies such as travel agencies make money by selling
insurance by way of a commission from the insurance company. Travellers
can buy policies at the airport before departure or on arrival when
available.
7. Foreign Transaction
Travellers today have an ever-widening choice of the way in which they
can pay for services and goods while abroad (if allowed by law):
a) Taking foreign bank-notes with them.
b) Taking travellers cheques.
c) Arranging for the advance transfer of funds to a specified foreign bank.
d) Using credit cards or charge cards (VISA, American Express)
e) Cash, of course.
8. Duty- Free Shopping
• The purchase of duty free goods at airports, on-board ships
and aircrafts or at specially designed duty free ports or
borders have always exerted a strong attraction for tourists.
• There are particular allowances and regulations regarding
duty free shopping for each country. The sale of duty-free
goods at airports provides a substantial proportion of airport’s
operating revenue.
9. Publications
There is a very large selection of publications (daily, weekly and
monthly) serving the needs of the traveller in many different ways
and many different languages.
Information is valuable for traveller and in the majority of cases
they are willing to pay for it. Publications in the travel business
means big business worldwide. Publication’s traditional and most
popular means are:
* Maps
* Magazines
* Newspaper
* Guides
10. Education and Training
• The approach to training in the travel industry has been historically by sector. Each
sector tends to generate its own training courses (public or private institute.) i.e.
specific courses to train travel guides and travel counsellors to work for travel agencies
or tour operations.
• Most employees of travel services often are being trained on the job by observation
and experience only. Some companies are providing note-worthy service training
programs in China i.e. ITT/Sheraton Hotels, Shangri La Group of Hotels, Hyatt
International Hotels. A greater emphasis now has been placed upon professionalism,
the introduction of national standards of training and more formal training programs.
• Professional bodies such as International Labour Office are providing for example
technical assistance to the China Tourism Management Institute in Tianjin are designing
programs in China on that direction.
• Some courses can be validated within the industry and monitor the quality of trained
personnel. Of course, standards, quality and length of the course vary substantially from
one region or country to another.
11. Ancillary Services to the Tourists
• Financial Services:
• Insurance
• Foreign Transactions
• Foreign Exchange
• Duty-free Shopping
• Airport Services
• The press/publications/Guides
• Information Systems
• International Communications
• Professional Services
12. Ancillary Services to the Supplier
• Education and Training
• The Trade Press
• Marketing Services
• Information Systems Management