11.1. The role and place of transport services in the tourism market
Transport is one of the most important components of the material base of the economy of any country. Since ancient times, transport has been the engine of progress. The man used any means at hand to transport people and goods. With the invention of the wheel, and somewhat later of various types of engines, man began to develop the means of transportation accordingly: carts, carriages, steamers, steam locomotives, airplanes, etc. This made it possible to travel long distances and for various purposes
Currently, transport is one of the most important components of the economy of the state, both developing and with a highly developed economic and social base. Transport ensures the normal functioning of the economy, increasing the efficiency of social production, creates conditions for the rational distribution of production forces throughout the country, taking into account the most appropriate approach of enterprises of various sectors of the economy to the sources of raw materials and areas of product consumption, specialization and cooperation of production, allows the development of such industries as trade , agriculture and others. Transport is a leading factor in tourism development
The role of transport in solving social problems, ensuring business, cultural and tourist trips of the population, the development of cultural exchange within the country and abroad is great.
Transport ensures the development of international economic relations, contributing to the implementation of mutually beneficial exchange between different countries
Historically, the formation of transport systems in various states was influenced by their geographic location, natural potential, and often climatic and landscape characteristics. This led to the formation of those transport and technical bases that are most rationally used in the conditions of a particular region and state.
For example, the structure of railway transport is more profitable to develop in regions with predominant plains, and river transport - in the presence of a system of rivers and lakes, as in Austria, Germany, Russia, Finland and Canada.
The seas and oceans, as the most convenient and accessible ways for people to move from ancient times, have contributed to close and distant travel, and rivers, canals and lakes -
tourism
For the first time, the English pastor Thomas Cook, from whom the history of the modern tourist movement is reckoned, organized precisely the railway journey from Liverpool to London. Then in 1843 he organized boat trips on the Thames. At almost the same time, on the legendary paddle steamer Mississippi, American Express launched regular excursions around the Mississippi on the American continent. Similar cruises began to be made along the Nile, Rhine, Danube
The development of transport as an integral part of the infrastructure is constantly given great attention by the governments of almost all countries of the world
In the XX century. a powerful transport system was created in Russia. The length of the communication network of all types of transport is currently about 5 million km
With the development of tourism, transport routes will constantly expand, as the increased demand for travel has a positive impact on the development of transport infrastructure. Transport, in turn, allows you to expand the geography of travel. There is a mutually beneficial and beneficial interaction for both parties.
Transport services are one of the main types of services in tourism. They also account for the main share in the structure of the tour price. Depending on the duration and distance of travel, this share (in most cases) ranges from 20 to 60%
Various types of transport are used by tourism organizations to transport tourists while traveling.
The main share in the overall structure of transport services belongs to air transport. The largest number tourists, especially those traveling long distances, use the services of aviation. In this case, the plane can, figuratively speaking, be called the transport of individuals. The most massive flows of tourists traveling with resort, business, entertainment, educational purposes are individual tourists. And they are the ones who most often use air transport.
Automobile transport can rightfully be called a transport of general use, since it is used everywhere: from transfers and excursions, intra-route transportation by buses to renting small cars by tourists for personal use on vacation. Buses and cars & nbsp transport of local and intraregional importance. Bus excursion-cognitive tours with visits to several cities and places of interest are especially popular. It is convenient for tourists that they can travel along the route and within the city on their own transport. True, parking is difficult in many cities in Europe and Russia.
The main competitor of buses in group transportation is the railway. Within our country, it also has some priority over air transportation (on group domestic Russian routes). The advantage of rail transportation is also lower tariffs and (in foreign countries) an extensive system of discounts, travel tickets, etc., allowing you to travel at significantly lower prices. However, neither bus nor rail services compete with long-distance aviation.
Water transport, river and sea, by themselves already evoke the image of tourist - cruise service and are used in tourism quite actively. Water travel has a number of both advantages and disadvantages compared to other modes of transport. The most significant advantages are a high level of comfort, a large volume of one-time loading, the possibility of implementing various types and purposes of tourism (educational, business tourism, educational, shopping tourism, etc.), good rest, a full range of life support. The main disadvantages are the low speed of movement of vehicles, high tariffs, limited mobility, and often the susceptibility of some people to "seasickness" on sea cruises
11.2. Air transport in tourist transport
According to statistics, the growth rate of the popularity of air transport is higher than that of motor transport, which is due to the increasing expansion of the geography of travel and the existing steady trend towards reducing travel times in favor of their frequency (growth of short-term long-distance tours). All this causes close attention of the tourist business to air transportation. Airplanes are the most popular form of transportation in the world. The same can be said about air travel in tourism. And there are a number of reasons for this:
Firstly, aviation is the fastest and most convenient form of transport when traveling long distances;
- secondly, the service on flights currently looks attractive for tourists;
- thirdly, aviation companies, directly and through international booking and reservation networks, pay travel agencies a commission for each seat booked on the plane, thereby motivating them to choose air travel
Air transport is one of the most rapidly and dynamically developing sectors of the world economy and every year it occupies an increasingly strong position in the global transport system.
There are more than 1,300 airlines in the world now. On average, about 1.5 billion people are transported on flights annually. International air services are now provided by over 470 carriers, about 250 of them make international regular flights. More than 1,000 airports of the world take part in servicing international air communications, about 650 of them serve international scheduled air services.
The largest airlines in the world in terms of traffic are American Delta Air Lines, Pan Amerikan, United, French Air France, German Lufthansa, British British Airways, and others. Russian Aeroflot is considered a major airline.
However, the system of international air transport is made up not only of international air carriers and airports, but also states connected by international air lines and providing these communications, as well as international organizations in the field of air transport, taking measures to ensure its effective functioning and safety.
The international transport network currently covers all geographic regions and more than 150 countries of the world
Air transport is regulated in three ways:
1) national regulation - licensing of air carriers operating both on domestic and international routes;
2) intergovernmental regulation - when regular air routes are based on agreements between the governments of the respective countries;
3) international regulation - when tariffs for scheduled flights are established (for members of airlines) on the basis of mutual agreements between the participating airlines through the mediation of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or a third party
One of the types of international regulation of air transportation is the plans to create a pool connecting airlines operating on certain international routes.
The pool agreement connects airlines operating on the same international routes in order to optimize the flight schedule, reduce directions and regulate passenger flows during peak hours and periods, as well as in order to increase profits on these routes and its further distribution between airlines
A pool agreement, in principle, can lead to the elimination of competition on the route. But this also means maintaining the possibility of participating in transportation on the lines for companies of different sizes. Pool agreements are often negotiated between airlines that are not comparable in size in order to provide them with the best carriage opportunities and profit margins. Financial agreements between pooled carriers usually limit the maximum amount of revenue transferred from one carrier to another to reduce the government's ability to support inefficient carriers. In some countries, however, pool agreements are currently prohibited (for example, in the USA)
International regulation of air transportation is carried out on the basis of international agreements signed between countries for many years.
The Warsaw Convention of 1929 was the first general agreement between airlines dealing with the responsibility of airlines for the safety of passengers in the event of death, injury or loss of baggage during carriage. (The Montreal Protocol later determined that the maximum liability would be periodically revised due to inflationary processes. Today, the airline's liability to the passenger amounts to a maximum of US $ 20,000.) This agreement is the basis for insurance of passengers, mail and baggage on international air transportation.
The 1944 Chicago Civil Aviation Convention, in which 80 countries participated in the discussion, contains an agreement to standardize migration procedures for air services between countries. These principles were adopted to provide the basis for bilateral agreements between countries. The agreement agreed not to regulate charter flights, allowing countries to apply individual regulation and the conditions under which they accept and serve charter flights.
The Bermuda Agreement of 1946 & nbsp Anglo-American on transatlantic flights & nbsp regulated bilateral agreements on these routes. In 1977, the Bermuda Agreement was revised (and ratified in 1980), in 1986 the new agreement expanded the actual load on routes across the Atlantic, limited by two British and two American carriers.
Since air transport takes more and more solid positions in the global transport system every year, it has long been necessary for its worldwide coordination and regulation. These issues are dealt with by international aviation organizations. Let's consider the most influential and well-known of them.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is one of the first most solid and authoritative world structures. ICAO members are 183 states. ICAO works closely with other organizations such as the United Nations Community, World Meteorological Organization, International Union of Electrical Communications, World Post Union, World Health Organization, International Sea Organization.
The International Association of Air Transportation - I ATA - was created to coordinate the actions of global airlines aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of air transportation in all regions of the world. Founded in 1919 and reformed in 1945, IATA is the professional association of international aviation companies. The main function performed by the Association is the streamlining of international commercial aviation services, the introduction of uniform rules and procedures for all members and the establishment of agreed tariffs for passenger transportation on international routes.
Travel agencies participate in the activities of IATA through its special branch - the International Travel Agents Network (IATAN), the International Organization of Airline Agents, as well as through the international organizations of civil airports
As part of the organization of tourist travel, there are several forms of interaction between travel companies and airlines:
Reservation of seats and redemption of air tickets through the airline's agencies;
- reservation of seats and redemption of air tickets through the reservation system;
- an agreement with an airline for a quota of seats on regular airlines;
- agency agreement and work as an agency for the sale of air tickets for their tourists;
- organization of charter flights for tourist transportation
In order to correctly choose the most convenient and profitable section of tourist transportation, as well as to correctly conclude a contract for air transportation of tourists, you need to know all the features, advantages and disadvantages of this or that type of interaction with the airline.
The travel agent also needs to know the rules for booking air tickets, working with stocks, fares and discounts provided by airlines.
Professional ethics requirements when booking air tickets. In order to avoid additional inconveniences for air carriers, as well as to facilitate the booking process and improve the quality of service for passengers, travel agents should adhere to the following simple rules:
Follow standard airline-specific booking procedures
- Never book a double booking for a passenger if they can't decide which flight to fly. Moreover, never issue two or more tickets for such a passenger if it is obvious that he will be able to use only one of them.
- Regardless of the passenger's route, be sure to try, as far as possible, to provide the airline with emergency telephone numbers for emergency contact with the passenger along the route
- If the passenger changes the route, immediately cancel the corresponding reservation with the airline, as well as refuse all other related services that are not required
- Strictly adhere to the deadlines and order of ticketing required by air carriers. Never issue tickets with a guaranteed seat until this guarantee has been validated by the airline concerned.
- All seats booked with airlines must be accurately registered and properly documented. The documents to be drawn up and the copies remaining with the agent must necessarily contain an indication of the flight number, date and class of the flight, status (guaranteed / non-guaranteed seat) of each individual flight, surnames and initials of passengers and their contact numbers or addresses. Report immediately in the prescribed form on the receipt of all deposits
Always remember that the convenience of passengers and the smooth operation of other agents and airlines depend on your efficiency, accuracy and consideration.
The contract for the quota of seats on regular flights. A quota of seats, or a block of seats, can be hard or soft. This affects the terms of the contract and special benefits and discounts. With a strict quota of seats, all responsibility for the failure to sell the block's seats rests with the travel agency, regardless of the reason for the failure. The travel agency incurs financial losses. With a soft quota of places, the terms of a possible refusal of a travel company from the quota or part of the quota of places due to the failure to sell tourist vouchers are established. These terms provide for the possibility of further sale of these seats by the airline itself or its other agents.
