CHAPTER - I
INTRODUCTION
The tourism is a phenomenon not easy to define; however, several attempts have been
made to define it. Some of these are fairly comprehensive. All these definitions explain
tourism in the context of movement. It is precisely the significance of the word ‘tour’ which
forms the root of the word ‘tourism’. The International Dictionary of Tourism, published in
1953 by the international academy of Tourism at Monte Carlo, points out that tour in English
and in French means a journey, a circulative trip. Today tourism is the largest booming
industry in the world. Tourism has become not only a major for in world trade but also a vital
factor in a country’s economic, cultural and social development of statistical concepts and
frame works for tourism have not kept pace with changing environment. Tourism has a great
potential for growth of such new sector and off these the foremost sector under tourism sector
is travel agencies business.
The Travel agency has the main sectors includes,
1. Marketing and sales
2. Planning and research
3. Finance
4. Accounts
5. Destination
6. Services
7. Publicity
8. Public relation
Those entire departments must be filled with well efficient personnel. This project was
carried out with the objective of a travel agency and the service of TRAPY TOUR&
TRAVELS, PONDICHERRY.
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PROFILE OF PUDUCHERRY
Puducherry is a Union Territory of India. Puducherry is about 160 Kms south of
Chennai on the Coromandel Coast, has seen power exchange hands, between the Pallavas,
Cholas and finally, the French, who ruled the territory for 300 years. Puducherry is charming
little town filled with history, spiritually, French heritages, beautiful beaches, calm and well-
planned white town streets cope handicrafts and unique life style. Puducherry is divided into
quiet and tranquil quite town and active Indian town. The city is richly cosmopolitans too; a
staggering 55 languages are spoken. It was tempered by south Indian warmth; Puducherry is
one of Indians most relaxing destinations.
The entire town of Puducherry is divided into two sections: the French quarter and the
Indian quarter. The whole town is however, planned on the French grid pattern. In the
French quarter, the buildings are typically colonial in style with the large compounds and
stately walls. Later this fishing village turned out as one of the major ports of trade during
Greco Roman period.
TRAVEL AGENCIES IN PUDUCHERRY
With the continuous inflow of tourist and visitors in Puducherry areas has flourished
like never before. A number of tour operators are walking tirelessly to keep up suitable tour
packages for the tourists according to their preference organize sight-seeing in and around
Puducherry book hotels, other things required to gift you hassle free vacation.
Some of the leading travel agents and tour operators from Puducherry are: -
1. Amsham Travels
2. Thomas cooks
3. SOTC [Kuoni]
4. AGS Travels
5. Bussy Forex & Travels
6. Atlanta tours and Travels
7. Balaji Travels
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8. Bonjour Bonheur Forex Spot
9. Chetak Travels
10. Shree Saara Tourism
11. Travel Mate
12. Shameem Cabs
13. Souvenir Cabs
14. Universal Travels
15. Namaste tours private Ltd.
16. Indian Horizons
17. India tours online
18. Window to the World
FUNCTIONS OF A TRAVEL AGENCY
Travel agencies have become an integral part of the worldwide travel, tourism, and
transportation industry. Nowadays, travel has become both increasingly important and
complex in its variety of modes and choices. Travelers are faced with a myriad of alternatives
as to transportation, accommodation and other travel services. They must depend on travel
agencies and others in the industry to guide them honestly and competently.
The functions of travel agency are as follows:
Provision of travel information
Preparation of itineraries
Liaison with provider with services
Planning and costing of tour
Ticketing
Insurance
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Provision for foreign currencies
PROVISION OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
The major function of travel agency is providing necessary information about travel.
This information is provided at a convenient location where the intending tourist may ask
certain questions and seek clarification about his travel. This is a very specialized job and the
agent should have an excellent knowledge of various travel alternative plans. He should give
up-to-date and accurate information regarding various services and general information about
a travel. He should communicate with the travelers in his own language. It is essential pre-
requisite that a travel agent should have the knowledge of foreign languages.
