The travel industry in India has been growing rapidly in recent years, creating a prime opportunity for entrepreneurs to start their own travel agency business. In today's time and age, starting an OTA - Online Travel Agency is becoming a highly favorable and viable option. And with the ‘IRCTC Agent Scheme’ by the Indian Railways, opening a travel agency online is extremely easy.
The Indian Railways have come up with the ‘IRCTC Agent Scheme’, wherein anyone can become an IRCTC agent and earn up to Rs.80,000 in commissions simply by offering travel-related services. The scheme is open to all; from housewives to students and even working professionals who are looking for a part-time opportunity to earn extra income. Furthermore, you don’t even need any qualifications or certification to start your own travel business. All you need is to register for the IRCTC Agent license that will give you all the
So, if you are looking to venture into the online travel agency business that involves no loss and very little investment, then this is a great opportunity wherein you can set up your OTA within minutes after you become IRCTC agent.
Here are some tips on how to start a travel agency business in India and earn huge commissions with an IRCTC Agent license to help you get started.
Decide on the Type of Travel Business
The first step to starting a business is to decide on the type of business you want to start.
- A traditional travel agency typically operates from a physical location, while an online travel agency business operates online. Both types of businesses have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it's essential to do your research before making a decision.
- Traditional travel agencies have been in the market for decades, and they typically offer a personalized experience to their customers.
- On the other hand, OTAs such as Akbartravels.com, MakeMyTrip, Yatra.com, etc. have been growing in popularity due to their online booking facility, accessibility, convenience, and 24/7 availability.
- After you decide on your tour operator business type, you can further help your customers plan their dream vacations and create memorable experiences by specializing in specific niches or areas of expertise. By selecting a niche such as adventure travel or luxury travel, you can create a brand identity and attract customers who are interested in specific travel experiences.
Conduct Market Research
- The next important step in starting your career in travel industry, and before setting up a tour and travel business in India is to conduct market research. This will help you identify the demand for travel services and the competition in the market.
- You can conduct market research by analyzing existing travel businesses in India, studying industry reports, and conducting surveys among potential customers.
- Based on your research, you can identify gaps in the market and tailor your services to meet the needs of your target audience.
Determine the Startup Costs
Starting a travel agency business need not be expensive.
- The IRCTC authorised agent registration fee is Rs.2,699 approximately.
- When you start an OTA as an IRCTC travel agent, you can even conduct your travel business from home and save money on infrastructure and equipment.
- After completing your IRCTC Agent Registration online, you can work using your desktop, laptop, or mobile.
This way your travel agency startup costs won’t include having to invest in infrastructure (office space) or equipment and will reduce your expenses significantly. Working from home will also give you more flexibility and work-life balance.
Develop a Business Plan
One of the important travel agency requirements is to have a proper business plan. A well-written business plan includes your target market, financial projections, and growth strategy and can help you focus on running your travel business smoothly. Your business plan should be flexible and adaptable to changing market conditions.
Build an Online Presence
The online travel business in India is a fast-growing tourism model already and in today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any business.
On becoming an IRCTC agent with Akbartravelsonline.com, you are allotted a ‘One-Stop Travel Portal’ to facilitate all travel bookings.
You can provide Train Ticket Bookings and IRCTC Rail Packages along with Visa Services, book Flight Tickets and Tour Packages, make Hotel Reservations, issue Travel Insurance, do Money Transfers, Mobile Recharge, Bill Payments (Bharat Bill Pay), etc. Moreover, your business name and brand logo will also be visible on the portal next to all the bookings you make.
Networking
Akbar Travels is a principal agent of IRCTC and is authorized to issue IRCTC agent licenses and appoint travel agents across India. As soon as you become travel agent with Akbartravelsonline.com, you are associated with us and this association will help you get worldwide recognition that comes along with the Akbar brand. This recognition in turn will help you build a strong network with other tour and travel business professionals who can help you build relationships and learn from experts in the field.
You can even attend trade shows, conferences, and networking events as an IRCTC agent to stay up-to-date on industry trends and regulations and meet other travel agents and industry professionals.
FAQs:
Q.How to become a travel agent?Ans - To become a travel agent with an IRCTC license, you can easily visit Akbartravelsonline.com and apply to become an IRCTC agent. After your registration, you will gain access to our portal with which you can provide all the travel-related services along with several complimentary services.
Q.How to start online travel agency business?Ans - Starting an online travel agency business is very easy. All you need is your IRCTC agent license and a computer, laptop, or mobile along with a good internet connection and you are all set. There are no limitations, no set working hours, no qualifications required, and the best part? There is no risks or loss.
Q.What services are included with an IRCTC agent license?Ans - Apart from train ticket bookings and Rail tourism packages, you can provide a range of services related to tourism such as hotel reservations, booking bus and flight tickets, providing Visa services, and Domestic and International tour packages, etc. along with other services such as online DTH and mobile recharge, money transfer, and electricity bill payment, etc. with an IRCTC agent license.
Q.What is the future of travel industry 2030?Ans - As per an article published by Forbes, there will be 1.8 billion worldwide tourists a year by 2030, 400 million more than last year - according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. This goes on to show that the travel industry is only expected to grow as the years pass by.
Q.Do travel agents make money?Ans - Yes. IRCTC agents earn huge commissions on every booking they make. They can even earn up to Rs.80,000 per month solely in commissions.
Q.How do I start a small travel business?Ans - Starting a small travel business in India is not a difficult task. All you need to do is get an IRCTC agent license from Akbartravelsonline.com after which you can start earning commissions by providing all the travel-related services using your special agent registration ID and the portal provided by us.
Q.Can I work as a travel agent from home?Ans - Yes. As a registered IRCTC agent you can absolutely work from home if you do not wish to set up an office or invest in infrastructure for your work.
Q.How do travel agents get paid?Ans - Travel agents or IRCTC agents earn money in form of commissions. They earn commissions on every booking they make and can earn up to Rs.80,000 in commissions per month.
Q.Do you need money to start a travel agency?Ans - Yes. In order to start a travel agency business with an IRCTC license, you are required to pay the IRCTC authorised agent registration fee which is approximately Rs.2,699. Other than this, any other expenditure in setting up your travel agency business depends solely upon yourself. For example, if you wish to work from home using your own laptop or mobile then you won’t have to pay for office space and equipment which will cut down on your expenses.
Q.How many bookings travel agents must do monthly?Ans - There are no set limits on bookings that an IRCTC agent can do in a month. Similarly, there are no monthly targets that a travel agent must achieve. As there are no monthly limits or targets, travel agents can make an unlimited number of bookings.
Starting an online travel agency business in India in 2023 can be a rewarding experience. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of success and stand out in a competitive market. It's important to stay up-to-date with industry trends and regulations and to constantly adapt to changing customer needs. With the right mindset, skills, and dedication, you can turn your passion for travel into a profitable business venture and create a successful travel business that helps travelers explore the beauty of our world.
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