The contract with the airline for the quota of seats on regular flights includes:
Schedule of functioning of rounds in the direction "there" and "back" with an indication of the destinations;
- the number of tourists in each group (quota of places);
- deadlines for filing applications and redemption of air tickets;
- terms of canceling tickets for tickets without deduction of fines (soft block);
- types of fares for purchased tickets, preferential fares, conditions for granting preferential fares;
- discounts and benefits for the quota of places;
- the procedure and terms for the return of redeemed but unused tickets, material liability arising from the terms of return (soft block).
Agency agreement with the airline. In principle, some airlines consider all travel companies that have an agreement with them on a quota of seats as their agents. However, in its purest form, an agency agreement is working with stocks, i.e. when a travel company gets the opportunity to independently act as an airline agency selling air tickets (both for its tourists and just a sale), which simplifies and speeds up the procedures for booking and issuing travel tickets documents. The travel agency itself acts as the airline's "ticket office", that is, it issues tickets itself and has the appropriate computer equipment and the right to access the airline's reservation network (for example, Gabriel at Aeroflot). This type of work with air tickets is called “work with a stock of air tickets”.
The airline, represented by this travel agency, has an additional point of sale (one of the conditions of the agency agreement is usually the preferential sale of tickets for this particular airline for tours)
The agency agreement with the airline provides for the solution of the following issues:
Who and on what conditions provides equipment for issuing air tickets, air ticket forms;
- training of personnel for the maintenance of this equipment;
- sales volumes are most often set individually - by the number of tickets per month (for example, at least 10/200 tickets per month) or by sales proceeds (from 10 to 200 thousand US dollars or more in different airlines);
- the limits of possible sales (regionally or by consumer segment);
- at whose price the tickets are sold - at the price of an airline or at the price of a travel agency (most often at the price of an airline);
- prices and tariffs of air ticket sales;
- terms of payment for air tickets & nbsp prepayment or payment as it is sold (for stock agents in some airlines, prepayment is established for groups of tourists);
- the size of the commission for the sale of air tickets (up to 9% of the sold tariff);
- the timing and frequency of submission of airline reports, their form and the documentation required in the attachment (usually 1 or 2 times a month);
- the amount of bank guarantees in favor of the airline or 1АТА (from 20 thousand US dollars);
- membership in IATA.
Charter (aircraft rental). When organizing charter air transportation, the customer determines the route with the airline, the obligations of the parties are negotiated with him, the compliance of the lease agreement with international rules is determined, and the cost of the flight is determined. Then a special charter agreement is concluded, which stipulates:
Aircraft type (make);
- the number of places for sale;
- the cost of renting an aircraft;
- route indicating the airports of departure and arrival;
- the term of the contract (season, year, etc.);
- regularity of flights;
- the possibility and deadlines for canceling (canceling) the flight and the corresponding sanctions
The peculiarity of charters is such that one full flight (the second and penultimate flights - the first return after the first delivery and the last there before the last export) is performed without tourists: on the last flight, the plane picks up the last tourists, but does not bring new ones, since it is no longer behind them. will return (that is, for 10 tourist arrivals there are 11 flights). The formula N + 1 applies here. Thus, the largest number of flights during the period of the air charter program reduces the cost of the “drop-out” flight, which means it also reduces the airfare.
It should be noted that it is realistic to organize 20 races per season (for weekly flights). However, a charter can also be launched with a frequency of 2 times a week - then the number of flights per season increases to 40. This significantly reduces the tariff, but is not available in terms of loading for the absolute majority of travel companies. This explains the emergence of "intermediate" entrepreneurs on the tourist transportation market - wholesalers, who consolidate large charters in their hands and distribute them later among smaller companies in the form of block charters (i.e. 10-30 seats each) ). The wholesale tour operator, as a rule, conducts the sale of blocks of seats on its charter according to three worked out options: hard, soft and combined blocks of seats.
A soft block, in which the customer does not have any financial responsibility and has the right to fully or partially abandon his seats within a predetermined time frame, is more convenient for the travel agent. However, if the refusal occurs later than the deadline, then the customer will have to pay a fine. Usually soft blocks are used quite rarely, since they are not always beneficial to the charter holder (be it an airline or a wholesaler tour operator).
The hard block provides for strict contractual obligations in terms of sale and payment terms. The customer makes a prepayment, the amount of which usually includes the sum of the cost of two paired flights. At the same time, the tariffs for the implementation of a hard block are approximately 5-10% lower than for the implementation of a soft block. In addition, with an agreement for a rigid block, the operator and the agent fix the price for the entire charter period, which gives a good opportunity for the sellers to vary prices in the "high" period of the season and at the end of it.
The most common sale of seats for charter flights is the so-called combined method that combines elements of the two above-mentioned options. The total number of places included in the block being implemented is divided in a certain proportion into two parts: one of which is implemented according to the "hard" system, and the other - according to the "soft"
Often, not one, but several tour operators act as the initiator of the charter program. At the same time, they agree in advance among themselves the conditions for organizing flights.
Normal relations with airlines when renting an aircraft provide for payment according to the contract with the obligatory summing up of the balance after each flight.
Charter flights must not contradict the requirements of the Warsaw International Convention on the obligations of the carrier to the passenger
By signing an agreement on the organization of a charter, the airline almost always puts the tour operator in tough conditions. First of all, an advance payment is required from the company. Whatever the maximum size, the airline always insists that the first and last flights of the charter cycle be paid in advance. Thus, she insures herself and previously brought tourists against possible non-payments. Payment for flights is negotiated in advance and is made, as a rule, 7-10 days before the start of the flight. In case of late payment, according to the contract, the company has the right to impose penalties on the customer or to terminate the existing contractual relationship with him.
All air transportation rules in our country are governed by the Air Code of the Russian Federation of March 19, 1977, as well as by a number of international agreements. The main body coordinating air transportation in Russia is the Federal Air Transport Service (FSVT)
Currently, there are 315 airlines operating in the air transportation market in Russia. Of these, 96 are licensed to operate scheduled flights and carry 99% of the total volume of air passengers.
Carriage volumes are unevenly distributed among airlines. Eighteen of the largest airlines in Russia carry about 75% of passengers, and the planes of eight or nine "super giants" carry up to 50% of Russian travelers. 94 airlines operating regular flights serve approximately 23% of passengers. And the remaining 276 airlines, which, as a rule, perform one-time flights, account for about 1% of passenger traffic.
Aeroflot remains the undisputed leader of the Russian aviation business. Aeroflot & nbsp Russian International Airlines is the national flag carrier of Russia. The company, as a rule, has more than twice as many clients than the second number - the production association "Domodedovo Airlines"
Recently, Russian airlines have begun to create aviation alliances. For example, in February 1998, two leading Russian airlines - Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines and Pulkovo - signed an agreement on a strategic aviation alliance. In the same year, Aeroflot signed cooperation agreements with Uzbekiston Havo Yullari and Armenian Airlines
At the end of 1997, the Russian airline Transaero and the Uzbek national carrier Uzbekiston Havo Iullari announced the consolidation and coordination of their activities in the air transportation market. The new aviation association was named "CIS-Alliance". Transaero also has code-sharing agreements with the Czech company CSA on the Moscow-Karlovy Vary line and with the Latvian Air Baltic on the Moscow-Riga line. In February 1999, Transaero and Krasnoyarsk Airlines signed an agreement on the joint operation of the routes Moscow - Krasnoyarsk, Moscow - Norilsk and Moscow - Krasnoyarsk - Vladivostok
11.3. Motor transport in tourism
Car services used in travel services include three main areas:
1) the organization of bus travel;
2) organization of travel by personal transport of tourists;
3) car rental
Bus travel. International bus tourism is a relatively young type of tourism. The beginning of its development can be attributed to the 70s. XX century Prior to that, in different countries, buses were used mainly for transfers, excursions and local trips.
In 1986 in European countries, due to the intensification of competition between railway and bus companies, an association of bus carriers was created - the Eurolincs Council, which included 33 European partners. Bus companies acted under the same trademark, developed a common system of bus service for through tickets with common service standards, rules and a system of discounts. Today Eurolines is one of the leading companies on the market. It serves over 250 routes across Europe and includes 35 European bus companies. Since 1992 "Eurolines" began to operate in Eastern Europe
The signing of the Schengen Agreement gave a new impetus to the development of bus transportation, allowing to simplify many formalities. In the 90s. the average annual growth of bus tourism averaged about 1.5%
The European Conference of Ministers of Transport (1984) identifies three types of bus tourism:
1) trips by regular buses;
2) travel by shuttle buses;
3) special (charter) flights
Domestic tourism and travel during the day for various purposes (excursions during the day, airport shuttle services, etc.) are distinguished into a separate group.
As an economic form of tourism accessible to the general public, bus tourism is constantly evolving. Until now, there is a tendency to an increase in its volume. Priority is given to weekend bus tours - 2-3-day trips to European cities for excursion and educational purposes are quite popular. In second place in popularity - route tours lasting 1-2 weeks in European cities also with excursion and educational purposes
When organizing bus tours, the seasonality does not play such a big role as in other trips. In fact, bus tours operate throughout the year. Some decline in demand is observed in January-February. During these two months, usually one bus is "busy" on one route
According to experts, with all the importance of the price aspect, competition in the bus tours market is observed in the field of a variety of routes and quality of service.
The opening of traffic on regular international routes is regulated by bilateral government agreements, and transit through third countries requires permission from the Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
To simplify contracts for international carriage within the framework of the Geneva Convention of March 1, 1973, the Convention on the contract for the international carriage of passengers and luggage by road was adopted. Further simplifications of international transport are fixed by the Hague (1989) declaration on tourism and the Schengen agreement for the members of the European Union.
Organization of tourist transportation within the framework of the CIS countries is regulated by the resolution of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS member states "On the basic principles of cooperation of the CIS member states in the field of tourism" dated October 29, 1994 and other acts
In accordance with the European Agreement concerning the International Non-Scheduled Carriage of Passengers by Bus (ACOR), adopted in Dublin on May 26, 1982, a control document (trip lists) is used for non-scheduled international passenger traffic in the countries of Eastern and Western Europe, which must be on board the bus
In this regard, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation made a decision dated 02/07/97 No. LSH-6/60 “On the use of a unified set of trip sheets (control document with a number) on international irregular passenger bus traffic between Russia and European countries: Belgium, Germany, Holland, Spain, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Yugoslavia "
In Europe, the legislation establishes safety requirements common to all when organizing bus tours.
There is a project to limit the speed of buses to 100 km / h. This should have a beneficial effect on the environment, but can drastically reduce the competitiveness of buses in relation to other modes of transport. Such restrictions have already been introduced in most Western European countries, as well as in some Eastern European countries (for example, in Croatia)
In the meantime, the tour operator organizing bus tours, when planning routes to European countries, must take into account speed and other restrictions that exist in different countries.
To make tourist trips to European countries, it is also necessary to obtain special insurance (in addition to medical) - the so-called green card (motor third party liability insurance in favor of third parties if the insured is guilty - International Motor Insurance Card)
In Europe, serious attention is paid to the condition of buses used for tourist transportation. So, in many countries it is prohibited to operate buses on tourist routes if their service life exceeds 8 years. In accordance with European legislation, buses must also undergo a comprehensive technical inspection every six months. And although, by law, the customs officers of the countries of the European Union and Eastern European countries cannot check the state of road transport and the duration of the driver's stay, in case of great doubt they can resort to the help of the police and gendarmerie working at the customs point.
