Table of Contents
Executive Summary
5
Business Overview
6
Objectives
6
Vision
6
Mission Statement
7
Products and Services
8
The following are the attractions that our tours will be showcasing:
9
Game and Nature Reserves
9
Natural Wonders
10
Cultural Experience
10
Activities
10
Marketing Plan
11
Customers
12
Competition
12
Pricing offering Plan
13
Communication or Promotions plans
13
Technology
13
Distribution Plan
14
Physical evidence plan
14
Internal Marketing Plan
14
Relationship Marketing
15
Operation Plan
16
Premises
17
Choice of locations and Premises
17
Business Target
17
Hours of Operation
17
Quality Control
18
Equipment
18
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 2/40
Stang
18
Personnel Plan
19
Team
21
Nduduzo Vincent Miya
21
Sanele Mhlongo
22
Sylvia Khumalo
23
Buhle Mchunu
24
Wandile Ninela
25
Average Salary of Employees
26
Sustainability And Corporate Society Responsibility
27
Revenue growth
28
Cost savings
28
Access to capital
28
Human capital
29
Brand value and reputation
29
Preservation of destinations
29
Financial Plan
30
Important Assumptions
31
Brake-even Analysis
31
Projected Prot and Loss
32
Projected Cash Flow
35
Projected Balance Sheet
36
Business Ratios
37
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 3/40
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Business Overview
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Objectives
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Vision
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Before you think about how to start a Travel agency service, you must create
a detailed Travel Agency business plan. It will not only guide you in the initial
phases of your startup but will also help you later on.
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Sunlight Tours will provide integrated eco and cultural travel packages to people in the
KwaZulu- Natal province – the Zulu kingdom to explore their province. The founders and the
employees of the Sunlight Tours have experienced travel industry professionals and are
passionate about the packages and activities that Sunlight Tours will promote and offer. The
opportunity for Sunlight Tours’ success exists because currently South African Tourism is
encouraging domestic tourism and also the tourism industry is growing rapidly, eco-travel in
particular, is growing by 10 percent annually. Moreover, the KwaZulu-Natal Province Eco travel
market is growing by at least 12 percent annually and there are no providers that specialize
solely in eco and cultural integrated travel in the Zulu kingdom. Sunlight Tours is poised to take
advantage of this growth and lack of competition with experienced staff, excellent location, and
effective management and marketing. The KwaZulu-Natal province has a large concentration of
outdoor recreation enthusiasts who love nature. These nature- orientated individuals, couples,
and groups interested in nature are Sunlight’s primary customers.
Sunlight Tours’ target market is an exploitable niche and Sunlight Tours will provide a
specialized and thus differentiated service. Prices will be competitive with the remainder of the
market. The company’s estimated sales for the rst years of operation are R 1500000,
increasing by 12 percent annually over the next two-three years.
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Achieve sales of 3,000,000 by year three.
Maintain margins of 10 percent on all coach travel
Develop strategic alliances with service providers nationally, internationally, and in the
province.
Achieve 25 percent of sales from the internet
Continuously provide enjoyable quality excursions/trips on time and on budget.
Develop enthusiastically satised customers all of the time.
Establish a market presence that assures short-term and long-term protability, growth,
and success.
Supporting growth and development in the tourism and overall economy of KwaZulu-
Natal.
Contribute positively to our communities and our environment.
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To become the foremost provider of the integrated eco and cultural travel to the people of the
KwaZulu-Natal province through responsible and sustainable tourism.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 6/40
Mission Statement
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Start writing here..
Internally we intend to create and nurture a healthy, exuberant, respectful, and enjoyable
environment, in which our employees are fairly compensated and encouraged to respect
the customer and the quality of the service we intend to provide.
In addition, follow-up will be mandatory so as to ensure customer satisfaction and make
any improvements as recommended by the customers in the future.
We seek fair and responsible prot, enough to keep the company nancially healthy for
the short and long term and to fairly remunerate employees for the work and effort.
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The Sunlight Tours is a Close Corporation headquartered in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. Mr. Nduduzo Miya will serve as the Chief Executive Ocer, Sanele Mhlongo as the
Managing Director, Buhle Mchunu as the Chief Financial Ocer, Sylvia Khumalo as the Sales
and Marketing Manager, and Wandile Ninela as the Human Resource and Communications
Department Manager.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 7/40
Start writing here..
The following are the attractions that our tours will be showcasing:
Start writing here..
Game and Nature Reserves
Start writing here..
Before starting a Travel Agency business, you must take many things into
consideration such as you must consider what types of services will you be
providing to your customers. Deciding your services is extremely important
since it helps you plan other components of your business so make sure to
consider it before you think about how to start a Travel agency business.
