Attracting International Visitors

You have the product – this is how you get it to market

Selling internationally means connecting with representatives from all available international markets who choose to buy your product and sell to travellers in their market. Marketplaces hosted by Travel Alberta and other destination marketing organizations help the process, but it helps to know who you need to work with to get the word out.

Tour Operators

Receptive

A Receptive Tour Operator (RTO) is a Canadian-based tour operator specializing in packaging and selling export-ready Canadian tourism products to tour operators and travel agents for group tours from 8-54 passengers and through fully independent travellers (FIT). RTOs also produce tariffs, listing all available product in Canada. RTOs also benefit Alberta tourism product because it is also featured in thousands of brochures in countries all over the world.

Group

Group tour operators are companies that operate multi-day group tours with set itineraries for groups of 15-45 visitors. Fully independent travel companies provide options for consumers to travel on their own but book components such as accommodation, transportation and potentially some activities through FIT operators.

Fully Independent Travel (FIT)

Fully independent travel companies provide options for consumers to travel on their own but book components such as accommodation, transportation and potentially some activities through FIT operators.

Travel

Travel Agents

Products are delivered through packages purchased by travel agents from programs described above, as part of a tour operator company selling only that specific tour operator’s product or put together as a holiday and each component is booked directly with each supplier.

Online Travel Agency

Online travel agencies (OTAs) are websites that sell multiple products – flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, tours and tourist activities – on behalf of suppliers, who provide inventory at a commissionable rate, and also run destination marketing campaigns with specific landing pages. Examples include Expedia.com, Travelocity.com and Orbitz.com.

Travel Trade

The travel trade team works with travel professionals, including tour operators, travel agents, receptive tour operators (RTOs) and online travel agencies (OTAs). These travel trade partners package a range of vacation components and sell to the consumer through a variety of channels. They provide a simple, one-stop shopping solution for travellers, which may include but is not limited to accommodation, transportation, activities, dining and entertainment.