In accordance with the decisions of the European Convention on the Work of Crews of Vehicles, from April 24, 1995, all buses with more than 9 seats must be equipped with tachographs.
This requirement applies to all vehicles participating in international transportation, including Russian ones. If it is not fulfilled, the operation of the bus will be prohibited.
The tachograph is an on-board device for objective control and accounting of the operation of the vehicle and the driver. It automatically shows and records the driving speed, current time, mileage, various periods of work and rest of the driver. Records are made on personalized chart discs (tachograms) and give a complete picture of the driver's entire working day
The rights and obligations of the carrier and tourists are governed by the contract for carriage, contract for tourist services and a voucher
Bus travel can be organized on our own buses belonging to travel companies, as well as on rented buses owned by independent motor transport enterprises (ATP) of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation
As a rule, Russian companies work with rented buses. With such ATP, the travel company concludes a special agreement for the rental of a bus for tourist transportation
Travel using personal transport of tourists
The organization of a package tour of a car trip includes the whole range of services, with the exception of transport. However, the travel company still provides special assistance in organizing the movement of tourists along the route on their cars. This is reflected in the specifics of the organization of car tours.
The most common trips for this type of travel are weekend trips. According to the types of tourism, the most popular auto tours are recreational (going out into nature or to places of rest) and educational (trips to historical or cultural monuments)
In a sense, the development of hotel infrastructure, in particular motels, is directly related to auto tourism. In developed countries, along traditional tourist routes, whole chains of small hotels and campgrounds have been built, focused primarily on serving tourists traveling by private cars.
The preparation process for a road trip includes:
- route development;
- development of a timetable;
- registration of route documentation.
A tourist will need the following documents on the road: a passport (when traveling abroad - a foreign passport with visas of the respective countries), a certificate for the right to drive a car (for foreign travel - an international standard), a technical passport for a car, a warning coupon, a power of attorney for the right to drive a car or an agreement about its rental (if the trip is not made on your own or a rental car), route documents, service book, a notarized copy of the technical passport (if you plan to transport the car by rail), "green card", medical insurance (when traveling abroad). Data in the data sheet must be duplicated in English
As for a driving license for foreign road trips, as well as for car rental abroad for Russian tourists, then this issue is regulated by an international document in this area - the Convention on Road Traffic. The Russian Federation is one of the contracting parties, therefore the documents issued on the territory of our country fully comply with the international model of the countries participating in the Convention
It is necessary to take out insurance for the car - in case of civil liability during road transport travel (RTA). When traveling abroad, a so-called green card must be issued - motor third party liability insurance in case of an accident (International Motor Insurance Card)
It is also necessary to insure the car itself. Insurance is provided in case of loss or damage to the car as a result of an accident, fire or natural disaster.
If several people (crews) are going on a multi-day trip, then it is advisable to determine the head of the autotravel. It should be the most authoritative and experienced driver. In this case, it is necessary to draw up a list of travel participants, which contains: surnames, names, patronymics, dates of birth of car owners and all passengers, their home addresses, blood groups, brands and numbers of cars (by carriage). It is advisable to draw up such a list for one traveling crew (if the trip is overseas, then it is advisable to duplicate it in English)
Car rental. Car rental (or lease) is a very common and demanded service among tourists, especially on stationary and resort tours... In any tourist or resort center, there are many car rental offices - from large to smallest. The leading car rental company in the world is HERTZ. Competing with it "AVIS" in the mid-90s. was named the best car rental company in the world by the English magazine "Institutional Investor"
The car rental procedure is simple. The tourist is required to be at least 21 years old and not exceed 70 years old (in some UK firms - 25 and 75 years old, respectively). The employee of the rental company must present a passport and a driver's license (international). By the time the contract is concluded, the license must be valid for at least 2 years (in the UK - 1 year, and for drivers under 25 years of age, the required experience is increased by 1 year)
In some countries, customer service is provided only with a credit card, in most countries, payment for services is carried out in cash, but a small deposit is required
The rent should include the following:
- unlimited mileage of the car;
- delivery of a car to a client within the city;
- repair or replacement of a car in the event of a technical malfunction, except for damage to tires and windshield;
- full insurance in case of an accident that occurred through no fault of the client;
- insurance that covers damage caused to the car in an accident through the fault of the client, in excess of a certain amount (but if at the time of the accident the driver was in a state of alcoholic intoxication, the insurance is not paid);
- insurance of passengers (except the driver) against accidents (the driver can insure himself for an additional fee);
- taxes
Usually the car is delivered with a full tank, but you also need to return it to the car rental office with a full tank.
Car rental at the holiday destination can be ordered even during the purchase of the tour in your agency, including it in the package of services. Many travel agencies offer this to their tourists, since ordering a car rental in your agency makes it easier for the tourist to read the rental agreement in a foreign language, guarantees the provision of high-quality and understandable services by the agreement for the purchase of the tour as a whole.
The scheme for ordering a car through a travel agency is as follows. Having received the corresponding order from its tourist, the travel agency requests the receiving tour operator by fax or directly to the car rental company. The request contains the name and surname of the tourist, rental period, car brand, place of delivery of the car to the tourist. The car rental company also faxes to the travel agency a voucher addressed to the client. After receiving the voucher, the money is transferred to pay for the car rental. At the resting place, a tourist, presenting a voucher, can get a car and use it at his own pleasure
And most importantly, before renting a car, you need to inquire about parking conditions and taxi prices. Perhaps a taxi ride will be more profitable both in terms of money and the nerves expended.
11.4. Rail travel
The railway is a convenient means of communication for transporting all categories of tourists, from individual tourists, large and small tourist groups on regular scheduled lines and charter trains, and ending with the organization of special tourist and excursion trains for local and long-distance communication
Railways have historically been actively involved in the development of the tourist movement
But still, a rather serious competition for rail transportation over short distances, as well as on excursion routes, is road transportation.
Currently, many companies that own railway lines (Vagon-Li, Akkor, etc.) are making great efforts to maintain and increase tourist passenger traffic. The main directions in this regard can be called:
Laying of high-speed lines (to speed up transportation);
- service in carriages according to the "Euro-Night" formula (improvement of comfort to the hotel level);
- organization of special tourist trains, including "retro steam locomotives" (special thematic trips on railway transport)
Railway traffic is regulated by a whole package of national and international agreements, conventions and treaties
In Russia, there are: the Charter of Railways; Rules for the carriage of passengers and baggage by rail; departmental normative acts published in periodicals; Rules of carriage and tariffs; Agreement on International Passenger Traffic; Uniform passenger fares; commercial reporting instructions; Rules for the carriage of military passengers, baggage and cargo; Rules for issuing free tickets for travel on railways and subways; Tariff Guide; route and message indicators
The main body regulating railway transportation in the Russian Federation is the Ministry of Railways of the Russian Federation (MPS)
In the system of passenger transportation, trains are divided into regular trains, following a strictly established route, in a strictly observed time interval and traffic schedule, which, in turn, are subdivided into suburban, local and long-distance ones, and into off-trip (charter) ones, which are completed as needed. transportation. This also applies to tourist trains.
Regular trains. Commuter trains follow fixed timetables within an oblast or province. The train usually accommodates up to 1,500 passengers, with up to 1,000 seats. Trains make frequent stops at local stations. The seats in the wagons are unnumbered.
Local trains run between stations on the same railway (in Europe it can be within the same state). Typically, they ply a distance of up to 700 km and carry out transportation within a large region, region or small country - between villages and small towns. It happens that the difference between suburban and local trains is rather arbitrary and depends significantly on the geographical characteristics of the area and the country as a whole. With the exception of high-speed routes, local trains make frequent stops - at almost all stations.
Long-distance trains travel over 700 km. They are divided into fast year-round calls, fast seasonal (summer), long-distance passenger round-the-year and seasonal calls.
Off-travel (charter) trains. These are registered trains specially appointed outside the regular schedule. Special trains often include tourist-excursion trains, which also follow outside the regular schedule according to specially laid routes for them and traffic schedules, drawn up taking into account the windows in the regular schedule and excursion and tourist purposes. Off-route trains also include the so-called export trains - organized out of schedule during mass holidays, national and international competitions and games, as well as for the export of equipment and people for harvesting, agricultural and other work.
Trains and carriages are also classified into different categories.
If there is a steady passenger traffic, a scheduled route is assigned in a certain direction, on average, up to 17 cars; with a large flow, the number of cars per route can be increased to 25. However, to service such trains, long platforms are required. If there are not enough passengers in the direction, one or more cars are installed, which at the junction station along the route are uncoupled from the main train and delivered to the destination by a local flight, which may consist of several cars
Planning of railway transportation - the appointment of regular routes, the introduction of additional routes, their cancellation, the formation of trailed cars in directions - a complex process that requires the preparation of forecasts of the formation of passenger traffic in certain directions. The needs of the population for travel depend on the seasonality, vacation period, weekends and national holidays, the beginning of the school year, school and student holidays. Rational use of rolling stock and efficient use of technical and fixed assets and road capacity as a whole require reliable operational regulation and adjustment of the length of routes
The carriage of passengers and goods luggage, carried out on the territory of at least two countries on the same conditions and under one travel or carriage document, is called carriage in direct international passenger traffic (there are also so-called transfer and reloading messages when passengers change at border stations , and luggage and goods luggage are reloaded from the railroad cars of one country to the railroad cars of another country). Tourists are usually transported in wagons and trains of direct international direct communication
Conditions of carriage in international direct traffic are published and they apply equally on all roads that have signed the Agreement on international direct traffic.
Russia & nbsp is a great railway power. The presence of a dense network of railways, especially in the European part of the country, allows you to organize a variety of geographic location, form and content of the routes of railway tours
When organizing tourist routes by rail, it should be remembered that the railway network of our country is divided into several roads on a territorial basis. The European part of Russia is more developed, the Eastern part is less developed (Siberia and the Far East),
Transportation of tourists by regular trains
Transportation of tourists by scheduled (regular) trains is carried out as ordinary passengers on railway tickets. With the exception of suburban trains, tickets are issued on special standard forms (forms)
A passenger, purchasing a ticket or travel document, commits an act of unconditional adherence to the rules for the carriage of passengers and their baggage, established on this road (tram, metro). Ticket stock - a form or form of a ticket, which may contain various columns on the change, confirmation of the ticket, as well as various stamps confirming its validity
The ticket generally indicates:
Carrier;
- departure station (departure city);
- destination station (arrival city);
- start date of travel, trip, transportation (DOT - Date of Travel);
- time of departure;
- train code and number;
- type and number of the carriage, passenger seat;
- the amount paid for the ticket;
- the name of the passenger (for long-distance trains);
- gender and passport number of the passenger (for international flights)
A feature of European rail transportation is that, unlike Russian tickets, they most often do not contain two familiar details: travel dates and seat numbers.
In addition to single tickets in Europe, various railway "passes" are widespread, giving the right to unlimited movement for some time and within a certain area.
Tariffs and fees. Railway passenger fares - the established fare for the travel of passengers, the carriage of goods and baggage
Basic rates:
Direct reserved seat - common passenger carriage (fare in a carriage with seats for a passenger train);
- additional payments for additional services provided (for speed, for travel in wagons and trains of higher-paid categories, for carrying luggage and cargo)
The general passenger fare (direct reserved seat) is formed in such a way that the absolute cost of travel increases with an increase in the distance of travel, but with an increase in the distance, the cost of one passenger-kilometer decreases. This provides passengers traveling long distances with a significant discount in the cost of travel.