To provide such information, employees in a travel agency must have full knowledge of;
world geography
climatic conditions
political disasters
special events
food and drink of each country
custom and religion and culture of each country
local site seeing
major attractions of each country segment
health and other hazards
exchange rates in different countries
PREPARATION OF ITINERARY
Preparation of different types of itineraries is another important function of travel
agency. Tour Itinerary is a composition of a series of operation that are a result of study of
market. The tour programme should be prepared more meticulously so as to cover maximum
number of places within the stipulated time. A travel agent gives suggestions to intending
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travelers on the type of programmes, which they may choose for their holiday or business
travel.
LIAISON WITH PROVIDER OF SERVICES
The travel agent has to enter into contact with the providers of various services. These
includes transportation, companies, hotels, the provider of surface transport like motor car or
coaches for transfer to and from hotels and for sight-seeing etc. and also for general service
requirements.
PLANNING AND COSTING TOUR
It is interesting and at the same time challenging. This come only other contacts and
arrangements are made. The job calls for a great deal of initiative and drive. Here comes the
task of planning and costing tour both for inclusive programme and to meet individual
requirements. Separate programmes dealing with holiday offers based on the specific forms
of transportation. Air, Rail, Road or Ship may also be prepared. It is an important part of the
programme. The travel agency should take the responsibility of giving wide publicity about
the tourist potentiality of the region through magazine and newspaper advertisement should
be made. These publicity activities have a great impact on tourism. The travel agency must
have their own publicity department under the management of an expert in the publicity field.
TICKETING
Another important function of the travel agency is selling tickets to clients using
different modes of transport like air, rail and sea. They should know the schedule of various
modes of transport. The travel agency should be conversant with the time schedule of
airways, railways and steam ships. All air and rail tickets as well as hotel rooms should be
reserved before offer. Reservations should also be confirmed. Linked with the function of
ticketing and reservation of accommodation in a hotel is the settlement of the accounts of the
clients.
PROVISION FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY
Dealing with the settlement of accounts in all parts of the world needs a through
knowledge of foreign currencies; they’re cross value and above all the intricacies of exchange
control regulations, which vary from country to country. It is one of the specialized activities
of a travel agency. It also deals in the provision of foreign currency; travelers check etc. it
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saves a lot of time and energy in avoiding visit to regular banking channel.
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INSURANCE
Insurance both for personal accident risk and of baggage is another important activity
of travel agency. It should also assist the travelers in landing and taking it off places for
necessary arrangements for taking care of their luggage’s from their loss or damage.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
The main object of travel insurance is to protect travelers against monetary losses
resulting from a wide range of potential travel-related problems. Travel insurance is generally
sold through retail travel agencies. A client who purchases travel insurance receives a
contract, called a policy, issued by the insurance company. Various types of policies are
available, depending upon the client’s needs, the type of trip and the prices or premium. The
most common types of travel insurance are:
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of the present study are as follows:
1. To study about the funtion of travel agency in tourism.
2. To study about functions of TRAPY TOURS &
TRAVELS, PONDICHERRY.
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
In this present study both the primarydata and the secondary data have been used.
Primary data for the study has been collected from expert in the field of tourism, personal
experience, practical knowledge and interaction with staff members. The secondary data have
been collected from books, journals, reports, newsletters, websites, brochures, folders, pamphlets, and
unpublished records.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study covers the various functions and procedures performed in the various
department of TRAPY TOURS & TRAVEL, PONDICHERRY. namely the international
department, domestic department of outbound and inbound tours, Forex, and the travel
documentation department.
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CHAPTERISATION
The present study has been structured into five chapters. First chapter deals with
introduction. It includes general introduction, objectives of the study, scope of the study,
methodology and chapterisation. Second chapter deals with function of travel agency. Third
chapter deals with profile of TRAPY TOUR AND TRAVEL PONDICHERRY. Fourth
chapter contain on the job training. Fifth chapter contains major finding, conclusion and
suggestions.