Start Your Own Specialty Travel & Tour Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Rob Adams (Author), Terry Adams (Author) "Once upon a time, travel was only for the wealthy and the adventurous..." (more)
Key Phrases: Smart Tip, New York, Bright Idea (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

If you're looking for a business loaded with adventure, you've found it. Imagine exploring the pristine wilderness of Alaska, paddling down the Amazon River, or scuba diving Australia's Great Barrier Reef-and getting paid for it! That's the kind off excitement that awaits you in the specialty travel industry. Unlike traditional travel agencies, you'll focus on specialty tour packages that offer travelers truly unique experiences ranging from white-water rafting to wildlife safaris to tours of gourmet restaurants. The key to success in this business is finding your niche and creating unusual tour packages that will intrigue and excite. This step-by-step guide tells you everything you need to know, including:

Start-up costs and how to find financing

Tips for making your tours different and better than the competition

How to find top-notch guides

Surefire techniques for marketing your services

Valuable advice and suggestions form successful specialty travel professionals

You also get useful sample forms, a glossary, additional resources, plus step-by-step instructions, checklists and work sheets to guide you through each step of the start-up process and help you get started making your dream of owning your own business come true.

About the Author
McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Entrepreneur Press (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189198473X
• ISBN-13: 978-1891984730
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,839 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Information, but Boring, October 13, 2004

By	Susan Meyers "Mom of Sam" (California) - See all my reviews

Not a bad book, but covers this glamorous and supposedly fun business in a boring tone. I recommend this book for some overall guidance, but highly recommend a companion book to fill in the gaps.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unrealistic for anyone with less than $1 Million Start Up , July 19, 2006

By	travel baron "Pacific Travels" (Oregon) - See all my reviews

Not for the entrepreneur or small business owner. What this book tries to do is make it seem possible to start up a tour business without much capital. It glosses over crucial parts in starting a business, especially financing. Misleading and not up to par with what you would expect from a Small Business magazine.

4.0 out of 5 stars Help for persons wanting to start a travel/tour business, November 25, 2008

By	C. S. Walsh "Irish Gypsy" (Portland,ME) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a very good place to begin researching this field. The author(s)don't cover it "all", however, its an excellent overview of the independent travel agent option as well as the independent tour operator choice. Once you've completed this informative book you should know if you are suited for these types of travel career, which route is the better personal fit and would meet your work needs, and what aspects of travel agent/tour operator you want to research in greater detail. Unlike the comments of at least one previous reviewer, I can assure you that it doesn't take "millions" to start either type of business. Start-up costs can be quite modest for someone who is willing to start small and grow. I know of a couple in my state who started a small adventure tour company marketed to families and after only 3 years are able to support their own family on the income. I was pleased with what I learned from this book and confident in my recommendation.