The speed surcharge takes into account that the cost of travel on a fast train is 10-12% higher, and the type of carriage is also taken into account (reserved seat, compartment 2-, 3-, 4-seater compartments, soft, etc.). The fare in Pullman (SV) and international class carriages is 40-45% higher. The fare for children between the ages of 5 and 10 is set at one quarter of the adult ticket price. However, this does not apply to the cost of a reserved seat
Special tourist trains
There is an established opinion that any railway trip, especially a long one, is tiring and unpleasant. It is even difficult to imagine that it can be not just a forced movement from one point to another, but a fascinating journey. However, this truth has long been realized by foreign travel agencies and operators offering specialized rail tours. Western experts have brought the technology of their implementation almost to perfection.
Standard rail tours can be roughly divided into three independent categories:
One-day;
- short (2-3 days);
- multi-day (from 5 days or more).
Day tours start in the morning and end in the evening of the same day. On the way, tourists sit at the tables of dining cars. On the way, they can not only have another snack, but also watch the performances of variety and circus artists. Tourists are taken to a specific station, where a special program is prepared for them. It can be a sightseeing trip or a picnic in nature. Most often, passengers have the opportunity to combine business with pleasure.
Short tours. During two to three day train tours, passengers are accommodated in separate compartments. Trips are traditionally designed so that at night, when everyone is asleep, the train is on the way. During the day, tourists are busy with all kinds of excursion activities.
Multi-day tours. The timetable for trains serving multi-day trips is very varied. Depending on the route and excursion program, tourists often travel during the day. As practice shows, so that travelers do not get tired, the tour train should go no more than a day and a half between two points non-stop. Long day trips are planned, as a rule, in those cases when interesting views and landscapes open up along the route. However, in some cases, it is assumed and short-term "green camp" directly in the forest or in the mountains, on the shore of the sea or a large lake
Tourist trains are commonly called "hotels on wheels". Indeed, despite the overall dimensions of the cars, limited by the strict standards of the railway, many stationary hotels can envy their comfort and interior design. Each compartment, the total number of which in a sleeping car usually does not exceed eight, accommodates no more than two people. Depending on the category of the train, the compartments are equipped with two single beds (vertically or horizontally) or one double bed, air conditioning, a desk, telephone, TV. Toilet and shower rooms can be for the whole carriage or individually for one or two rooms. The tourist train also includes several restaurant cars, a saloon car (used as a library, a place for card games or negotiations, rest), a conference car (aka lecture hall, disco or video salon), as well as a "children's car" or "Hall of outdoor games"
Rail travel is a fairly popular form of recreation abroad. The most persistent fans of this type of tourism are the Germans, British and Swiss. Moreover, if the inhabitants of Great Britain and Switzerland prefer to travel to their countries, the Germans have traveled all over Europe and even reached Russia and America. Steam locomotive travel is considered a special chic among German tourists. And the most popular among all, without exception, lovers of railway tourism - "Orient Express" ("Orient Express"), stylized as the famous composition of the beginning
XX century
Today, tourist routes run through almost the entire ramified railway network of Western Europe. The motto of operators specializing in organizing rail tours: "We will go wherever there are rails."
In recent years, there has also been an increase in interest in rail tourism on the American continent, where three long-distance routes are in the lead: Trans-Canada (a ten-day journey from Vancouver to Montreal via Winnipeg and Ottawa); Trans America (12 days from Washington to Los Angeles via Charleston, New Orleans, San Antonio, El Paso, etc.); Trans-Atlantic (from Managua to the southern tip of South America to Puerto Montt via Guayaquil, Lima and Santiago). Interestingly, in America these tourist trains are also called "Orient Express". In Norway, tourist routes are popular with the inspection of the largest and most beautiful fjords in the world from a special train.
There are railway routes in India and even in Indonesia. For tourists visiting Indonesia, a unique tour is offered - "Tour the Steam Locomotives in Indonesia" with a tour of the world's largest collection of operating locomotives and narrow carriages.
ruts
Tourist and sightseeing trains are appointed on the basis of an agreement concluded between the travel agency and the railway administration. The assignment of trains is made after the conclusion of the contract and payment of the due payments
The travel company agrees with the road department (department) on the allocation of the train for a certain period. To do this, write a letter addressed to the head of the passenger service with a request for the allocation of such a train. On the letter, he agrees and indicates the specific time frame for the selection of the composition
Traveling tour trains from one point of excursion service to another, as a rule, should be carried out at night with stops only for technical needs
After transferring the payments stipulated by the contract, but not later than 20 days before the train's departure, the administration of the train's departure route gives an address telegram to all administrations of the routes and copies to: the travel company organizing the tour; main departments of MGTS (passenger, traffic, medical); catering establishments
The telegram must contain a diagram and schedule of the train, indicating the time and points of transfer from road to road, the order and time of delivery of the train to the points of embarkation and registration, as well as points of additional supply of fuel and water along the route.
Changes to the approved schedule, as well as the route and time of departure are not allowed
When appointing a special tour train, it is assigned a name corresponding to the starting point (city) of departure ("Karaganda", "Moskvich", etc.), which is retained throughout the entire route. The stencil with the name of the train is fixed on the board or on the inside of the window opening
When concluding an agreement, the railway management must list all payments due for transportation (rent, travel, etc.) no later than 20 days before the departure of the tour train
The tourist organization is issued two copies of the contract and two receipts of the GU-57 form (one for travel there and the second for travel back), which indicate: the route of the train, stop points, the cost of one ticket, the total number of passengers and the amount received for travel
A copy of the contract for the rental of a tourist-excursion train with a mark of the railway on its receipt of all payments due and a receipt (form GU-57) are kept by the head (director) of the tourist route and presented during control along the route. After the end of the flight, the director of the route submits these documents to the accounting department of the tourist organization
No later than 6 hours before the departure of the train, a special commission consisting of representatives of the railway, a catering company, a sanitary and epidemiological service and a tourist organization that leases the train (director of the tour route and train doctor) carries out the commission acceptance of the train's readiness for the trip. The commission draws up an act of acceptance of the composition, which is transmitted to all interested services. If necessary, measures are taken to replace wagons, etc.
The carriages must display the timetable of the tour train, the names of the attendants on duty, the head of the train and the train electrician. In addition, each carriage must display: service program ("Tourist's Corner"); the names of the director of the tour train, instructors, doctor; their carriage number and seat; the number of the dining carriage in which tourists eat; shift number and meal time
11.5. Organization of boat trips
A motor-ship trip (cruise) is a tourist trip along a river or sea, usually with a call to ports, on board a special passenger vessel. Currently, dozens of cruise lines around the world operate hundreds of passenger ships with a capacity of 70 to over 1000 passengers and offer exciting trips to almost any region of the world.
In fact, a cruise is a sea tour, the base price of which includes a comprehensive service on board the ship, in particular: travel on board; accommodation in a cabin (depending on the selected class); Three meals a day; entertainment and, as a rule, a number of special events on board (holidays, festivals, competitions, concerts, etc.)
Cruises are one of the fastest growing sectors of the market. In 1998, more than 8 million tourists traveled on water, and by 2004, according to WTO forecasts, this figure will reach 11.5 million.
Water cruises are organized both on the seas, oceans, and on different rivers. The organization of sea and river cruises has a lot in common. However, in terms of vessel capacity, organizational features, service programs, as well as the location of the tours, there are a number of differences among sea and river cruises.
Sea cruises. Today in the world, sea cruises are experiencing a happy boom. The cruise fleet is growing, the designs of passenger ships are being improved, their comfort is increasing, new sea and ocean routes are being developed. The most popular boat trips are in the USA, Great Britain and Germany. Cruise ship demand is noted in France, Italy, Switzerland and other countries
Around the world, there are several dozen specialized cruise companies operating from 1-2 to 15-20 passenger ships. Most of the cruise operators are united in a professional international association - the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). She coordinates the cruise business internationally
Many travel agencies, especially those specializing in vacations and cruises, are also members of this Association. CLIA unites about 33 travel agencies specializing in the sale of cruises and more than 20 thousand travel agencies involved in the sale of cruise trips. Although CLIA is difficult to compare in function and influence to IATA, it is still an important international body dedicated to promoting the cruise industry to both tourist consumers and travel agencies. CLIA assists travel agencies with training, public relations and advertising. Thanks to the special training of travel agents and a clever advertising campaign, CLIA has succeeded in transforming sea cruises into a "classic" type of vacation. 95% of all cruises are sold through the travel agencies of the Association, and the sale of this tourism product ranks second after the sale of air tickets
In recent years, the image of the cruise as a tourist product has changed. The motor ship has turned into a floating hotel, where the atmosphere of entertainment and celebration reigns. Intensive advertising campaigns have increased the attractiveness of cruises among all segments of the population
Combined and "package" air-sea cruises with the inclusion of the entire range of services in the travel cost have been widely developed. At the same time, the cruise company organizes charter flights as part of the general journey, providing the tourist with the same level of service from the airport.
Duration of cruises. Experts believe that a one-week cruise is and will remain the main tourist product (about 40% of cruises are weekly trips). Shorter cruise tours are preferred by about 30% of the clientele. Cruises between 10 and 14 days attract just under 30%. Only 2-3% of clients take part in long cruises over 14 days (so-called round the world).
Types of cruises. In general, for organizing cruise trips, the most common at the present period (up to 60% of cruises) is the classic European system, which provides for sea travel with calls to various ports with an excursion program
However, the American system also has its place in demand, the main purpose of which is to provide cruise passengers with the opportunity to relax and sunbathe on the beaches at the points of call along the route.
Recently, in almost all regions, “cruises to nowhere” are gaining popularity - one- and two-day trips without calling other ports. Typically, such a ship leaves the home port at 6 pm on Friday and returns on Sunday evening.
Main cruise areas:
1) Mediterranean Sea - from May to October;
2) Caribbean & nbsp winter months;
3) around Europe and Scandinavia - from mid-May to late August
The countries of Southeast Asia have made great efforts in recent years to become the fourth most popular cruise region. So, for example, Singapore wants to become the second Miami in its region: the built expensive cruise berths attract Western cruise companies to base their fleet on them, to organize cruise routes.
Categories of cruise lines. According to the technical equipment and comfort of the fleet, the level of service on board, the size of the base rates and a number of other indicators, cruise companies are divided into four main categories:
Standard (they are usually designated ***), for example Dolphin cruise line;
- first class (****) - Costa Cruises, Norvegian cruise line;
- prestigious (*****) - Holland America line, Celebrity Cruises;
- super-luxury (******) _ Seabourn and others
Somewhat apart from them are specialized maritime operators (for example, Club Med, Windstar, etc.)
There are about 60 operators on the world cruise market, of which 47 operate 1-3 ships each. However, many of them are subsidiaries of large cruise operators, created for the independent operation of individual ships in specific regions.
The largest cruise operators are American: Carnival Cruise Line Corporation (CCL), Royal Caribbean, as well as British P & amp O Cruises Divison.
Payment on ships depends on:
From the comfort of the vessel;
- the category of the cabin, which is determined depending on the basic and additional conditions of comfort.