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Sunlight Tours will be a domestic tour operating company that specializes in eco and cultural
integrated travel and tourism. It will provide consulting and custom travel arrangements and
packages. Sunlight Tours’ vision is to become the foremost provider of the integrated eco and
cultural travel to the people of the KwaZulu-Natal province. Sunlight Tours’ employees and
owners will be outdoor, nature-oriented, and travel enthusiasts, as well as travel professionals.
Sunlight Tours seeks to connect eco and cultural markets as these niches are concerned about
conservation, responsibility, and development. It also seeks to build a relationship between the
market and the service providers, activities, and accommodation that t the clients’ desires,
budget, and skill level. Sunlight Tours offer people the ability to get away and remember how
much they love nature, learning, and nding out about various ethnics, and the excitement of
engaging with nature. Sunlight Tours will promote the benets of integrated eco and cultural
travel. These benets include better health, excitement, personal growth, experiencing new
things, ear-to-ear grins, and a whole lot of fun.
Sunlight Tours will be a travel company that intends to deliver integrated eco and cultural
vacations to customers. Sunlight Tours will intend to guide customers in selecting a trip(s)
based on pre-dened vacation criteria. This analysis will be based on user proles, set by the
consumers, which includes preferences such as:
Budget
Activities sought
Destination, and
Time of Travel
A traveler will hence be able to select areas of interest based on their preferences and
subsequently identify destinations to visit. The intention is to provide customers with access to
exclusive travel destinations, service to fully appreciate destinations through information
packages, not just sightseeing, and access to special interest travel according to the group’s/
individual’s preferences.
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Our eco-tours will consist of various activities that range from Adventure to cultural activities as
we are all about showcasing the distinctions of the Zulu Kingdom and marketing its natural
sphere. Our tours will be zoning around all the directions of the province, from the North-East
where lies a great nature game reserve Elephant Coast incorporating the best of both land and
sea safari experiences with its world-class conversation areas that include the Ismangaliso
Wetland Park, South Africa’s rst proclaimed World Heritage Site. The Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is
Africa’s oldest game reserve and it’s home to the South African Big Five and many species of
antelope.
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On all directions of the Zulu Kingdom lies numerous game reserves which the Sunlight Tours
will be offering tours to:
Tembe Elephant Reserve
Kosi Bay Nature Reserve
Maputaland Marine Reserve
Coastal Forest Reserve
Sodwana National Bay
Mkuze Game Reserve
Ndumo Game Reserve
Phinda Resource Reserve
Richard’s Bay Game Reserve
Emakhosini Heritage Park
Zululand Rhino Park
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 9/40
Natural Wonders
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Cultural Experience
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Activities
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Tourists will be fascinated by the natural wonders consisting of the lakes and lagoons to the
botanic gardens of the Zulu Kingdom which are the tourist’s favorite attractions.
UKhahlamba – Drakensberg Mountain This magnicent World Heritage Site comprises a
spectacular mountain range that stretches for over 200 kilometers, offering a nature
lover's smorgasbord of majestic mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and streams to explore.
It's also home to ancient San rock art.
The Sardine Run – Great Shoal on Earth
Lake Saint Lucia
Lake Sibaya
Cape Vidal lagoon
Tugela River
Valley of a Thousand Hills
Natal Midlands
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KwaZulu-Natal has a long, proud history. It is renowned as the home of the Zulu kingdom and
has a diverse racial, cultural and natural heritage, making it attractive to both domestic and
foreign visitors. Hence, Sunlight Tours will design tours that will educate tourists about the
roots of the Zulu kingdom and having to experience the traditional deeds of the Zulu’s. Our
cultural tours will be exploring the following attractions.
In Zululand proper, eMakhosini — The Valley of Kings — is considered to be one of the
richest cultural and historic sites in Africa. Once the stage for battles that shaped the
course of Southern African history and an area that gave birth to King Shaka and the Zulu
nation, eMakhosini is fast being recognized as a jewel in South Africa’s tourism crown.
The Battleelds such as Spioenkop, Blood River, Amajuba, Rorke’s Drift, and Isandlwana is
where the present meets the past. Here tourists can watch re-enactments of battles gone
by. They represent tales of epic struggles, bravery, betrayal, and triumph.
King Cetshwayo’s Grave – Kranskorp
Blood River Heritage site - Dundee
KwaDukuza Museum - Stanger
In Eshowe, the Vukani Museum of Zulu Arts and Culture
The Zululand Historical Museum housed in the Beau Geste-style Fort Nongqayi at The
Museum Village
Dumazulu Traditional Village
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While on tour, the Sunlight Tours will design specic activities for different tourists to engage in
to accelerate the amusement.
