OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIES IN TRAVEL INDUSTRY: A MODERN CONCEPT
About this eBook
Travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s largest industries and a dynamic engine of economic development of the countries. It is a great source of income and employment for countries that receive more international tourists. For this reason, the countries have increased their investment in the travel and tourism industry, Tour operators and travel agencies have the major role for the development of tourism. Their business has vastly changed in the past 20 years. They have to continuously adapt and redefine their roles to the changing environment and technology. As a result of this change, different approaches in management, operation and marketing strategies in the travel industry have emerged. From tourism products and services to operation and destination management, from management functions to the distribution channels, from reservation systems to marketing functions, almost all travel concepts have changed shape. In travel agency business besides the traditional (classical) system used for many years, neoclassical systemandmodern (contemporary) systems such as online travel agencies (OTA’s) and destination management companies (DMC’s) have emerged, intermediaries diversified and increased.
Pursuant to these developments travel operators who can keep up with these changes have created a wide academic and practical concept, theoretical discussions and most importantly different industrial structures.
This book provides a wide perspective with modern concepts to the operation management and marketing strategies in travel industry and it is divided into 12 chapters. Each chapter starts with learning outcomes. Basic principles and concepts of subjects are mentioned both theoretically and practically supported by tables, graphs and figures for a better understanding of specific chapters.
About the author
Cuneyt MENGU, Ph.D.
He completed his high school education in Kirkuk (Iraq). His first university education was in the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Baghdad University, and the second was in the College of Law of Al-Mustansiriyah University in Baghdad. He earned his master's degree from Hacettepe University, Department of Business Administration in Ankara. Then, he earned his Ph.D. in 2006 from Istanbul University Faculty of Economics on a thesis titled “The Middle East Tourism Market Analysis in terms of Turkey”
Between 1980-1985, Mengu worked as a senior manager or consultant at international companies. In 1985 he founded Mercan Travel Agency in Istanbul and entered the Tourism Industry. For many years Mercan Travel has been a leading travel company in bringing international tourists from the Middle East and North African markets and foreign currency revenue into Turkey’s economy. Apart from Mercan Travel he owns another company called Middle East Travel Experts. Starting from 2012 Mercan Travel concentrated on international mass tourism and offered blocked seat allotments on scheduled and chartered flights. In 2018 and 2019 by the World Travel Awards Committee, Mercan Travel was the winner of Turkey’s leading Destination Management Company (DMC) Award. In 2020, by the World Travel Awards Mercan Travel selected Turkey’s leading DMC and tour operator. Apart from this, Mercan Travel has received several awards from the Ministry of Culture & Tourism of Turkey and from various non-governmental organizations, national and international tourism industry representatives.
Mengu has been teaching tourism at the Vocational School of Social Sciences at the Istanbul University for 12 years. Moreover, he has published a number of books, journal articles, surveys and research works for the tourism and travel industry, for the Middle East and Iraqi Turkmen issues. He also participated in several national and international symposiums and meetings for Turkmen rights. e-mail: cuneyt.mengu@mercanonline.com