Russian sea cruises. The history of Soviet sea tourism begins in 1957, when JSC "Intourist" began to carry out sea trips from Odessa to Leningrad around Europe on the leased passenger ships "Pobeda" and "Georgia", and on "Peter the Great" - along the Black Sea with tourists from socialist countries. In 1960, the first cruise with Soviet tourists on the Crimean-Caucasian line was organized on board the "Admiral Nakhimov", and in 1962 on the motor ship "Grigory Ordzhonikidze" - in the Far East for 20 days with a call at Nakhodka, Olga Bay, Sovgavan, Kholmsk, Korsakov. During the same period, sea tourism began to develop in the North and Baltic
In the Soviet Union, the main base of the sea cruise fleet was the Black Sea Shipping Company (ChMP) in Odessa. Therefore, the collapse of the Union painfully affected the sea passenger fleet of Russia - the country was practically left without comfortable sea liners. And Ukraine, having inherited more than 40 cruise ships, does not use two-thirds of them today: some were sold or given on long-term foreign freight, some were written off or put on lockdown. The crisis of the Ukrainian economy did not pass by "ChMP-BLASCO" - a joint-stock company, into which the former Black Sea Shipping Company was transformed. His current insolvency and astronomical debts have more than once become the reason for the arrest of ships, including cruise ships, in various ports of the world. Nevertheless, ChMP-BLASCO today continues to be the main charterer for cruise companies operating in the CIS tourism market. Of the most comfortable passenger ships available to our tourists, the Odessa Shipping Company has remained motor ships of the type "Belarus" ("Ukraine", "Azerbaijan", "Georgia") and the type "Ivan Franko" ("Shota Rustaveli" and "Taras Shevchenko", which passed recently complete renovation)
The fact that most of the country's passenger fleet is based in Odessa determines the direction of the sea cruise routes on the Russian market. The most frequent offers are boat trips across the Mediterranean Sea, calling at the ports of Turkey (), Greece (Piraeus), Egypt (Port Said, Alexandria), Israel, Italy, Spain and other countries. Cruise tours across the Baltic and North Seas, starting from St. Petersburg or Kaliningrad and providing stops in the ports of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, are popular with Russian tourists. Especially popular among Russians is the traditional sea cruise around Europe (Odessa - St. Petersburg), which allows you to see almost all the leading countries of the "Old World" in one trip
But boat trips in the basins of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, to the shores of the countries of Southeast Asia are a rarity for the domestic cruise business. Only the "Primexpress" company started organizing such cruises since 1994. And despite their unprofitableness, plans to continue to carry Russians to exotic countries
The terms of the sea cruises are very diverse and, depending on the direction of the routes, range from one week to one month. They can start and end both in the same port, and in different ones, both in Russian or Ukrainian, and in any foreign ports.
Sea cruises are one of the most comfortable and therefore the most expensive types of recreation. The prices for Russian water travel are three times lower than the world prices due to the lower freight rate of ships and cheaper service. For this reason, competition in the domestic cruise market exists only between "own" travel agencies and almost nonexistent with foreign ones. Occupying a higher position, foreign cruise lines do not make special attempts to enter the Russian market. And even the opening in Russia of a representative office of the well-known Western travel agency "Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd", operating in many water basins of the world, does not create competition for our cruise operators.
The Russian marine passenger fleet is under the jurisdiction of the Azov, Baltic, Far Eastern, Caspian, Kamchatka, Murmansk, Northern, Sakhalin and Black Sea shipping companies, subordinate to the Russian Ministry of Transport. In addition to the ships of the named shipping companies, Russian travel companies and organizations lease ships in the Estonian and Danube (Ukraine) shipping companies, Ukrpassflot (Odessa)
The Federal Maritime Transport Service is in charge of sea transport in Russia.
Vessels for tourist purposes (cruises) are leased under a special agreement - a freight contract concluded between a tourist organization and a shipping company. Such an agreement includes:
Number and name of ships; number of seats by category;
- cruise routes and their dates;
- the number of bedding sets per voyage for each vessel and their cost;
- the cost of payment for each flight turnover;
- the total amount of payment for the transportation of tourists;
- responsibility of the parties
Obligatory annexes to the agreement are:
1) the timetable for the movement of the vessel, agreed with the tourist organization;
2) the plan-chart of the vessel, approved at the time of the conclusion of the contract;
3) calculation of the rental fee for the vessel by categories of cabins and element rates for each sea pool, taking into account seasonal discounts
Recently, some shipowners have offered ships for bareboat charter - long-term lease and operation with all the resulting liability
The shipowner is obliged to comply with the established timetable for the movement of the vessel. The administration of the vessel is obliged to notify the tourist cruise workers and tourists about all changes and deviations in the ship's schedule in the event of a delay in the arrival of the ship at the port and a reduction in the staying time, and to take measures to implement the tourist service program.
River cruises. Unlike sea river cruises, they are less affected by the weather, more informative, since they have a coastal view, there is a great opportunity to use green parking lots.
Western Europe has a fairly long navigable waterway network. On its territory flow: Seine, Elbe, Danube, Rhine and other rivers. All of them are connected by a complex system of canals, which provides excellent opportunities for the growing popularity of river cruise travel. Germany holds the first place in river cruises, followed by Great Britain, Holland, Switzerland and Austria. The most popular routes are along the Rhine and its tributaries (Moselle, Main, Neckar, Weser). River cruises on the Danube through seven countries are in high demand in Europe
The most popular river cruise routes among foreign tourists pass primarily along the Rhine and Danube. In third place are the Russian rivers Volga and Don, their tributaries, lakes and canals. Demand for these routes fell after Chernobyl, the collapse of the USSR and due to the unstable situation in Russia and the CIS countries.
Nile cruises are usually part of larger tour or recreational programs. The same applies to the even more exotic Amazon, the St. Lawrence River and the Yangtze. Demand for cruises on French rivers and canals is growing
In the West, the demand for river cruises is increasing every year. Of particular interest are short-term cruises up to five days. This is due to the fact that most tourists prefer to grab a weekend during the trip so as not to miss out on work. During this time, tourists manage to visit many places, no matter how they never change hotels. River cruises are especially attractive for middle-aged and elderly people: unlike sea travel, the land is visible all the time, and seasickness is absent
Motor ships that carry out cruise programs on the rivers of Germany, Great Britain, France and Holland are single-deck and double-deck motor ships of special construction or, in some cases, converted self-propelled barges. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that they all have a low draft and superstructure. This is due to the fact that most of the routes run through narrow canals and motor ships are forced to pass under low sections of bridges and along shallow rivers. Accordingly, the capacity of such vessels is very small. However, the owners of motor ships try to decorate their vessel as comfortably and comfortably as possible, to supply it with the most necessary things. Among them there are both one-star ships and comfortable luxury motor ships
On ships that cruise along the rivers of Europe, shipowners are trying to increase the area of restaurants, since due to the lack of space on some tourist ships, they have to have lunch and dinner in two shifts. This often causes displeasure among tourists, since the first shift feels limited in time, and the second has to wait a long time. Cruise executives have currently resolved this issue by periodically changing shifts after a few days.
This tourist product has certain difficulties in conquering a wide market. The main one is the high price. But nevertheless, this product is very well promoted in the European tourist market and the demand for it is growing from year to year. The main consumers of river cruises are elderly people who prefer coziness, comfort, full board, constant proximity to the coast, as well as interesting excursions on memorable places. The bulk of river cruise customers are Americans, French, Germans, Swiss, Dutch
River cruises are varied in length, route duration, theme. Typically, cruises from 7 to 15 days are offered. There are educational, sports, gastronomic cruises, wine-making, etc.
The sale of a river cruise goes directly when shipowners or tenant firms sell a tourist product through their own office or sell it through a network of specialized agencies, including through firms organizing tours and bus trips.
Russian river travel. The Russian Federation has unique opportunities for organizing river travel. Rivers, lakes and canals in the European part made it possible to connect the Baltic, White, Azov, Black and Caspian seas, and Moscow became a port of five seas. As you know, Russia has the largest network of rivers. The length of the exploited inland waterways is about 100 thousand km, of which more than 16 are artificially created canals and reservoirs. Convenient, efficient water transport highway connects the North-Western, Central and Southern regions of the country
In & nbsp 1959, the Central Council for Tourism and Excursions of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions organized the first river route. During that navigation, 10 ships transported 12 thousand travelers. Currently, this figure is over 1 million people. Almost 150 thousand km of the country's blue roads have now been mastered by tourists. They have 700 hydraulic structures, including 122 sluices. The operation of the river fleet in Russia is based on the territorial production principle. Passenger transportation is carried out by more than 60 enterprises - former shipping companies and ports, transformed into shipping companies and joint stock companies. The general management and coordination of the activities of the enterprises is carried out by the Rosrechflot Service of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.
Currently, tourist transportation is carried out by ships of joint-stock companies and shipping companies: in the Central Basins & nbsp Moscow River Shipping Company, Capital Shipping Company, Volga-Flot, Kamskaya Shipping Company, Doninturflot, Belomorsko-Onega Shipping Company, St. Petersburg Passenger Port; in the Eastern basins - the Yenisei, Lenskoye and Amur Shipping Companies
Tourist transportation is carried out on 80 different routes with a duration of 3 to 20 days
The shipping companies of the Central and North-Western basins account for about 87% of all tourist traffic
According to the current practice, shipowners (former shipping companies) lease motor ships on charter to various travel companies, mainly Russian ones, which, having foreign partners, carry out the loading. As a rule, reputable travel agencies from year to year take the same motor ships, carry out their reconstruction and modernization. The following companies are known on the Russian market of river vessels: "Pallada" - cruises on the Volga and the Volga-Baltic canal; "Svarog" and some others
In previous navigation (90s), some Russian travel agencies chartered 3-4 or more highly comfortable ships, sometimes from several shipowners. So, for example, the cruise company "Orthodox" cooperates on JSC IC "Volga-Flot", LLC "Kamskaya Shipping Company" and JSC "Donintur-Flot". The ships are loaded by foreign companies: OdesoAmerika Cruise Company (USA), Phoenix (Germany), Transtu-ro (France). The firm "Vis-cruise" cooperates with JSC IC "Volga-Flot" and JSC "Doninturflot" (France). Firm "Pallada" has a load from "Olympia Reisen" (Germany). Yenisei River Shipping Company for loading the motor ship “A. Chekhov "works directly with the firm" Mittel-Thurgau "(Switzerland)
The number of foreign companies wishing to send their compatriots on vacation along the rivers of Russia increases from year to year.
The conclusion of contracts between shipping companies and tourist organizations usually ends before December 30 of the year preceding the service. The contract can be concluded for a period of one to three years. Timetables (schedules) for the movement of tourist ships within the boundaries of one shipping company are developed and approved by it in agreement with the interested tourist organization by December 1 of the pre-planned year. At the same time, timetables are developed for lines (routes) passing through adjacent basins, but they are approved by the Ministry of River Fleet
After signing the agreements, tourist organizations have the right to start selling vouchers for cruise flights. Vouchers serve as the basis for tourists to occupy the places indicated in them on the ship, receive sets of bed linen (one set for up to 10 days), an established diet and cultural and excursion services
After drawing up the schedules, the charterer receives the schedule of the ship's route, on the basis of which he draws up the excursion service scheme. At this stage, together with tourist bureaus located in the cities of the ship's destination, excursion and entertainment programs, attractions that should be included in the cruise program are negotiated. Advance booking of tickets and guides in museums and historical complexes along the route and according to the excursion program is made. Comfortable buses are rented in advance for transfers from the airport and back (for international tourists)
Before the start of navigation, representatives of the shipping company and travel agency with the participation of the ship's captain, the director of the ship's restaurant and the head of the cruise accept the ship as a commission - they inspect the ship's passenger premises and equipment in order to determine their readiness for transporting tourists, about which they draw up a corresponding act. Vessels at the starting points of the voyage are served for boarding on tourist lines 2 hours before departure
The shipping company and the travel agency are developing a general daily routine before the start of the tour. Compliance with the established internal regulations on the ship is mandatory for all tourists and service personnel. The registration of tourists is carried out by the head of the cruise before they board the ship in the premises of the river station, provided by the shipping company (port). When selling a tour, the tourist is notified of the end of registration (boarding) 30 minutes before the departure of the vessel.
