What is "Incoming Services"

Incoming Services - The Company's Main Target

Most travel agents are 'outbound' - that is, they send their customers out of the country on holidays abroad. An 'inbound' or 'incoming' agent, on the other hand, welcomes customers from abroad, providing them with services in the country where he is based. Traditionally, incoming agents have worked in the background, providing services to 'outbound' agents on a purely wholesale basis. When your local High street travel agent sells you a package in the Maldives or Bermudas, he is usually relying on an incoming agent over there on the islands. The outbound agent arranges flights and payment; the incoming agent provides accommodation, any kind of activities and transfers on site.

As far as long-haul destinations are concerned, this schema still works although it's beginning to crack. But the arrival of low-cost short-haul airlines means that the old order has imploded: the customers can now find, book and pay for their own flight. They can now organize their holidays without the outbound agent ... even to the point of hiring cars, booking hotels and arranging activities abroad. Does this mean that the incoming agent is as obsolete as the outgoing one? Probably not so and for a number of reasons: firstly the incoming agent lives and works in the country, therefore he knows more about what to see, what hotels to avoid, which ski or golf resorts are good etc. Secondly, he has built up a relationship with his suppliers (car hire, transfers, hotels, activities) which means getting a better price than you would get. The result is that he can create and market packages as cheap as (or cheaper) than you could ... sparing you the time and guaranteeing you quality accommodation and service.

incento travel experience as a 'liaison agency' may not sell airline tickets but may book, sell or organize any tourism-related product once the customer is in Switzerland.

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