Phuket, Thailand Tour Agency Help

8 replies
Hello,

My name is Jeremiah and I am from Singapore. I came to Thailand early last year as an English/Mandarin tour guide for a small travel company here.

Recently, I decided to come out on my own and open my own tour business. I rented an office space in Patong and renovations should be completed in two weeks time. My application for a tour license is in progress.

There are numerous tour agencies here. Every 50 meters is a tour agency or a small tour counter ( I am not kidding). Competition is going to be tough but I believe I can do it with the help of "teh internetz" .

My team is an easy-going bunch and we strongly believe in ethical business practices. I can offer competitive and affordable tour packages. Ever since i started work here, I have given out my personal mobile number to many tourists in an event they find themselves in trouble here and I'll do my best to help. I really really want my clients to enjoy their holidays here and Phuket can be a rough place if you are not careful.

I have been lurking around the forums for the past month and I have many queries.

1. Is my extra "service" something that is niche?
2. Is IM applicable to my business?
3. How should I go about doing it?

Thank you in advance!
#agency #phuket #thailand #tour
  • Profile picture of the author professorrosado
    Originally Posted by miahphuket View Post

    1. Is my extra "service" something that is niche?
    2. Is IM applicable to my business?
    3. How should I go about doing it?
    1 - Not really a niche - a service. However, if you would specialize into "pro-level snorkeling tours" or "snorkeling training tours" then you have a niche. you can try to differentiate yourself from the other tour agencies by defining specific tour niches that they may not have.

    2 - With or without the niche, IM can always help your business.

    3 - You need to identify the most important aspects to focus on first:
    a - Mailing list
    b - Develop affiliates
    c - Attend or develop Business Developers to attend trade events (Travel Agent Events) and network to promote your service.

    Basic 3 things to get you started.
    And I am also a Travel Agent.
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    • Profile picture of the author miahphuket
      Originally Posted by professorrosado View Post

      1 - Not really a niche - a service. However, if you would specialize into "pro-level snorkeling tours" or "snorkeling training tours" then you have a niche. you can try to differentiate yourself from the other tour agencies by defining specific tour niches that they may not have.

      2 - With or without the niche, IM can always help your business.

      3 - You need to identify the most important aspects to focus on first:
      a - Mailing list
      b - Develop affiliates
      c - Attend or develop Business Developers to attend trade events (Travel Agent Events) and network to promote your service.

      Basic 3 things to get you started.
      And I am also a Travel Agent.
      Thank you so much for your response.

      Before I start with a mailing list, I need to come up with good content on my website right? I was thinking of content like "life of the Phuket Beach boys", "The ladyboys of phuket", etc.

      Will developing my own affiliate programs with affiliate marketplace like ClickBank or PayDotCom be useful for me at this stage?

      I will look out for upcoming trade events in Singapore.

      Thanks again for the tips.
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  • Profile picture of the author RhysEvans
    I've lived in Thailand and run a few businesses. You need to differentiate yourself from the competition as every tom, dick and harry is a tour guide over there.

    My advice, market your services to Russians. They come in their hoards, tour parties, boat loads of them. Market to Facebook users in Russia and you will do very well in Thailand. If you end up marketing to the Brits or backpackers your going to be charging $5 a tour else they'll go to the next agency down the street.

    Good luck
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    • Profile picture of the author miahphuket
      Originally Posted by RhysEvans View Post

      I've lived in Thailand and run a few businesses. You need to differentiate yourself from the competition as every tom, dick and harry is a tour guide over there.

      My advice, market your services to Russians. They come in their hoards, tour parties, boat loads of them. Market to Facebook users in Russia and you will do very well in Thailand. If you end up marketing to the Brits or backpackers your going to be charging $5 a tour else they'll go to the next agency down the street.

      Good luck
      Hi, thanks for the heads up!

      Unfortunately, I can't speak Russian. Instead I will be focusing on the Chinese Market since my mandarin is decent. They come in hoards as well. That will require a taobao.com or tmall agent.
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  • Profile picture of the author Graham Maddison
    Hello Jeremiah,

    Welcome to the Warrior Forum.