When servicing tourists on motor ship tours, the following are involved:
The crew of the vessel;
- employees of ship restaurants;
- cruise tourist brigade
Cruise ship workers, as a rule, are freelancers, are hired in such a way that they can complete the necessary preparatory work before the ship leaves for the voyage. Cruise managers are usually recruited 20 days before the start of the season or individual cruise; instructors-methodologists - 10 days in advance; animators, music workers and others - 5 days before the start of the season or a separate cruise itinerary.
Excursion and pleasure flights. Excursion reps include trips of excursionists made on river ships in order to get acquainted with memorable, historical and other sights lasting no more than 24 hours
Pleasure flights include transportation of groups of tourists, made for a short time for the purpose of recreation and acquaintance with memorable historical and other places of interest, carried out, as a rule, between two posts with calls and stops at them or without calls and stops. These flights can be more or less 24 hours in duration
Voyages of less than 24 hours are usually operated by ships of the port fleet and are carried out in suburban and intracity areas.
The role and place of air transport in tourismVarious types of transport are used by tourism organizations to transport tourists while traveling. The main share in the overall structure of transport services belongs to air transport. The largest number of tourists, especially long-distance travelers, use aviation services.
Automobile transport can rightfully be called a transport of general use, since it is used everywhere: from transfers and excursions, intra-route transportation by buses to renting small cars by tourists for personal use on vacation. Buses and cars transport of local and intraregional importance. Bus sightseeing tours with visits to several cities and places of interest are especially popular. For touristsit is convenient that they can travel along the route and within the city on their own transport .
The main competitor of buses in group transportation is the railway. Within our country, it has some priority over air transportation. The advantage of rail transport is also morelow fares and (in foreign countries) an extensive system of discounts, travel tickets, etc., allowing you to travel at significantly lower prices
... However, neither bus nor raildo not compete with aviation over long distances
Water transport, river and sea, by themselves already evoke the image of tourist - cruise service and are used in tourism quite actively. Water travel has a number of both advantages and disadvantages compared to other modes of transport.The most significant advantages are a high level of comfort, a large volume of one-time loading, the possibility of implementing various types and purposes of tourism (educational, business tourism, educational, shopping tourism, etc.), good rest, a full range of life support
... The main disadvantages are the low speed of movement.vehicles, high fares, limited mobility, and often the susceptibility of some people to "seasickness" on sea cruises.
Air transport in tourist transport
Airplanes are the most popular form of transportation in the world. The same can be said about air travel in tourism. And there are a number of reasons for this:
Firstly, aviation is the fastest and most convenient form of transport when traveling long distances;
Secondly, the service on flights currently looks attractive for tourists;
Third, airline companies pay travel agents a commission for each seat they book on the plane, directly and through international booking and reservation networks, thereby motivating them to choose air travel.
There are more than 1,300 airlines in the world now. On average, about 1.5 billion people are transported on flights annually. International air services are now provided by over 470 carriers, about 250 of them make international regular flights. More than 1,000 airports of the world take part in servicing international air communications, about 650 of them serve international scheduled air services.
The largest airlines in the world in terms of traffic are American Delta Air Lines, Pan Amerikan, United, French Air France, German Lufthansa, British British Airways, and others. Russian Aeroflot is considered a major airline.
Air transport is regulated in three ways:
1) national regulation - licensing of air carriers operating both on domestic and international routes;
2) intergovernmental regulation - when regular air routes are based on agreements between the governments of the respective countries;
3) international regulation - when tariffs for scheduled flights are established (for members of airlines) on the basis of mutual agreements between the participating airlines through the mediation of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or a third party
One of the types of international regulation of air transportation are plans to createpool connecting airlines operating on certain international routes.
Pool agreement connects airlines operating on the same international routes in order to optimize the flight schedule, reduce directions and regulate passenger flows during peak hours and periods, as well as to increase profits on these routes and its further distribution between airlines
The travel agent also needs to know the rules for booking air tickets, working with stocks, fares and discounts provided by airlines.
Professional ethics requirements when booking air tickets. In order to avoid additional inconveniences for air carriers, as well as to facilitate the booking process and improve the quality of service for passengers, travel agents should adhere to the following simple rules:
Follow the standard airline-specific booking procedures.
Never book a double booking for a passenger if they can't decide which flight to fly. Moreover, never issue two or more tickets for such a passenger if it is obvious that he will be able to use only one of them.
Regardless of the passenger's itinerary, be sure to try, as far as possible, to provide the airline with emergency contact telephone numbers along the way.
If the passenger changes the route, immediately cancel the corresponding reservation with the airline, as well as refuse all other related services that are not required.
Strictly adhere to the deadlines and procedure for issuing tickets required by air carriers. Never issue tickets with a guaranteed seat until this guarantee has been validated by the airline concerned.
All airline bookings must be accurately registered and properly documented. The documents to be drawn up and the copies remaining with the agent must necessarily contain an indication of the flight number, date and class of the flight, status (guaranteed / non-guaranteed seat) of each individual flight, surnames and initials of passengers and their contact numbers or addresses. Report immediately in the prescribed form on the receipt of all deposits.
Agency agreement with the airline ... In principle, some airlines consider all travel companies that have an agreement with them on a quota of seats as their agents. However, in its purest form, an agency agreement is working with stocks, i.e. when a travel company gets the opportunity to independently act as an airline agency selling air tickets (both for its tourists and just a sale), which simplifies and speeds up the procedures for booking and issuing travel tickets documents. The travel agency itself acts as the airline's "ticket office", that is, it issues tickets itself and has the appropriate computer equipment and the right to access the airline's reservation network (for example, Gabriel at Aeroflot). This type of work with air tickets is called “work with a stock of air tickets”.
Charter (aircraft rental ). When organizing charter air transportation, the customer determines the route with the airline, the obligations of the parties are negotiated with him, the compliance of the lease agreement with international rules is determined, and the cost of the flight is determined. Then a special charter agreement is concluded, which stipulates:
Aircraft type (make);
Number of places for sale;
Aircraft rental cost;
Itinerary indicating the airports of departure and arrival;
The term of the contract (season, year, etc.);
Regularity of flights;
Possibility and deadlines for canceling (canceling) flights and corresponding sanctions.
The peculiarity of charters is such that one full flight (the second and penultimate flights - the first return after the first delivery and the last there before the last export) is performed without tourists: on the last flight, the plane picks up the last tourists, but does not bring new ones, since it is no longer behind them. will return (that is, for 10 tourist arrivals there are 11 flights). The formula N + 1 applies here. Thus, the largest number of flights during the period of the air charter program reduces the cost of the “drop-out” flight, and hence reduces the transportation tariff.
Soft block , in which the customer does not have any financial responsibility and has the right to fully or partially abandon his seats within a predetermined time frame, is more convenient for the travel agent. However, if the refusal occurs later than the deadline, then the customer will have to pay a fine. Usually soft blocks are used quite rarely, since they are not always beneficial to the charter holder (be it an airline or a wholesaler tour operator).
Hard block stipulates strict contractual obligations regarding the timing of the sale and payment. The customer makes a prepayment, the amount of which usually includes the sum of the cost of two paired flights. At the same time, the tariffs for the implementation of a hard block are approximately 5-10% lower than for the implementation of a soft block. In addition, with an agreement for a rigid block, the operator and the agent fix the price for the entire charter period, which gives a good opportunity for the sellers to vary prices during the “high” period of the season.
The most common sale of seats for charter flights is the so-called combined method that combines elements of the two above-mentioned options. The total number of places included in the block being implemented is divided in a certain proportion into two parts: one of which is implemented according to the "hard" system, and the other - according to the "soft"
Often, not one, but several tour operators act as the initiator of the charter program. At the same time, they agree in advance among themselves the conditions for organizing flights.
Normal relations with airlines when renting an aircraft provide for payment according to a contract with a mandatory balance sheet after each flight.
Charter flights must not contradict the requirements of the Warsaw International Convention on the obligations of the carrier to the passenger
By signing an agreement on the organization of a charter, the airline almost always puts the tour operator in tough conditions. First of all, an advance payment is required from the company. Whatever the maximum size, the airline always insists that the first and last flights of the charter cycle be paid in advance. Thus, she insures herself and previously brought tourists against possible non-payments. Payment for flights is negotiated in advance and is made, as a rule, 7-10 days before the start of the flight. In case of late payment, according to the contract, the company has the right to impose penalties on the customer or to terminate the existing contractual relationship with him.
Currently, there are 315 airlines operating in the air transportation market in Russia. Of these, 96 are licensed to operate scheduled flights and carry 99% of the total volume of air passengers.
Aeroflot remains the undisputed leader of the Russian aviation business. Aeroflot Russian International Airlines is the national flag carrier of Russia.
3.5. The role of transport in the development of the tourism industry
Tourism involves the movement of people from one place to another, both within the country and abroad. The legislation of a number of European countries (for example, France and Italy) classifies transport services as one of the main services provided to the traveler, along with accommodation services. In tourism statistics, transport refers to the means that a visitor uses to travel from his permanent residence to the place visited. However, many transport enterprises and companies not only transport tourists, but also provide transportation of ordinary passengers, mail and cargo not related to tourism. Therefore, the seasonal nature of tourism creates serious problems for transport companies.
Air transport includes: air flights carried out according to the schedule of air passenger traffic on established routes; unscheduled flights (mainly charter and others not subject to the schedule of air passenger traffic), as well as rental of aircraft with a crew. In this case, a charter is understood as any passenger vehicle (aviation, sea, river, automobile) fully leased from a carrier by a travel agency for the transport of tourists.
Water transport includes sea and coastal, as well as inland waterway transport.
Cruise ships are of particular interest in maritime transport. The main emphasis when organizing cruises is on getting positive emotions from the stay of tourists on board the ship, and not on the speed of the tourist's arrival at the destination. In some cases, ferry ships are also used to attract tourists, transporting not only the tourists themselves, but also their personal cars (vehicles). Land transport is subdivided into railway, bus and road transport (with a capacity of up to 8 people). The movement of land transport must obey the schedule of regular transportations, but transportations can also be carried out outside the schedule (special tourist trips, long-distance charter or sightseeing bus trips). There is also a specialized road transport transporting tourists along the routes airport - city, railway station - city (transfer). Car rental is widespread in the host country.
Tourism is completely dependent on transport, its safety, speed and convenience provided to the tourist during his travels. Understanding the basics of relationships with transport companies, the rules for interacting with them in matters of ensuring the safety of passengers and their property, service, the use of appropriate discounts and benefits in sales is important for both tourists and travel organizers. The development of tourism is constrained by the fact that transport systems in a number of countries do not meet international standards for convenience, efficiency and safety, and transport projects, in particular, the construction of new airports, roads and railways, require huge investments and time for their implementation.