Bungee Jumping
Sky diving
Hiking
Bird watching
Walking trails
Biking and diving
Big Five Game drives
Jungle Trekking
Snorkeling
Bicycle Tour
Horse Riding
Guided Walks
Scuba Diving
Mountain Biking
Golf
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We will offer the tourists a chance to explore the Zulu kingdom and having to know the root of
the region would help them understand the Zulu Culture and deeds.
Sunlight Tours will be a full-service tour operator and will position itself as a specialist in the
eld of integrated eco and cultural travel and will generate the majority of its revenue from
these segments. It will sell standard tour operator goods and services, including couches,
accommodation, and travel packages. Additional services include assistance with providing
access to top-of-the-line equipment and suppliers and a superior offering that includes access
to better-than-average-terrain and activities, accommodation, and entertainment. The value-
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 10/40
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Customers
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Competition
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Sunlight Tours plans to focus its initial efforts on the integrated eco and cultural travel market
in the Zulu Kingdom. Sunlight Tours will be located in the capital of events in Africa, Durban.
Deviating from the most offered travel in KwaZulu-Natal [leisure] to the integrated eco and
cultural travel will gain us a market share. The natural beauty of the Zulu Kingdom and its
abundance of outdoor activities attract many eco-oriented people and its cultural diversity
makes the market love KZN. The province has more people loving nature and seeks to
participate in responsible activities and cultural tours that embrace the root of that specied
ethnic group. Sunlight Tours focuses on the sale and promotion of both eco and cultural travel
primarily to individuals, couples, and groups, but also to corporate clients in the province.
Much of Sunlight Tours’ pricing is determined by market standards. During Sunlight Tours’ rst
years of operation, it will hold a grand opening and will organize and sponsor several rural
organizational events and sponsor events aimed at empowering and educating people about
loving nature such as the 50/50 campaign aimed at building relationships between the
community and nature. Secondarily, Sunlight Tours’ seeks to establish distribution capability in
cyberspace and build both provincial and national reputation.
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Sunlight Tours’ target markets are natural and cultural–oriented individuals, couples, and
groups. They are interested in promoting conservation, responsibility, and embracing
indigenous deeds by participating in tours, and both soft and hard adventurous activities.
Sunlight Tours’ target markets are located in urban areas and sub-urban areas in KwaZulu-Natal
and other provinces. Demographically, eco-tours are slightly more likely to be men between the
age of 20 and 40. Men on average spend more than women on their travels. It is important to
recognize that Sunlight Tours do not intend to just take individuals on sightseeing excursions,
but also to ensure that they appreciate nature through informative briengs on objects’ origins.
This element will assist in differentiating us from our competitors and contribute towards the
development of a sustainable competitive advantage. Hence we need to engage the right
people in the right place at the right time if we are to ensure optimum growth. We intend to
develop our team so that our people can grow as the company grows – a mutually benecial
relationship.
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The travel industry has high competition, hence, Sunlight Tours seeks to stand out of the
competition by positioning itself as the provincial tour operating company specializing in the
integrated market. There are large national chains, small home-based businesses,
consolidators on the internet, etc. Sunlight has approximately 20 immediate competitors in the
KwaZulu-Natal province, including local agencies. As the industry is short of integrated
offerings, Sunlight Tours will use this to its advantage. Having researched that local people are
eager to explore their province, Sunlight seeks to offer affordable tours and benets.
There are plenty of tour operating companies offering either eco or cultural tours but are rare
that offers integrated travel. However considering the pace of change and current growth rate
of the tourism industry luring many companies into the sector, this may be short-lived. Hence
there will be a need to not only rmly establish ourselves on the market but also strongly
differentiate ourselves from these other tour companies. However, on a broader scale our
competition comes in several forms:
The most signicant competition is hotels and travel agencies offering travel excursions to
their clients. They undertake this service in order to establish a competitive advantage over
their competitors. However, instead of directly competing with them we intend to establish
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 12/40
Pricing offering Plan
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Communication or Promotions plans
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Technology
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Sunlight Tours sells freedom that is part of conservation and education oriented. Sunlight
seeks to remind people frequently that there is more to life than just work. Sunlight Tours will
provide clients with all the arrangements they can think of and many possibly would not have
thought of. Our marketing strategy will be based mainly on ensuring customers know about our
existence and the service(s) we fulll. Hence. This will be done through implementing a market
penetration strategy that will ensure that we are well known for affordability and respected in
the tourism industry. We will ensure that our prices take into consideration peoples’ budgets,
that these people appreciate the service(s), know that it exists, and how to contact us. We are
on the brink of penetrating a lucrative market in a rapidly growing industry. The current trend
towards an increase in the number of tourists entering the country presents an opportunity for
Sunlight Tours to penetrate the market.