    I live in Thailand in the north east well away from the toilet of Phuket.
    Don't get me wrong, Phuket is beautiful and the perfect stepping stone to the islands, but the sad fact is it is a seedy place which I am sure you know if you live there.

    On the one hand, many tourists who arrive there without having done their homework are shocked and in some cases fearful of going out at night (I put myself in this category on my first visit with my family some 12 years ago) The only time we ventured out at night was with an organised tour.

    On the other hand, you have the sex tourists who are out for a good time.

    I don't know which category you aim to cater for, but I would respectfully suggest you be very careful. The moment you are seen to be successful, you will have the mafia at your door. I know this to be fact as I had a very good friend who was a tour agent(Thai) who was subjected to this and was forced to quit for her safety.

    Just a cautionary note, I don't want to dampen your spirit.

    Yes you could market services online if you put your emphasis as the tour operator to go to for "safe" tours - or the operator to go to for a Guaranteed Good time if you know what I mean ..... in any event, whichever category you are catering for, you will need a unique selling point USP to stand out from the crowded market place.

    I am sure there will be other marketers who live in Thailand who will offer you some advice soon.

    I wish you good luck and stay safe.
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    • Profile picture of the author miahphuket
      Originally Posted by Graham Maddison View Post

      Hello Jeremiah,

      Welcome to the Warrior Forum.

      I live in Thailand in the north east well away from the toilet of Phuket.
      Don't get me wrong, Phuket is beautiful and the perfect stepping stone to the islands, but the sad fact is it is a seedy place which I am sure you know if you live there.

      On the one hand, many tourists who arrive there without having done their homework are shocked and in some cases fearful of going out at night (I put myself in this category on my first visit with my family some 12 years ago) The only time we ventured out at night was with an organised tour.

      On the other hand, you have the sex tourists who are out for a good time.

      I don't know which category you aim to cater for, but I would respectfully suggest you be very careful. The moment you are seen to be successful, you will have the mafia at your door. I know this to be fact as I had a very good friend who was a tour agent(Thai) who was subjected to this and was forced to quit for her safety.

      Just a cautionary note, I don't want to dampen your spirit.

      Yes you could market services online if you put your emphasis as the tour operator to go to for "safe" tours - or the operator to go to for a Guaranteed Good time if you know what I mean ..... in any event, whichever category you are catering for, you will need a unique selling point USP to stand out from the crowded market place.

      I am sure there will be other marketers who live in Thailand who will offer you some advice soon.

      I wish you good luck and stay safe.
      Hi, thanks for the warm welcome

      Yes, this place can be very dangerous if you are not careful. I've had my own fair share of such experiences too.

      The mafia and the police will pose as a threat and I am always on my toes. They are a troublesome bunch. A Guaranteed Good Time sounds like a very good idea.

      I am thinking of a niche and it is proving to be very challenging.


      Here are some of my brainstorms and suggestions from fellow forumers.

      1. Touring with a Thai Social Escort? Escort will pick you up at the Airport and you begin your day.

      2. Touring with a ladyboy?

      3. Package for the Gay Community? Spa, Massage, Sun Tanning at Phi Phi Island, Trip to the dentist for teeth whitening?

      4. 1 day Snorkeling Lessons and a 2 day trip to beautiful snorkeling areas?

      5. Plastic surgery hunting. I'll take you to survey all the good plastic surgeons to get the best quotes

      Thank you once again.
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      • Profile picture of the author professorrosado
        Think of your specific customer.
        Think of their motivation in relation to your product.
        Create content accordingly.

        Think of where they are.
        Create messages / content geared to those places.
        Get your product in front of them.

        Depending on your product genre, you need to decide where to shop for affiliates, where to place ads, how to develop your affiliate base. Tap into the Travel Agents out there who specialize in your niche-type of travel. I suspect a more direct approach may garner you some quality affiliate /TA connections.

        Within the sex tourism genre, I suggest specialization and development of uniqueness within that specific niche for better results. (True with any niche - really.)
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  • Profile picture of the author niksto82
    You can create something cool. Phuket is full of young people. Create something for them, something new and refreshing. Do not be afraid to experiment.
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