How to open a travel agency in Ukraine

The tourism business, including in Ukraine, is considered to be an area in which one can start an activity with relatively small funds. The task is also facilitated by the fact that under current Ukrainian laws it is not necessary to obtain a license for this type of activity. And although the competition in this area is high, there are chances of success with a reasonable approach.

You will need

• - office space (can be rented);

• - certificate of state registration of a company or business entity - individual (Ukrainian analogue of an individual entrepreneur);

• - agreements with tour operators;

• - Web site;

• - no less than 2-3 telephone lines.

Instruction manual

1

Choose a room for a future travel agency. Although a fair share of the tours are purchased without a visit to the travel agency - via the Internet or by phone - you should not discount those who wish to visit your office. For the needs of a small agency, one room is enough for two to four jobs. Presentable appearance and convenient location are important. It should be comfortable for the client to reach you both by public transport and by car. The issue of parking is also important. Other things being equal (and the prices for tours are about the same), the tourist will choose the company in whose office it is more convenient for him to get.

2

Pay particular attention to telephoning your office. The number of telephone lines should equal the number of employees in the office. Of great importance is the ability to keep the company phone numbers in case of relocation. The ideal option is landline numbers, mobile numbers cause less confidence in the client. So, direct city mobile numbers should be used only as a last resort: they are easy to recognize by a set of numbers.

3

Proceed with the registration of the company after resolving the issue with the office. With the option of a business entity - an individual - it is easier, since the latter is registered at the address of registration, the company also needs a legal address. The procedure for state registration of a company or entrepreneur is quite extensive and deserves separate consideration. The main thing - be sure to include travel agent among the codes of economic activity.

4

Recruit staff. Even if you have a family business in which family members are directly involved, at least one assistant will not be superfluous, especially with experience working in tourism. Due to the specifics of the business, sociability and stress tolerance are of particular importance: among the customers there are often capricious, choosy, and sometimes even frankly inadequate people.

5

Select the tour operators whose tours you will sell. To do this, study the reviews of tourists, and possibly travel agencies. Since you are going to sell someone else’s product, the quality of which you can’t influence, the reliability of its supplier is of paramount importance. After all, you will find yourself in front of a dissatisfied tourist, and regular customers should become the basis of your income over time. At first, do not count on large commissions of a tour operator - on average, this is 8-10% of the cost of the tour. But with good sales, its size can be significantly increased.

6

Create a travel agency website, better with the help of professionals. It should be comfortable, have an attractive design. The online ordering system for tours will not be superfluous, but if available, your managers must respond promptly to each order. When creating and promoting a site, it is best to seek the help of professionals who will ensure the smooth operation of this powerful sales tool. Quickly update information on the site as needed. Having outdated information will hurt your image. If possible, entrust this work to an individual. It is possible that a freelancer, but responsible and reliable.

7

Consider an advertising strategy. Advertising should accompany your activity from the very beginning. Post it regularly in popular media, on visited forums, use signboards, stands with information about tours, etc. to the maximum. When placing an office in a sleeping area (a bet on the step-by-step accessibility to a potential client’s home can bear fruit with an appropriate work schedule), leaflets distributed in surrounding crowded places and distributed through mailboxes can be effective. In the first days after the opening, various promotions that attract a client can be useful. For example, a substantial discount on visa assistance. Promptly inform potential customers about discounts and promotions announced by tour operators.