Bus Tourism has always been considered the most stable and predictable niche market. But such views are outdated: now this business is changing rapidly. Travel agents have to revise the product positioning, adjust to the harsh and inconsistent policy of foreign consulates, to put up with dictatorial counterparts (primarily engineers). Fortunately, in this struggle with the elements of the market at the tour operator has two allies: the client and competitor .... Ironically, it is they can expect in a situation where the land goes from under my feet. More precisely, from under the wheels.
Demand, which is always with you
buses charter of the past century
Over the past ten years, the dynamics of demand for bus tourism is almost unchanged, the sharp ups and downs are not happening. Peak consumer activity traditionally falls in early May, and then keep selling steadily high from June to September (the \u0026quot;hottest\u0026quot; month - August), and then perk up during the November school holidays and New Year holidays. Since mid-November to late December, as well as the second half of January until mid-March low season begins. Travel only a few. Experts say the market, the number of tourists that are sent in February, may differ, for example, the volumes on August 20. But the armor for the future in this period, no one has repealed: bus tourists, the bulk of people are disciplined, often deciding at the last moment, especially since this type of travel involves complex visa procedures. In general, the average depth of sales in the tourist bus is a month and a half (operators beach crowd can only dream about it).
Quantitative indicators of general turpotokov, according to deputy general director Oleg DSBW Balakirev, increasing by 10 percent annually. The internal structure of the demand now is not the same that a few years ago. Client no longer attracts the \u0026quot;free bus departure from Moscow, there are few who are willing to hold two or three days in a sitting position, to survive the night, two spans, even if the voucher will become cheaper to 200 euros. If at the dawn retreat sightseeing tourism packages with the movement only \u0026quot;on wheels\u0026quot; were in the range of almost all tour operators now offer only their \u0026quot;Encore\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;Interso. Other companies produce only a combination of railway and air + bus + bus.
By rail, the customer must generally to Brest, Warsaw, Berlin (rarely - to Bratislava), where we start our own bus tour. The majority of these routes is a significant advantage: the trains run strictly on schedule, the tourists spared the waiting at the border. The exception is the program, launched from Brest: in this case, enter the group in Belarus has a bus, which often result in many hours of lost. Experts say never say precisely how much time checking of documents. Sometimes have to wait five hours or more, despite repeated discussion of this problem by the authorities of both countries and promises to straighten everything out.
What is it called?
With regard to programs with air travel, they only can be called the bus - with this type of tourism they have in common only the rich \u0026quot;with four\u0026quot; ekskursionka. Some operators impose a special air routes, while others form them in such a way that travelers, reseeding with aircraft on a bus, could join the \u0026quot;train\u0026quot; groups in one or several points of the path.
In terms of geography travel hit of all time is still Paris. Paradox: \u0026quot;Classic\u0026quot; tour operators in France together are scratching their heads over what else can you show in the capital of this country, as \u0026quot;one of the Eiffel Tower, there is no one not be enticed, but avtobusniki successfully selling tours of the sample several years ago. For other destinations to this day claimed a textbook \u0026quot;Italy - The Classics\u0026quot;, an inexpensive package \u0026quot;Helsinki - Stockholm\u0026quot;, a combination of \u0026quot;Paris - London\u0026quot;. Perhaps the reason is that up to 80% of clients include the Regions, and in particular novice tourists on a budget. But even those consumers who are forced to adhere to a strict regime of economy, tourism is now seen as a bus than a low quality. And the only way to dissuade the general public in this, insist the experts - to position the product as a \u0026quot;sightseeing trip\u0026quot;. Tour-Package content remains the same, but its attractiveness for the customer increases noticeably.
No raids and clashes
Exhibitors bus market can be counted on the fingers, and they all came to the business will not last: the average age of travel companies - about 10 years. New users appear very rarely. And not even because of the low profitability Operating it is about the same as in other niches - 6-7%. \u0026quot;The reason probably is that sightseeing bus tourism - a very static business, - said Oleg Balakirev. - The market has long been divided, and routes, to put it mildly, are borrowed from each other. In principle, to be afloat, there is no need to reinvent the wheel \u0026quot;. Participate in fierce price competition is also not necessary. \u0026quot;I will not hide, there are in our business, individual cases of dumping - the general director of\u0026quot; Turtrans-Voyage \u0026quot;Dmitry Fomintsev. - But still, by and large tourist missing everything.
\u0026quot;The rivalry between us, there is no animosity, - say other experts. - Rather, it is a healthy collaboration. Colleagues help each other with the buses, hotels. Moreover, if someone from the operator fails to collect a group on a certain date, he often gives competitors already issue the application clients. And no doubt that those in his position would do the same.
The lack of pronounced hostility among the \u0026quot;bus\u0026quot; operators - a phenomenon is quite understandable. Because only together travel companies can withstand adverse external circumstances that threaten to undermine and even destroy their business. But such a threat in recent times appeared quite frequently, and fragile market \u0026quot;tours on wheels\u0026quot; every now and then be tested for strength.