Rhodes travel agents under pressure

RHODES. Major tour operators have begun to pressure this popular Dodecanese destination`s travel agents to lower their prices along with hotel rates, the head of the island`s travel agents association attests.

Tsambikos Moschatos, who is also deputy chairman of the Panhellenic Federation of Tourist Enterprises (POET<.>), told TravelDailyNews that continual efforts by foreign tour operators to reduce their costs are now being directed towards island travel agencies. Monopolistic tendencies and buyouts are troubling the local agents and tour package wholesalers, whose commission is falling and sales conditions are becoming ever stricter, he said.

The travel agents association is calling on its members to make certain sacrifices in order to secure their future business. For instance, proposals have been put forward for the establishment of a large transport company that could provide coach transfers of the majority of tourists and clients of foreign tour operators. The association has already created the firm Aegean Maritime, which offers trips to Turkey and surrounding islands.

Additionally, the travel agents are facing problems, particularly in their long-term planning, which could be easily solved – such as summertime operating hours of archaeological sites. Tours must be organised ahead of the summer period so that they can be promoted among tour operators abroad.

Moschatos said such difficulties exacerbate the tough competition which local agents already face.

Theodore Koumelis

Co-Founder & Managing Director - Travel Media Applications | Website | + Posts

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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