How to open a travel agency?
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2024 6:19 am
Is it the right time to open a travel agency? We have gathered all the information and tips you need to get started and make your dream travel and tourism business come true!
Despite more and more people planning their own trips, travel and tourism is a constantly growing industry.
This means that travelers need to find reliable and experienced gambling data usa agencies that can provide them with the best possible service, making them the most favorable option when organizing a trip.
Setting up a travel and tourism agency can represent a unique business opportunity, although it requires specific care, which should not be neglected in your planning.
See how to open a successful travel and tourism agency in Portugal
1 - Create a complete Business Plan
Opening a travel agency requires a lot of planning and organization, taking into account all the necessary factors to take into account when opening.
Therefore, it is crucial that you start, from the very beginning, to put your idea on paper, through a complete business plan .
This business plan must include information related to the various areas of a company, as well as the market, including:
- What the business consists of;
- Company mission and values;
- Who is the target audience?
- Market analysis and competitor analysis (you can use SWOT , PESTEL and golden triangle positioning analysis to help you, for example);
- Financial plan (based on cost analysis, financial projections, forecast of necessary investment, possible needs and sources of financing, among other factors);
- Communication and marketing plan (which marketing strategies and communication channels to use, business marketing mix).
2- Do you already know what type of travel agency you want to create? Start by defining what services you want to offer.
Travel and tourism agencies have a distinct and specialized role, as they can offer support in a range of specific activities, including:
- Organization and/or sale of tourist trips;
- Offering personalized travel packages, such as corporate travel, sustainable travel, bachelor parties, honeymoons and others;
-Reservation of accommodation services;
-Reserving seats on transport;
-Representation of other agencies (national or foreign);
- Planning activities and excursions;
- Intermediation in the sale of the respective products and services related to the reception, transfer and assistance to travelers and tourists;
- Among others.
As you can see, there are a multitude of services related to travel and tourism that a travel agency can provide. Therefore, it is crucial to identify which service or services you want to focus on.
Considering the defined target audience, you can even specialize in a travel branch, according to potential clients, such as an agency specialized in student travel, corporate travel, family travel, rural tourism, among others.
3 - Analyze the legislation you must comply with and the licenses you must acquire
As this is an activity in the tourism sector, before opening a company you must ensure that you have all the knowledge and that you comply with the legislation in force in Portugal, according to Turismo de Portugal .
In this case, it is important to be aware of some Decrees:
– Decree-Law No. 61/2011, of 06.05 : regulates access to and exercise of the activity of travel and tourism agencies;
– Decree-Law No. 199/2012, of 24 August : establishes the regime for access to and exercise of the activity of travel and tourism agencies and adapts the regime with Decree-Law No. 92/2010 of 26 July.
Portugal Tourism License
Additionally, you must acquire the necessary licenses, and only companies with a travel and tourism agency license issued by Turismo de Portugal, IP may operate. The licensing fee has an associated cost of 12,469.95 euros.
If you plan to operate in the organization of tourist trips, sell tourist packages, provide services for obtaining visas, booking accommodation or transfers, you can register online in the " National Register of Travel and Tourism Agents " (RNAVT).
In addition to the requirements involved in creating the company and eventually registering a trademark, the remaining steps to be taken are relatively simple, although you will need to invest some money and some documents:
Commercial registration certificate or access code to the respective permanent certificate;
Name adopted for the travel and tourism agency and brands that you intend to use, accompanied by a simple copy of the brand registration;
Simple copy of the compulsory civil liability insurance policy, and proof of payment of the respective premium or initial installment (€75,000 insured capital);
Simple copy of the document proving subscription to the Travel and Tourism Guarantee Fund, or the provision of an equivalent guarantee in another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, in the amount of 2,500 euros;
Proof of payment of the initial fee of 750 euros.
Once this registration is completed, with the respective proof of payment, you will be able to carry out the activity immediately.
Despite more and more people planning their own trips, travel and tourism is a constantly growing industry.
This means that travelers need to find reliable and experienced gambling data usa agencies that can provide them with the best possible service, making them the most favorable option when organizing a trip.
Setting up a travel and tourism agency can represent a unique business opportunity, although it requires specific care, which should not be neglected in your planning.
See how to open a successful travel and tourism agency in Portugal
1 - Create a complete Business Plan
Opening a travel agency requires a lot of planning and organization, taking into account all the necessary factors to take into account when opening.
Therefore, it is crucial that you start, from the very beginning, to put your idea on paper, through a complete business plan .
This business plan must include information related to the various areas of a company, as well as the market, including:
- What the business consists of;
- Company mission and values;
- Who is the target audience?
- Market analysis and competitor analysis (you can use SWOT , PESTEL and golden triangle positioning analysis to help you, for example);
- Financial plan (based on cost analysis, financial projections, forecast of necessary investment, possible needs and sources of financing, among other factors);
- Communication and marketing plan (which marketing strategies and communication channels to use, business marketing mix).
2- Do you already know what type of travel agency you want to create? Start by defining what services you want to offer.
Travel and tourism agencies have a distinct and specialized role, as they can offer support in a range of specific activities, including:
- Organization and/or sale of tourist trips;
- Offering personalized travel packages, such as corporate travel, sustainable travel, bachelor parties, honeymoons and others;
-Reservation of accommodation services;
-Reserving seats on transport;
-Representation of other agencies (national or foreign);
- Planning activities and excursions;
- Intermediation in the sale of the respective products and services related to the reception, transfer and assistance to travelers and tourists;
- Among others.
As you can see, there are a multitude of services related to travel and tourism that a travel agency can provide. Therefore, it is crucial to identify which service or services you want to focus on.
Considering the defined target audience, you can even specialize in a travel branch, according to potential clients, such as an agency specialized in student travel, corporate travel, family travel, rural tourism, among others.
3 - Analyze the legislation you must comply with and the licenses you must acquire
As this is an activity in the tourism sector, before opening a company you must ensure that you have all the knowledge and that you comply with the legislation in force in Portugal, according to Turismo de Portugal .
In this case, it is important to be aware of some Decrees:
– Decree-Law No. 61/2011, of 06.05 : regulates access to and exercise of the activity of travel and tourism agencies;
– Decree-Law No. 199/2012, of 24 August : establishes the regime for access to and exercise of the activity of travel and tourism agencies and adapts the regime with Decree-Law No. 92/2010 of 26 July.
Portugal Tourism License
Additionally, you must acquire the necessary licenses, and only companies with a travel and tourism agency license issued by Turismo de Portugal, IP may operate. The licensing fee has an associated cost of 12,469.95 euros.
If you plan to operate in the organization of tourist trips, sell tourist packages, provide services for obtaining visas, booking accommodation or transfers, you can register online in the " National Register of Travel and Tourism Agents " (RNAVT).
In addition to the requirements involved in creating the company and eventually registering a trademark, the remaining steps to be taken are relatively simple, although you will need to invest some money and some documents:
Commercial registration certificate or access code to the respective permanent certificate;
Name adopted for the travel and tourism agency and brands that you intend to use, accompanied by a simple copy of the brand registration;
Simple copy of the compulsory civil liability insurance policy, and proof of payment of the respective premium or initial installment (€75,000 insured capital);
Simple copy of the document proving subscription to the Travel and Tourism Guarantee Fund, or the provision of an equivalent guarantee in another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, in the amount of 2,500 euros;
Proof of payment of the initial fee of 750 euros.
Once this registration is completed, with the respective proof of payment, you will be able to carry out the activity immediately.