Adopt the Philosophy of Tourists First, Tour Operators Second, And Destinations Third

What is the difference between tourists, tour operators, and tourist destinations? Sounds thought-provoking, right? All three are equally important and interconnected; one without another has no meaning. We will discuss and debate between tourists, tour operators, and tourist destinations and conclude by prioritizing them in the pecking order. 

Tourists are the people who provide bread and butter to tour operators when they travel to tourist destinations. Hence, tourists come first. It is the tour operators who work hard to identify and elevate tourist destinations through various means, including online and offline. Hence, they come second. It is the tourist destination the tourists visit to spend their precious time on vacation. Hence, tourist destinations come third.

The Kerala State in India has been elevated as one of the unique destinations in the world through tour operators and tourism departments. Many such tourist destinations remain untapped due to the shortage of publicity by tour operators and the tourism department.

The Role of Tourists

Tourists have various roles and responsibilities while traveling to different tourist destinations. Although spending leisure time is the main thing, they must understand and respect local traditions and cultures. They must keep the environment safe by not polluting. They must empathize with locals and respect them. They must encourage locals. They must purchase locally made goods and avail themselves of hotels and accommodations facilities by paying reasonable prices. In this way, tourists can promote destinations and sustain tourism. 

The Role of Tour Operators

Tour operators provide information to tourists about tourist destinations, and plan and coordinate with various agencies to create customized packages and services. Hence, they serve as the bridge between tourists and the goals. They must provide truthful and accurate information to the tourists. They must plan so that the tourists save their time and enjoy the destinations. They must also charge prices reasonably to the tourists because all tourists are not wealthy. Some tourists may have a low budget but are passionate about traveling. The tour operators must educate tourists about the local customs and cultures and ensure safety. If tourists are satisfied, they hire the same tour operators to visit the destinations. They can also refer to others through word of mouth. 

The Tourist Destinations

The local people in tourist destinations must treat tourists as guests and welcome them wholeheartedly. They must be warm and friendly with the tourists. At the same time, they must take adequate precautions because all tourists may not be good intentions. They must showcase their local cultures and customs to attract tourists and enable the latter to return with sweet memories. They must provide safety to the tourists and keep them in good humor. They must guide tourists in the right direction and cooperate with the tour operators who work hard to bring them to their destinations. Above all, they must not compromise their cultural identity. 

If tour operators improve and elevate tourist destinations, tourists provide repeated business to tour operators by posting online reviews and spreading them through word of mouth. Additionally, if tourists are satisfied with the services of tour operations, they stay longer in tourist destinations. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize tourists over tour operators and tour operators over tourist destinations. To summarize, there must be coordinated and integrated efforts between the tourists, tour operators, and officials from the tourism department to promote spiritual tourism globally. To conclude, adopt the philosophy of tourists first, tour operators second, and destinations third to promote tourism globally.

Written by Prof. M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
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