Ancillary service

BY- S M MUJAHIDUL ALAM
DEPUTY MANAGER
BANGLADESH PARJATAN CORPORATION
FORMER HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT
TRAVEL AND TOURISM, NHTTI

1. ANCILLARY TOURISM SERVICE NCC-TGTA/DTM

2. Ancillary Tourism Services Ancillary services mean additional services. Having attempted to compartmentalize travel services by sector, the industry is left with a number of services and facilities not classified which we include as ancillary tourism services. They can take the form of either service to the tourist or services to the supplier of tourism, although there may be considerable overlap between these categories.  

3. Ancillary services in travel and tourism : Ancillary services in travel and tourism are services that are provided which make the entire travel experience very comfortable, safe, secure and enjoyable. Ancillary services of tourism are the 'Extras' of a holiday, such as; -Travel Insurance -Park/Event Tickets -Car Hire -Car insurance -Airport Parking -Money; Foreign Exchange -Luggage -Tour Guide -Chauffeur Service

4. EXAMPLE: ANCILLARY TOURISM SERVICE Travel Insurance which provides insurance for loss of baggage, passport, or any valuables, Medical expenses while in a trip. Services like airport parking, Tickets for any kind of park/museums etc, Chauffeur service, Specialized services at major airports provided by major airline companies, Foreign exchange, International SIM card services etc. These services make an entire travel experience complete .

5. Financial Services Insurance is an important and in some cases obligatory aspect of a tourist’s travel arrangements. Insurance can cover for one or more of the following: Medical care and hospitalisation Personal accident Cancellation or curtailment of holiday. Delayed departure Luggage loss or delay. Money loss Loss of personal belongings Personal liability.

6. Financial Services Traveller can purchase a policy for one or more of the items or can buy “packages” policy travel that include some or most of these items. Rates usually vary depending on the cover that items and number of travelling day.   Most overseas travel companies encourage their clients to buy insurance (through them and independently). Some travel companies by law in some countries have to advise the client of the importance of insurance coverage. Travel companies such as travel agencies make money by selling insurance by way of a commission from the insurance company. Travellers can buy policies at the airport before departure or on arrival when available.

7. Foreign Transaction Travellers today have an ever-widening choice of the way in which they can pay for services and goods while abroad (if allowed by law):   a) Taking foreign bank-notes with them. b) Taking travellers cheques . c) Arranging for the advance transfer of funds to a specified foreign bank. d) Using credit cards or charge cards (VISA, American Express) e) Cash, of course.  

8. Duty- Free Shopping The purchase of duty free goods at airports, on-board ships and aircrafts or at specially designed duty free ports or borders have always exerted a strong attraction for tourists.   There are particular allowances and regulations regarding duty free shopping for each country. The sale of duty-free goods at airports provides a substantial proportion of airport’s operating revenue.    

9. Publications There is a very large selection of publications (daily, weekly and monthly) serving the needs of the traveller in many different ways and many different languages.   Information is valuable for traveller and in the majority of cases they are willing to pay for it. Publications in the travel business means big business worldwide. Publication’s traditional and most popular means are:   * Maps * Magazines * Newspaper * Guides

10. Education and Training The approach to training in the travel industry has been historically by sector. Each sector tends to generate its own training courses (public or private institute.) i.e. specific courses to train travel guides and travel counsellors to work for travel agencies or tour operations.   Most employees of travel services often are being trained on the job by observation and experience only. Some companies are providing note-worthy service training programs in China i.e. ITT/Sheraton Hotels, Shangri La Group of Hotels, Hyatt International Hotels. A greater emphasis now has been placed upon professionalism, the introduction of national standards of training and more formal training programs.   Professional bodies such as International Labour Office are providing for example technical assistance to the China Tourism Management Institute in Tianjin are designing programs in China on that direction.   Some courses can be validated within the industry and monitor the quality of trained personnel. Of course, standards, quality and length of the course vary substantially from one region or country to another.

11. Ancillary Services to the Tourists   Financial Services: Insurance Foreign Transactions Foreign Exchange Duty-free Shopping Airport Services The press/publications/Guides Information Systems International Communications Professional Services

12. Ancillary Services to the Supplier Education and Training The Trade Press Marketing Services Information Systems Management