Search from various English teachers...
Nour Zahran
What is the difference between tour operators and travel agents and holidaymakers?
Jul 24, 2015 11:42 AM
Answers · 6
2
We don't use 'holidaymaker' much in the UK either - we would often say tourist too.
July 24, 2015
1
Travel agents help plan the trips for you, as in booking flights, hotel, tours, etc. Tour operators are the people who show you around the city or wherever you are visiting on that trip. We don't use the word Holidaymaker in the US, but in the UK it is someone who is on vacation. In the US we'd say traveler or tourist.
July 24, 2015
1
It's clear from the set of words that you have here that you've learnt this vocabulary from a British source, so I'll give you the GB English definitions:
Holidaymakers are people who are on holiday : tourists or visitors to a region.
A tour operator is a holiday company. A tour operator negotiates contracts with suppliers - airlines, hotel chains and so on - and creates package holidays for tourists.
A travel agent, in the past, was the tourist's usual means of booking a holiday. Travel agents used to have outlets on high streets - shops with pictures of holiday destinations in the window, and colourful brochures for people to take home. In the past, travel agents would often contact the tour operators to book the flights and hotels on behalf of the holidaymakers.
Many years ago, I worked for a tour operator in London, and this was how it used to work - the tourist/holidaymaker made the arrangement with the travel agent, the travel agent made the arrangement with the tour operator, and the tour operator purchased the flight seats from the airline.
Nowadays, this doesn't tend to happen. There are fewer and fewer travel agents around, and most members of the public book directly online with the tour operator or airline.
July 24, 2015
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Nour Zahran
Language Skills
Arabic, English, Spanish, Turkish
Learning Language
English, Turkish
Articles You May Also Like

How to Ask for a Raise or Promotion in English
9 likes · 8 Comments

The Key to Learning a Language Faster
31 likes · 8 Comments

Why "General English" is Failing Your Career (An Engineer’s Perspective)
30 likes · 12 Comments
More articles