1 For more details about the importance of transport services in the development of tourism, see the work: "Service activities in tourism and hotel business". - Tomsk: Publishing house of Vol. University, 2004.
According to statistics, the growth rate of the popularity of air transport is higher than that of motor transport, which is due to the increasing expansion of the geography of travel and the existing steady trend towards reducing travel times in favor of their frequency (growth of short-term long-distance tours). All this causes close attention of the tourist business to air transportation. Airplanes are the most popular form of transportation in the world. The same can be said about air travel in tourism. And there are a number of reasons for this:
- - firstly, aviation is the fastest and most convenient form of transport when traveling long distances;
- - secondly, the service on flights currently looks attractive for tourists;
- - thirdly, aviation companies, directly and through international booking and reservation networks, pay travel agencies a commission for each seat booked on the plane, thereby motivating them to choose air travel.
Air transport is one of the most rapidly and dynamically developing sectors of the world economy and every year it occupies an increasingly strong position in the global transport system.
There are more than 1,300 airlines in the world now. On average, about 1.5 billion people are transported on flights annually. International air services are now provided by over 470 carriers, about 250 of them make international regular flights. More than 1,000 airports of the world take part in servicing international air communications, about 650 of them serve international scheduled air services.
The largest airlines in the world in terms of traffic are American Delta Air Lines, Pan Amerikan, United, French Air France, German Lufthansa, British British Airways, and others. Russian Aeroflot is considered a major airline.
However, the system of international air transport is made up not only of international air carriers and airports, but also states connected by international air lines and providing these communications, as well as international organizations in the field of air transport, taking measures to ensure its effective functioning and safety.
The international transport network currently covers all geographic regions and more than 150 countries of the world.
Air transport is regulated in three ways:
- 1) national regulation - licensing of air carriers operating both on domestic and international routes;
- 2) intergovernmental regulation - when regular air routes are based on agreements between the governments of the respective countries;
- 3) international regulation - when tariffs for scheduled flights are set (for members of airlines) on the basis of mutual agreements between the participating airlines through the mediation of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or a third party.
Travel agencies participate in IATA's activities through its dedicated branch, the International Travel Agents Network (IATAN), the International Organization of Airline Agents, and through international civil airport organizations.
As part of the organization of tourist travel, there are several forms of interaction between travel companies and airlines:
Ё seat reservation and redemption of air tickets through the airline's agencies;
Ё seat reservation and redemption of air tickets through the reservation system;
Ё agreement with an airline for a quota of seats on regular airlines;
Ё agency agreement and work as an agency for the sale of air tickets for their tourists;
Ё organization of charter flights for tourist transportation.
In order to correctly choose the most convenient and profitable section of tourist transportation, as well as to correctly conclude a contract for air transportation of tourists, you need to know all the features, advantages and disadvantages of this or that type of interaction with the airline.
The travel agent also needs to know the rules for booking air tickets, working with stocks, fares and discounts provided by airlines.
Professional ethics requirements when booking air tickets. To avoid additional inconvenience for air carriers, as well as to facilitate the booking process and improve the quality of passenger service, travel agents should adhere to the following simple rules:
- - Follow the standard airline-specific booking procedures.
- - Never book a double booking for a passenger if they can't decide which flight to fly. Moreover, never issue two or more tickets for such a passenger if it is obvious that he will be able to use only one of them.
- - Regardless of the passenger's itinerary, be sure to try, as far as possible, to provide the airline with emergency contact telephone numbers along the way.
- - If the passenger changes the route, immediately cancel the corresponding reservation with the airline, as well as refuse all other related services that are not required
- - Strictly adhere to the terms and procedure for ticketing required by air carriers. Never issue tickets with a guaranteed seat until this guarantee has been validated by the airline concerned.
- - All seats booked with airlines must be accurately registered and properly documented. The documents to be drawn up and the copies remaining with the agent must necessarily contain an indication of the flight number, date and class of the flight, status (guaranteed / non-guaranteed seat) of each individual flight, surnames and initials of passengers and their contact numbers or addresses. Report immediately in the prescribed form on the receipt of all deposits.
Always remember that the convenience of passengers and the smooth operation of other agents and airlines depend on your efficiency, accuracy and consideration.
Charter (aircraft rental). When organizing charter air transportation, the customer determines the route with the airline, the obligations of the parties are negotiated with him, the compliance of the lease agreement with international rules is determined, and the cost of the flight is determined. Then a special charter agreement is concluded, which stipulates:
Ё type (brand) of the aircraft;
Ё number of places for sale;
Ё the cost of renting an aircraft;
Ё route indicating the airports of departure and arrival;
Ё the term of the contract (season, year, etc.);
Ё regularity of flights;
Ё the possibility and deadlines for cancellation (cancellation) of the flight and the corresponding sanctions.
The peculiarity of charters is such that one full flight (the second and penultimate flights - the first return after the first delivery and the last there before the last export) is performed without tourists: on the last flight, the plane picks up the last tourists, but does not bring new ones, since it is no longer behind them. will return (that is, for 10 tourist arrivals there are 11 flights). The formula N + 1 applies here. Thus, the largest number of flights during the period of the air charter program reduces the cost of the “drop-out” flight, and hence reduces the transportation tariff.
It should be noted that it is realistic to organize 20 races per season (for weekly flights). However, a charter can also be launched with a frequency of 2 times a week - then the number of flights per season increases to 40. This significantly reduces the tariff, but is not available in terms of loading for the absolute majority of travel companies. This explains the emergence of "intermediate" entrepreneurs on the tourist transportation market - wholesalers, who consolidate large charters in their hands and distribute them later among smaller companies in the form of block charters (i.e. 10-30 seats each) ). The wholesale tour operator, as a rule, conducts the sale of blocks of seats on its charter according to three worked out options: hard, soft and combined blocks of seats.
A soft block, in which the customer does not have any financial responsibility and has the right to fully or partially abandon his seats within a predetermined time frame, is more convenient for the travel agent. However, if the refusal occurs later than the deadline, then the customer will have to pay a fine. Usually soft blocks are used quite rarely, since they are not always beneficial to the charter holder (be it an airline or a wholesaler tour operator).
The hard block provides for strict contractual obligations in terms of sale and payment terms. The customer makes a prepayment, the amount of which usually includes the sum of the cost of two paired flights. At the same time, the tariffs for the implementation of a hard block are approximately 5-10% lower than for the implementation of a soft block. In addition, with an agreement for a rigid block, the operator and the agent fix the price for the entire charter period, which gives a good opportunity for the sellers to vary prices during the “high” period of the season and at the end of it.
The most common sale of seats for charter flights is the so-called combined method that combines elements of the two above-mentioned options. The total number of places included in the block being implemented is divided in a certain proportion into two parts: one of which is implemented according to the "hard" system, and the other - according to the "soft" system.
Often, not one, but several tour operators act as the initiator of the charter program. At the same time, they agree in advance among themselves the conditions for organizing flights.
Normal relations with airlines when renting an aircraft provide for payment according to a contract with a mandatory balance sheet after each flight.
Aeroflot remains the undisputed leader of the Russian aviation business. Aeroflot Russian International Airlines is the national flag carrier of Russia. And in Belarus, the national airline Belavia is the leader in passenger traffic. The airline's activities are based on the principle of creating a positive image, which is formed on the basis of safety, regularity and accuracy of flights, and improving the quality of passenger service.
Belavia is a modern, dynamic company that meets the latest innovations in the field of civil aviation, strives for constant development and improvement, as well as attracting a new number of passengers. The priority tasks are the modernization of the air fleet, the efficient use of resources, the introduction of new information technologies and the constant improvement of the quality of service, both on board and on the ground.
The main emphasis in its work of the airline is on providing customers with the opportunity to fly both by direct flights and without delay to continue their journey to anywhere in the world, trying to take into account all the wishes of the passenger.
The attitude to work of Belavia employees and the Belarusian hospitality can be appreciated every time you travel by airlines on official business or on vacation. Thanks to a close-knit team of high-class professionals who love their work and are proud of it, Belavia has established itself as a reliable and competitive air carrier in a short period of time.
The Belavia company also provides such services as:
Ё Transportation of goods;
Ё Transportation of animals;
According to statistics, the growth rate of the popularity of air transport is higher than that of motor transport, which is due to the increasing expansion of the geography of travel and the existing steady trend towards reducing travel times in favor of their frequency (growth of short-term long-distance tours). All this causes close attention of the tourist business to air transportation. Airplanes are the most popular form of transportation in the world. The same can be said about air travel in tourism. And there are a number of reasons for this:
Firstly, aviation is the fastest and most convenient form of transport when traveling long distances;
- secondly, the service on flights currently looks attractive for tourists;
- thirdly, aviation companies, directly and through international booking and reservation networks, pay travel agencies a commission for each seat booked on the plane, thereby motivating them to choose air travel
Air transport is one of the most rapidly and dynamically developing sectors of the world economy and every year it occupies an increasingly strong position in the global transport system.
There are more than 1,300 airlines in the world now. On average, about 1.5 billion people are transported on flights annually. International air services are now provided by over 470 carriers, about 250 of them make international regular flights. More than 1,000 airports of the world take part in servicing international air communications, about 650 of them serve international scheduled air services.
The largest airlines in the world in terms of traffic are American Delta Air Lines, Pan Amerikan, United, French Air France, German Lufthansa, British British Airways, and others. Russian Aeroflot is considered a major airline.
However, the system of international air transport is made up not only of international air carriers and airports, but also states connected by international air lines and providing these communications, as well as international organizations in the field of air transport, taking measures to ensure its effective functioning and safety.
The international transport network currently covers all geographic regions and more than 150 countries of the world
Air transport is regulated in three ways:
1) national regulation - licensing of air carriers operating both on domestic and international routes;
2) intergovernmental regulation - when regular air routes are based on agreements between the governments of the respective countries;
3) international regulation - when tariffs for scheduled flights are established (for members of airlines) on the basis of mutual agreements between the participating airlines through the mediation of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or a third party
One of the types of international regulation of air transportation is the plans to create a pool connecting airlines operating on certain international routes.
The pool agreement connects airlines operating on the same international routes in order to optimize the flight schedule, reduce directions and regulate passenger flows during peak hours and periods, as well as in order to increase profits on these routes and its further distribution between airlines
A pool agreement, in principle, can lead to the elimination of competition on the route. But this also means maintaining the possibility of participating in transportation on the lines for companies of different sizes. Pool agreements are often negotiated between airlines that are not comparable in size in order to provide them with the best carriage opportunities and profit margins. Financial agreements between pooled carriers usually limit the maximum amount of revenue transferred from one carrier to another to reduce the government's ability to support inefficient carriers. In some countries, however, pool agreements are currently prohibited (for example, in the USA)
International regulation of air transportation is carried out on the basis of international agreements signed between countries for many years.
The Warsaw Convention of 1929 was the first general agreement between airlines dealing with the responsibility of airlines for the safety of passengers in the event of death, injury or loss of baggage during carriage. (The Montreal Protocol later determined that the maximum liability would be periodically revised due to inflationary processes. Today, the airline's liability to the passenger amounts to a maximum of US $ 20,000.) This agreement is the basis for insurance of passengers, mail and baggage on international air transportation.
