SPTOUR 2101: TRAVEL AND TOUR MANAGEMENT
MODULE 2: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF TRAVEL AND TOURS
Historical Background of Travel Agency and Tour Operation
The travel agency industry is a wide-range business in the world that has developed significantly over the
years. It is very fascinating to learn how travel agencies have evolved over the years-with the very first
modem travel agency appearing in the 19th century. People must not forget that the travel agency industry
keeps moving forward and is starting to embrace modern business by using technology in every
transaction (Feldman, 2015)
Modern tour operators are organizations, companies, or private entities that cater to travelers by
organizing group tours and independent travel packages. They started way back in the mid-19th century,
and most likely in the past, they were the ticket agents for steamship lines and railroads. Aside from selling
these products, the agents were also tasked to develop or create itineraries and do reservations for
accommodations of their well-to-do clients.
With the developments in the travel agency industry, a more organized business of selling package tours
to groups of travelers started to grow. It was in the 1930s that tour wholesaling continued to grow.
However, the growth in the industry did not last long Due to lack of transportation, travel became costly,
hindering development in the industry. It was not until the post-World War II period, beginning with the
late 1940s and early 1950s, did the turning point for the tour operator industry come. Most people in the
middle class were encouraged to travel with the introduction of modern long-range commercial aircraft
and the development of the interstate highway system, which made traveling more comfortable and
convenient.
COX AND KINGS, TO BE KNOWN AS THE FIRST TRAVEL AGENCY IN THE WORLD
Cox and Kings is the oldest established travel company in the world. It started in the 18th century on May
25, 1758. Richard Cox was appointed the regimental agent to the Foot Guards by his mentor, Lord Ligonier,
the commander-in-chief of His Majesty's Armed Forces. Because of Cox's interest and dedication to his
work, Cox and Co. became a reputable business and grew to be a major agent of British regiments.
In 1923, Cox and Co. was sold to Lloyds Bank and became Cox and Kings, a shipping company that operates
and organizes travels and tours for their passengers.
In 1970, Cox and Kings Agency became popular and contributed to the growth of the tourism industry in
India. It specialized in cultural and wildlife tours throughout the country. In the 1980s, the company
developed the same concept of travels and tours that catered to Latin America, the Middle East, Africa,
and far eastern Europe.
During this modern age of travels and tours, Cox and Kings is continuously becoming more and more
popular and developing more modernized travel and tour packages that cater to the different parts of the
world.
THOMAS COOK AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO TOUR AND TRAVEL MANAGEMENT
Thomas Cook established the first travel agency in the world in England in the year 1845.
Module 2: Historical Perspective of Travels and Tours 1|Page
Prepared by: Ms. Grace G. Cortes
SPTOUR 2101: TRAVEL AND TOUR MANAGEMENT
In 1841, the history of travel trade began when Cook organized a trip by train for 570 members of his
association to the distance of 22 miles. What he did to organize such a trip was to buy railway tickets in
bulk and sell them to people. especially those who are interested in traveling.
In 1845, he made up his mind to set up a travel business that was known as the "World's First Travel
Agency" to organize excursions. Due to this pioneering approach, Cook became known as the father of the
travel agency business. He also started to organize railway and steamship excursions throughout England
Scotland, and Europe
In 1855, Cook started to create package tours and offer them to the public. He conducted the world's
first international tour from England to Paris (Tourism Notes, 2018).
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MODERN TRAVEL AGENCY
In 1845, Cook organized the first mass tour across England. The trip is not just traditional travel; he
incorporated special activities and entertainment during the tour. The railway journey was from Leicester
to Nottingham, Derby, and Liverpool, and he made some profits from this trip. It was this year also that
marked the beginning of the establishment of the first modern travel agency in the world.
In 1851, Cook's travel business further progressed when Sir Joseph Paxton, architect of the Crystal Palace,
convinced him to organize package tours, bringing workers from Yorkshire and the Midlands to London for
the Great Exhibition. Cook did not hesitate and took the opportunity, leading to another success in his
travel business.
TRAVEL INNOVATIONS
As Cook's travel business became more and more successful, more developments in the services were
being introduced to the travelers, one of which was hotel coupons, first introduced in 1868 to help
customers enjoy hassle-free check-in procedures in hotels. The hotel coupon can be used for room
reservations, purchase of hotel food, and availing of the services of the hotel for transport and
entertainment. The hotel benefited from this coupon by receiving bulk numbers of advanced bookings. In
return, Cook received commissions from hotels as both maintained accounts of their periodic transactions.
PACKAGE TOURS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
During the mid-19th century, middle-class people started to experience increased income and
consumption. Cook took the advantage of this impact to further develop the travel industry. He thought
of developing a customized packaged tour designed to suit the needs of this market. To make this package
tour more affordable to the new market, Cook negotiated with hoteliers to provide rooms and meals at
good prices. Those middle-class customers demanded visiting destinations in Switzerland and Italy.
GREAT JOURNEY
In 1869, Cook and his company succeeded in traveling across the Atlantic Ocean by steamship to discover
new points of interest for his travel business. The trip was made possible by traveling to Egypt via China,
following the opening of the Suez Canal and the completion of a rail network linking the east and west
coasts of America.
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Prepared by: Ms. Grace G. Cortes
SPTOUR 2101: TRAVEL AND TOUR MANAGEMENT
In the same year, he conducted his first party trip up the river Nile with the help of two steamers. At the
age of 63, he planned for a Round-the-World Tour from Leicester in 1872. He and his companions traveled
from New York to San Francisco by rail. They cruised to Japan then to China across the Inland Sea. He
visited Singapore, Ceylon, and India. While leaving Mumbai (then Bombay), they crossed the Indian Ocean
and the Red Sea to Cairo. He traveled back to London from Cairo, Egypt.
After the trip, Cook decided to extend his tour by himself and travel to Egypt and Palestine. Finally, he
returned home after traveling through Turkey, Greece, Italy, and France. It was a 222-day world tour. For
Cook, his personal achievement was not just a world tour but also his learnings for his travel business.
Traveling to different parts of the world brought him first-hand information about places of interest,
cultures of the countries, ways of living of the different nationalities in the world, knowledge of up-to-date
facilities and amenities of travel components, etc.
References:
Herrera, M., Ocampo, F., & Tugade, L. 2021. TOUR AND TRAVEL
MANAGEMENT. REX EDUCATION
Historical Background of Travel Agency and Tour Operation P.12
Cox and Kings P.13
Thomas Cook and His Contribution P.14
Establishment of the Modern Travel Agency P.15
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Prepared by: Ms. Grace G. Cortes
