A recent poll conducted by the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA) reveals that only 17 percent of U.S. adults know that buying packaged travel can save them 20 to 30 percent over the cost of making the same arrangements themselves. Among the 66 percent who believed that buying packaged travel could save them money, few knew how much they could actually save. At the same time, more than 60 percent of adults surveyed said that they would be more likely to take a tour or package if they knew that they could save money. When survey respondents were asked to estimate how much they could save by purchasing a tour or package, slightly more than a quarter selected 10 to 19 percent savings. Only 17 percent said they could save 20 to 29 percent. Bob Whitley, USTOA president, suggests that agents ask their clients if they are aware of the time and money savings of buying packaged travel, and adds that some tour operators will provide marketing comparisons of how much the same itinerary or arrangements would cost if the client purchased all elements themselves.