The 1944 Chicago Civil Aviation Convention, in which 80 countries participated in the discussion, contains an agreement to standardize migration procedures for air services between countries. These principles were adopted to provide the basis for bilateral agreements between countries. The agreement agreed not to regulate charter flights, allowing countries to apply individual regulations and the conditions under which they accept and operate charter flights.
The 1946 Anglo-American agreement of Bermuda on transatlantic flights governed bilateral agreements on these routes. In 1977, the Bermuda Agreement was revised (and ratified in 1980), in 1986 the new agreement expanded the actual load on routes across the Atlantic, limited by two British and two American carriers.
Since air transport takes more and more solid positions in the global transport system every year, it has long been necessary for its worldwide coordination and regulation. These issues are dealt with by international aviation organizations. Let's consider the most influential and well-known of them.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is one of the first most solid and authoritative world structures. ICAO members are 183 states. ICAO works closely with other organizations such as the United Nations Community, World Meteorological Organization, International Union of Electrical Communications, World Post Union, World Health Organization, International Sea Organization.
The International Association of Air Transportation - I ATA - was created to coordinate the actions of global airlines aimed at ensuring the safety and efficiency of air transportation in all regions of the world. Founded in 1919 and reformed in 1945, IATA is the professional association of international aviation companies. The main function performed by the Association is the streamlining of international commercial aviation services, the introduction of uniform rules and procedures for all members and the establishment of agreed tariffs for passenger transportation on international routes.
Travel agencies participate in the activities of IATA through its special branch - the International Travel Agents Network (IATAN), the International Organization of Airline Agents, as well as through the international organizations of civil airports
As part of the organization of tourist travel, there are several forms of interaction between travel companies and airlines:
Reservation of seats and redemption of air tickets through the airline's agencies;
- reservation of seats and redemption of air tickets through the reservation system;
- an agreement with an airline for a quota of seats on regular airlines;
- agency agreement and work as an agency for the sale of air tickets for their tourists;
- organization of charter flights for tourist transportation
In order to correctly choose the most convenient and profitable section of tourist transportation, as well as to correctly conclude a contract for air transportation of tourists, you need to know all the features, advantages and disadvantages of this or that type of interaction with the airline.
The travel agent also needs to know the rules for booking air tickets, working with stocks, fares and discounts provided by airlines.
Professional ethics requirements when booking air tickets. In order to avoid additional inconveniences for air carriers, as well as to facilitate the booking process and improve the quality of service for passengers, travel agents should adhere to the following simple rules:
Follow standard airline-specific booking procedures
- Never book a double booking for a passenger if they can't decide which flight to fly. Moreover, never issue two or more tickets for such a passenger if it is obvious that he will be able to use only one of them.
- Regardless of the passenger's route, be sure to try, as far as possible, to provide the airline with emergency telephone numbers for emergency contact with the passenger along the route
- If the passenger changes the route, immediately cancel the corresponding reservation with the airline, as well as refuse all other related services that are not required
- Strictly adhere to the terms and procedure for ticketing required by air carriers. Never issue tickets with a guaranteed seat until this guarantee has been validated by the airline concerned.
- All seats booked with airlines must be accurately registered and properly documented. The documents to be drawn up and the copies remaining with the agent must necessarily contain an indication of the flight number, date and class of the flight, status (guaranteed / non-guaranteed seat) of each individual flight, surnames and initials of passengers and their contact numbers or addresses. Report immediately in the prescribed form on the receipt of all deposits
Always remember that the convenience of passengers and the smooth operation of other agents and airlines depend on your efficiency, accuracy and consideration.
The contract for the quota of seats on regular flights. A quota of seats, or a block of seats, can be hard or soft. This affects the terms of the contract and special benefits and discounts. With a strict quota of seats, all responsibility for the failure to sell the block's seats rests with the travel agency, regardless of the reason for the failure. The travel agency incurs financial losses. With a soft quota of places, the terms of a possible refusal of a travel company from the quota or part of the quota of places due to the failure to sell tourist vouchers are established. These terms provide for the possibility of further sale of these seats by the airline itself or its other agents.
The contract with the airline for the quota of seats on regular flights includes:
Schedule of functioning of rounds in the direction "there" and "back" with an indication of the destinations;
- the number of tourists in each group (quota of places);
- deadlines for filing applications and redemption of air tickets;
- terms of canceling tickets for tickets without deduction of fines (soft block);
- types of fares for purchased tickets, preferential fares, conditions for granting preferential fares;
- discounts and benefits for the quota of places;
- the procedure and terms for the return of redeemed but unused tickets, material liability arising from the terms of return (soft block).
Agency agreement with the airline. In principle, some airlines consider all travel companies that have an agreement with them on a quota of seats as their agents. However, in its purest form, an agency agreement is working with stocks, i.e. when a travel company gets the opportunity to independently act as an airline agency selling air tickets (both for its tourists and just a sale), which simplifies and speeds up the procedures for booking and issuing travel tickets documents. The travel agency itself acts as the airline's "ticket office", that is, it issues tickets itself and has the appropriate computer equipment and the right to access the airline's reservation network (for example, Gabriel at Aeroflot). This type of work with air tickets is called “work with a stock of air tickets”.
The airline, represented by this travel agency, has an additional point of sale (one of the conditions of the agency agreement is usually the preferential sale of tickets for this particular airline for tours)
The agency agreement with the airline provides for the solution of the following issues:
Who and on what conditions provides equipment for issuing air tickets, air ticket forms;
- training of personnel for the maintenance of this equipment;
- sales volumes are most often set individually - by the number of tickets per month (for example, at least 10/200 tickets per month) or by sales proceeds (from 10 to 200 thousand US dollars or more in different airlines);
- the limits of possible sales (regionally or by consumer segment);
- at whose price the tickets are sold - at the price of an airline or at the price of a travel agency (most often at the price of an airline);
- prices and tariffs of air ticket sales;
- terms of payment for air tickets prepayment or payment as they are sold (for stock agents in some airlines, prepayment is established for groups of tourists);
- the size of the commission for the sale of air tickets (up to 9% of the sold tariff);
- the timing and frequency of submission of airline reports, their form and the documentation required in the attachment (usually 1 or 2 times a month);
- the amount of bank guarantees in favor of the airline or 1АТА (from 20 thousand US dollars);
- membership in IATA.
Charter (aircraft rental). When organizing charter air transportation, the customer determines the route with the airline, the obligations of the parties are negotiated with him, the compliance of the lease agreement with international rules is determined, and the cost of the flight is determined. Then a special charter agreement is concluded, which stipulates:
Aircraft type (make);
- the number of places for sale;
- the cost of renting an aircraft;
- route indicating the airports of departure and arrival;
- the term of the contract (season, year, etc.);
- regularity of flights;
- the possibility and deadlines for canceling (canceling) the flight and the corresponding sanctions
The peculiarity of charters is such that one full flight (the second and penultimate flights - the first return after the first delivery and the last there before the last export) is performed without tourists: on the last flight, the plane picks up the last tourists, but does not bring new ones, since it is no longer behind them. will return (that is, for 10 tourist arrivals there are 11 flights). The formula N + 1 applies here. Thus, the largest number of flights during the period of the air charter program reduces the cost of the “drop-out” flight, which means it also reduces the airfare.
It should be noted that it is realistic to organize 20 races per season (for weekly flights). However, a charter can also be launched with a frequency of 2 times a week - then the number of flights per season increases to 40. This significantly reduces the tariff, but is not available in terms of loading for the absolute majority of travel companies. This explains the emergence of "intermediate" entrepreneurs on the tourist transportation market - wholesalers, who consolidate large charters in their hands and distribute them later among smaller companies in the form of block charters (i.e. 10-30 seats each) ). The wholesale tour operator, as a rule, conducts the sale of blocks of seats on its charter according to three worked out options: hard, soft and combined blocks of seats.
A soft block, in which the customer does not have any financial responsibility and has the right to fully or partially abandon his seats within a predetermined time frame, is more convenient for the travel agent. However, if the refusal occurs later than the deadline, then the customer will have to pay a fine. Usually soft blocks are used quite rarely, since they are not always beneficial to the charter holder (be it an airline or a wholesaler tour operator).
The hard block provides for strict contractual obligations in terms of sale and payment terms. The customer makes a prepayment, the amount of which usually includes the sum of the cost of two paired flights. At the same time, the tariffs for the implementation of a hard block are approximately 5-10% lower than for the implementation of a soft block. In addition, with an agreement for a rigid block, the operator and the agent fix the price for the entire charter period, which gives a good opportunity for the sellers to vary prices in the "high" period of the season and at the end of it.
The most common sale of seats for charter flights is the so-called combined method that combines elements of the two above-mentioned options. The total number of places included in the block being implemented is divided in a certain proportion into two parts: one of which is implemented according to the "hard" system, and the other - according to the "soft"
Often, not one, but several tour operators act as the initiator of the charter program. At the same time, they agree in advance among themselves the conditions for organizing flights.
Normal relations with airlines when renting an aircraft provide for payment according to the contract with the obligatory summing up of the balance after each flight.
Charter flights must not contradict the requirements of the Warsaw International Convention on the obligations of the carrier to the passenger
By signing an agreement on the organization of a charter, the airline almost always puts the tour operator in tough conditions. First of all, an advance payment is required from the company. Whatever the maximum size, the airline always insists that the first and last flights of the charter cycle be paid in advance. Thus, she insures herself and previously brought tourists against possible non-payments. Payment for flights is negotiated in advance and is made, as a rule, 7-10 days before the start of the flight. In case of late payment, according to the contract, the company has the right to impose penalties on the customer or to terminate the existing contractual relationship with him.
All air transportation rules in our country are governed by the Air Code of the Russian Federation of March 19, 1977, as well as by a number of international agreements. The main body coordinating air transportation in Russia is the Federal Air Transport Service (FSVT)
Currently, there are 315 airlines operating in the air transportation market in Russia. Of these, 96 are licensed to operate scheduled flights and carry 99% of the total volume of air passengers.
Carriage volumes are unevenly distributed among airlines. Eighteen of the largest airlines in Russia carry about 75% of passengers, and the planes of eight or nine "super giants" carry up to 50% of Russian travelers. 94 airlines operating regular flights serve approximately 23% of passengers. And the remaining 276 airlines, which, as a rule, perform one-time flights, account for about 1% of passenger traffic.
Aeroflot remains the undisputed leader of the Russian aviation business. Aeroflot Russian International Airlines is the national flag carrier of Russia. The company, as a rule, has more than twice as many clients than the second number - the production association "Domodedovo Airlines"
Recently, Russian airlines have begun to create aviation alliances. For example, in February 1998, two leading Russian airlines - Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines and Pulkovo - signed an agreement on a strategic aviation alliance. In the same year, Aeroflot signed cooperation agreements with Uzbekiston Havo Yullari and Armenian Airlines
At the end of 1997, the Russian airline Transaero and the Uzbek national carrier Uzbekiston Havo Iullari announced the consolidation and coordination of their activities in the air transportation market. The new aviation association was named "CIS-Alliance". Transaero also has code-sharing agreements with the Czech company CSA on the Moscow-Karlovy Vary line and with the Latvian Air Baltic on the Moscow-Riga line. In February 1999, Transaero and Krasnoyarsk Airlines signed an agreement on the joint operation of the routes Moscow - Krasnoyarsk, Moscow - Norilsk and Moscow - Krasnoyarsk - Vladivostok