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Sunlight Tours intends to implement advertising, personal selling, and direct marketing
strategies to the target markets. Our personal selling marketing strategies will rotate around
keeping in touch with accommodations that we work in partnership with and travel agencies for
major customers, and advertising for more individual customers. Our advertising and
promotions will pivot around six key strategies: public relations, our shop front, an Internet Web
site, customer relations, press advertising, and our association alliances.
Public relations. We will put considerable effort into preparing and disseminating a
regular ow of press releases. These will be based on stories about our destinations,
activities, corporate clients, and our staff. We will employ a public relations adviser to
help us write copy and locate publications editors.
Shopfront. We plan to have an exciting, informative, and actively managed the display
window. There will be a video display showing both eco and cultural vacations in
progress. Different destinations can be selected from outside the window via a control
panel; otherwise, the scenes will rotate on a random basis.
Internet Web site. This is fast becoming a major promotional channel, and we believe it
will increase in importance over time. Also, it is the most convenient way for us to have a
global presence at the outset.
Customer relations. We will keep records of every sales contact. Data such as the source
of inquiry, client needs, previous vacation, job, and income will be included. By having
superior information on our clients and prospects, we intend to offer a truly personalized
service. Our database will contain full details on all our clients, including the vacations
they have taken and their post-vacation appraisal data. We will use this data to encourage
our satised customers to recommend our services to friends, relatives, colleagues, and
employers. v. Press advertising. We will undertake a small amount of press advertising in
order to enhance our public relations activity. There is considerable research to support
the argument that the more often a potential client hears about you, the more likely they
are to approach you when they have a need for your type of services.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Sunlight Tours will strive to ensure that it contains the latest, or extremely recent personal
computer including relevant software so as to ensure that the company is continuously at the
forefront in our market arena. The one certainty in our industry is that technology will continue
to evolve and develop, changing what we market as well as how we market it. Our aim will be to
be aware of the implications of this new technology and utilizing it in our existing framework
where possible. However, it should be noted that as we are now on the market it will take some
time before we have in place our own website and other multimedia presentations. With time
we also intend to have the latest and most ecient software in place to enable smooth
operations.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 13/40
Distribution Plan
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Physical evidence plan
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Internal Marketing Plan
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Sunlight Tours have, on their research, discovered that the use of intermediaries is lucrative.
Since Sunlight Tours is an intermediary itself with an integrated offering, it has 3 channels of
distribution that it will be using and plans to create a strong relationship with its intermediaries
in order to escalate sales.
The business will begin with a general corporate brochure establishing its position on the
market. This brochure will be developed as part of the start-up organization's expenses
including the business cards and Company Prole, mainly for the large that often recommend
services to potential customers. Compliment slips are also intended so as to raise awareness
of the company and its services. We also intend to have information pamphlets that will provide
information on our various tour packages. Literature and mailings for the initial market forums
will be very important
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The marketing will convey the sense of quality in every picture, every promotion, and every
publication. We also intend to have well-designed brochures and other promotional material
that will enable clients to have an understanding of the types of services we offer and the
advantages of utilizing them. In addition, well-done, informative brochures, fact sheets, and
business cards often have a triggering effect on clients contemplating utilizing our services.
Hence this will undoubtedly generate increased sales of our service. Our website and social
media pages will be designed with an aim of cannibalizing our offerings, well-colored pictures,
videos showcasing our tours, and destinations.
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Internally we intend to create and nurture a healthy, exuberant, respectful, and enjoyable
environment, in which our employees are fairly compensated and encouraged to respect the
customer and the quality of the service we intend to provide. In addition, follow-up will be
mandatory so as to ensure customer satisfaction and make any improvements as
recommended by the customers in the future. We seek fair and responsible prot, enough to
keep the company nancially healthy for the short and long term and to fairly remunerate
employees for the work and effort. Excellent selling skills are vital in our type of business.
