Leave tour operating to the experts, agents are told
Cosmos managing director Terry Williamson has warned agents against the perils of dynamic packaging and predicted they are unlikely to make any money from doubling as tour operators.
He told retailers there are significant risks with packaging up their own product and a raft of legislation they need to know.
Speaking to agents at the Midconsort domestic conference in Coventry, Williamson told retailers to leave tour operating to the experts.
“Tour operators know what the risks are – and it’s not just about ATOL and bonding,” he said. “There are the package travel regulations, health and safety issues and public liability. To sell packages you must have public liability insurance which is difficult and expensive to obtain.
“Do you know what you are selling? Is the property safe? Do you know how many lifeguards you need to have at a swimming pool in Spain? That’s the sort of knowledge you need to have.”
“Operators have wealth of knowledge because we have been doing it for years.”
Meanwhile, Williamson said Cosmos is likely to expand its own dynamic packaging system in the new year. It currently features only Avro and Monarch flying but will add low cost carriers early in 2006.
Report by Steve Jones
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