TRAVEL AGENCY MANAGEMENT

TOİ160

Course Code: TOİ160
Semester: -
Theory+Practice: 3 + 0
ECTS: 4

Course Type

Elective Course

Course Level

Associate Degree

Year of Study

Semester

ECTS

Name of Lecturer(s)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

Explains the basic concepts, establishment processes, legal frameworks (e.g., TURSAB legislation), and distribution channel roles of travel agencies and tour operators in the tourism industry.
Manages the planning, routing, costing, pricing, and marketing processes of package tour operations in accordance with international standards.
Effectively uses Global Distribution Systems (GDS - Amadeus, Galileo, etc.) and Online Travel Agencies (OTA) platforms for ticketing and reservation processes in travel agency operations.
Designs alternative tourism products (culture, nature, gastronomy, etc.) by analyzing the travel expectations of different guest profiles and resolves guest complaints through empathy-focused proactive communication.
Integrates sustainable tourism practices, green tour standards, and changing digital trends (AI-supported travel consultancy) into business processes within the framework of professional ethics in travel agency operations.

Mode of Delivery

Face to face

Prerequisites

Recommended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Description

This course addresses the structural operations of travel agencies and tour operators, tour packaging dynamics, risk management, and coordination processes with transportation companies. The coordination of services and planning techniques are evaluated within a scientific framework. Aligned with the course learning outcomes, students gain the competency to use domain-specific automation systems in ticketing and reservation processes and to conduct agency activities in compliance with national and international legal regulations within the framework of ethical principles.

Course Contents

WEEK	TOPICS
1^st Week	Introduction to Travel Agencies, Tour Operations, and Distribution Systems
2^nd Week	Establishment of Travel Agencies, Legal Framework (TURSAB), and Certification
3^rd Week	Package Tour Concept: Types, Development, and Route Planning
4^th Week	Cost Calculation, Break-Even Analysis, and Pricing in Package Tours
5^th Week	Tour Operation Management: Pre-Tour Preparation, Execution, and Post-Tour
6^th Week	Transportation Services and Introduction to Global Distribution Systems (GDS)
7^th Week	Ticketing Processes, IATA Rules, and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
8^th Week	Midterm Exam
9^th Week	Relations with Suppliers (Hotel, Transport, Guide) and Contract Management
10^th Week	Marketing, Sales Development, and Promotion Strategies in Travel Agencies
11^th Week	Special Interest Tourism (MICE, Gastronomy, Ecotourism) Product Design
12^th Week	CRM, Complaint Management, and Consumer Rights Legislation
13^th Week	Sustainability in Travel Agencies, Green Tours, and UN SDGs
14^th Week	The Future of the Travel Industry: AI, Virtual Reality, and Emerging Trends

Recommended or Required Reading

1. Hacıoğlu, N. (2021). Seyahat acentacılığı ve tur operatörlüğü (11. Baskı). Detay Yayıncılık.
2. Kozak, N. (2022). Seyahat acentacılığı ve tur operatörlüğü yönetimi (7. Baskı). Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
3. Yılmaz, İ., & Öztürk, M. (2023). Çevrimiçi seyahat acentelerinin (OTA) dijital pazarlama stratejilerinin tüketici satın alma davranışlarına etkisi. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, 10(2), 85-102.
4. Mancini, M. (2020). Access: Introduction to travel and tourism (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning.
5. Syratt, G., & Archer, J. (2021). Manual of travel agency practice (4th ed.). Routledge.
6. Buhalis, D., & Moldavska, I. (2022). Artificial intelligence in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. Journal of Travel Research, 61(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211051759

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture
Project
Presentation

Assessment Methods and Criteria

	Quantity	Percentage (%)
Mid-term	1	30
Assignment	1	20
Total(%)		50
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)		50
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)		50
Total(%)		100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam	1	1	1
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work	14	3	42
Preparation for Final exam	1	17	17
Course hours	14	3	42
Preparation for Midterm exam	1	17	17
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam	1	1	1
Homework
Total Work Load			120
Total Work Load / 30 (h)			4
ECTS Credit of the Course			4

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Work Placement(s)

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

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