PUNE: The cyber police on Monday registered a case against online fraudsters for allegedly duping two prominent people travel agencies of Rs 62 lakh between April 16 and 17 by fraudulently using their prepaid account details to book flight tickets.The cyber police have registered cases of cheating and common intention, and also invoked relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act against the accused. According to senior inspector of the cyber police, Meenal Patil, the two travel agencies book air tickets in three private airlines for their clients. “They also book tickets on government airlines. For this purpose, they have…
As travel continues its post-pandemic comeback, travel agencies and advisors have never been busier. But likewise, the number of travel agency and tour operator businesses is booming.
According to Tourism Research Australia’s (TRA) Tourism Businesses Report 2017-2022in June last year, there were 8,647 travel agency and tour operator services based in Australia.
This is 1,502 more travel agency and tour operator businesses than there were in 2017 (7,145), reflecting a 21 per cent increase in the five years to June 2022.
While this is promising news for the sector, the number is still down 356 on the 9,003 businesses reported…
A March bookings report and remarks from cruise executives indicate that travel advisors’ cruise bookings are rebounding.
Travel agents’ proportion of cruise bookings tanked to an all-time low of 52% in 2021, down from 70% in 2019, as direct bookings gained traction, according to the US Cruise Market Report 2022-2026, released by Phocuswright.
But projections suggest concerns about an increase in direct bookings could be relatively short-lived, with the share of travel advisor bookings predicted to return to 2019 levels by 2025 and increase to 71% by 2026.
“Cruise was hit so hard and is coming back so strong,” said…
Australia has rolled out the red carpet for the most important group of tourists to visit the country in the past three years.
Key points:
Chinese tourists were worth $12.4ba year to the Australian economy pre-COVID
The tourism industry is delivering its sales pitch to Chinese buyers at the Australian Tourism Exchange
Tourism Australia predicts visitor numbers will not return to normal until 2026
A 133-strong delegation of Chinese travel agency bosses and industry wholesalers has touched down on the Gold Coast for the Australian Tourism Exchange — Tourism Australia’s flagship industry conference.
The powerbrokers are the key to reviving…
We’re a few weeks into the new year, which is the best time to start planning your next trip (or trips!) for 2023. Canadians across the country are back to travelling, with airports reporting some of the busiest travel dates since the start of the pandemic. But before you jump online to book your trip, here are five reasons you should use a travel agent to plan the perfect vacation.
1. Travel agents have the latest travel advice
Over the last few years, travelers have trusted the advice and guidance of travel agents to help plan their next trip. They…
Melbourne man Geoff Berlowitz isn’t big on holidays.
Key points:
Another Helloworld Travel franchisee has gone bust in suburban Melbourne
The collapse of the Mill Park outlet has left 56 customers out of pocket
Consumers say Helloworld’s head office has declined to help them
“I mean, Coburg would be a big trip for me,” he said with a wry smile, referring to the suburb just down the road.
So, in 2019, when he and his wife Margaret paid $22,500 for a tour to see Canada and Alaska, scheduled for May 2020, it was a big deal.
“We didn’t sort of…
Qravel agencies are facing an “existential threat” as continuing border closures mean they “don’t have any product to sell”, with business analysts predicting the phasing out of government wage subsidies is likely to mean most larger agencies survive.
However, some travel agencies, despite reporting “zero revenue” since the pandemic began and having to pay back fees for canceled holidays, hope that – by sparing their clients lengthy phone calls with airlines by negotiating refunds on their behalf – they will have demonstrated their value to customers eager to travel when restrictions allow it.
Travel websites’ surging share of holiday bookings…
So, you’re thinking about traveling again? You’re not alone. The pandemic may not be over, but the expansion of vaccine eligibility in the United States — hiccups, delays and pauses aside — plus the news that the European Union will be opening up to vaccinated travelers is inspiring many to plan a real-deal summer vacation , or even take the leap on booking bucket-list adventures.
Travel remains far from simple, however. The virus is finding new footholds around the world, leaving an ever-changing set of rules and restrictions in its wake (and all of this is compounded by a run…
