Whether you are a new travel agent or an established having an effective online presence is important. Here is a quick look at what other travel agents are doing right and are doing wrong. What purpose does a website serve for a travel agent? How are other travel agents using websites and do the websites effectively serve the purpose intended. To answer these questions I did a survey of over 50 websites belonging to both big and small travel agents to see what they were doing online. These websites could be divided overall in two large groups those promoting products and those attesting to the credibility of the travel agent. Of course some dont effectively do either.

1) Websites that highlight the credibility and authority of the travel agent.

• www.airawat.com — This website lacks in design but is clean and simple.  A flashier design might improve the impression of the visitor but the website probably servers the overall purpose.
• www.realitytoursandtravel.com — Focus primarily on the credibility of the company and the mission.
• www.travel2india.com — Establishes the company.

2) Websites that focus on selling products. These fall into two groups one where the agent tries to stuff as many products on the page as possible and one where just a few products are highlighted.

Product Stuffing Examples -

• www.primetravels.com – This website lists lots of products and has good pricing. The design is outdated but the visitor feels the company has some authority by the depth of there product offering and the fact that banners are up to date and offering products such as airfares that are clearly for the upcoming season.
• www.travelsur.net — More product overload but I dont find as appealing as primetravel since the content is not as well laid out.

3) Poorly designed travel agent websites.
Here are some examples -

• www.joy-travels.com – The main hotel booking form does not work and the website does not establish who or what the company does. One would not suspect this company has been in business for 25 years.
• www.naxtravels.com – Text heavy..zzzz…

4) Websites that sell your product and your company. Here are a few examples -

• www.travelershub.com- This website has a well designed home page but when you click through to different pages the banner changes and the transitions are poor.
• www.jacadatravel.com — Clear focus on the products but the design of the website also attests to the credibility of the tour company.
• www.go2africa.com – Good navigation and use of pictures. They establish who they are at the same time they sell products.
• www.travelstoreusa.com – Good design and product offering along with information about the company on the home page.
• www.chinatouronline.com – Nice design … Good use of graphics.. The company establishes who they are and products on home page.
• www.tangotours.co.uk — Nice pictures go along way. The content is a little unorganized and the navigation could be improved but the website is overall effective

If your looking for an effective and well designed website for your tour agency or home based travel agent business we recommend the Travel Website Design company.