Agents are missing out on vital commission by ignoring the touring sector, a coach specialist has claimed.
Insight Vacations and Trafalgar Tours sales director Paul Melinis said an agent who books 10 couples on tours with either of the two tour operators could earn as much as £5,250 in commission. The average cost of a tour is £1,750.
He claimed that because agents perceive the touring sector as neither particularly lucrative nor as easy to sell they ignore it at their cost.
Melinis said: “Commission payments are under threat throughout the industry, the airlines scrapped them a few years ago and now cruise companies are reviewing their stance.
“However both Insight Vacations and Trafalgar Tours remain committed to the trade and to pay supportive agents a decent commission.”
While he would not be drawn on what level of commission the operators pay, he said both Insight vacations and Trafalgar Tours pay “substantial double figure rates”.
Melinis said between them the two tour operators offer more than 200 itineraries, spanning 44 countries worldwide.
Both companies have seen sales growth this year, with Trafalgar Tours reporting to be 35% up while Insight Vacations is 10% ahead of where it was this time last year.