Therefore, everyone will be fully trained in sales. Additionally, every month we will “audit” each
other by observing half a day’s selling activity and giving feedback on strengths and
weaknesses in skills. We will also be using a “contact management” system that will allow us
to monitor the effectiveness of different promotional strategies and of different marketing
messages. The key to our strategic advantage lies in having superior data on prospects and
clients.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 14/40
Relationship Marketing
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The most signicant competition is hotels and travel agencies offering travel excursions to
their clients. They undertake this service in order to establish a competitive advantage over
their competitors. However, instead of directly competing with them we intend to establish
good working relationships in the form of strategic alliances such that we are able to offer the
service for their clients and thus enabling them to concentrate on their core activities whilst
ensuring customers are fully satised. In doing so, we will be creating a marketing relationship
with these principles to ensure that we gain market share and meet our objectives.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 15/40
Premises
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Choice of locations and Premises
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Business Target
Hours of Operation
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Sunlight Tours has identied three potential locations for oce spaces. Headquarters will be at
the Durban Central Business District, having another oce at Bergville, where all ecotours will
be administered and lastly, we will have another oce located in Zululand, where all the cultural
tours will be administered. Once successfully established, Sunlight Tours will be one of
approximately 50 tour operating companies in the KwaZulu-Natal province. Sunlight Tours will
be the only integrated eco and cultural travel specialist in the province.
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Headquarters in Durban, this is due to easy accessibility to Durban, and as a capital city
of events in Africa, it has a great number of tourists ocking in that consists of eco and
culturally oriented people.
In Bergville, as eco-tours will be administered in this oce, the location with its nature
and scenic beauty, and natural wonders will make our tours enjoyable.
In Zululand, with a fascinating cultural diversity, our cultural tour administration will be
done in this oce.
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The telephone lines will be staffed 24 hours a day by live operators. During the period from 08
h, 00 am to 18 h 00, this will be done mostly by our staff. However, overload calls during the
day, and after-hours calls will go to our live telemarketing bureau. Sunlight Tours understands
that people consider vacation decisions at home in the evenings after discussion with friends
and partners. We want to be available as their rst point of contact with an informed, friendly
service. We believe that since our clients will mostly be busy professional people, off-peak-
hours access to our services is also a key way in which we can differentiate ourselves from
other travel agencies.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 17/40
Quality Control
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Equipment
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Stang
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(See appendix A). We will be developing outline scripts to help the sales staff manage inquiries.
This will ensure that all incoming phone calls are dealt with in the same way and meet a high
standard. We will encourage people inquiring about vacations to give us feedback on our
service:
Our ability to handle their inquiry
The amount of time from the client’s rst inquiry to the date of actual travel
The client’s reactions to the vacation in terms of whether it meets their expectations
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We will have a telephone/database system from the outset. This will allow up to ten sales staff
to answer calls and have full on-screen data on clients and products. As service is one of our
key components, it is essential that we have full access to all relevant data speedily and
eciently.
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Sunlight Tours will have 10 permanent employees at the outset and 5 part-time employees.
Voluntarism will be considered as the operations continue. From the outset, all staff will have
job descriptions, a career and training history le, and a record of employee reviews. New staff
will take the travel agency Psychometric Aptitude Test and then spend time with each member
of the Sunlight Tours. All staff will undergo full product training and will spend at least four
weeks a year on-site at key travel destinations. Prerequisites for all Sunlight Tours employees
include at least ve years’ travel industry experience, knowledge of, ability in, the types of tours
Sunlight Tours will promote and offer, Certied Travel Counsellor (CTC) certication and
National Diploma or Degree in Travel and Tourism or Tourism Management for application
positions. The CTC designation can be obtained through the Institute of Certied Travel Agents
(ICTA).
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 18/40
The personnel plan is also an important component of a Travel Agency
business plan since it gives you an estimate of the staff required for your
startup as well as the costs incurred on their salaries. So, make sure to duly
consider it before thinking about how to start a travel agency business. The
personnel plan of the travel agency business is as follows.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 20/40
Team
Nduduzo Vincent Miya
Chief Executive Ocer
Mr. Miya will serve as the Chief Executive Ocer of the Sunlight Tours.
Previously, before Sunlight Tours, he headed a sub-brand of the largest travel
agent in the world, the Thompson Africa, an international agency offering tours
to Africa. Prior to that, He managed the Pen-travel branch of one of the larger
regional chains of general travel agencies operating throughout the world,
where he was responsible for managing the operating systems of all the
retailers of the product. Mr. Miya worked as a Managing Director at the
European tour operating company, Euro travel for 10 years. Prior to that, he was
working in South Africa for the Serabi Tours, a domestic tour operating
company. Educationally, he has a Master’s Degree in Tourism Management
obtained from Oxford University, a Postgraduate Degree in Marketing from
Harvard University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from
Cambridge University, and a National Diploma in Eco-Travel and Tourism
Practice.
Summary of duties:
Will be responsible for determining the strategic direction of the company
and ensuring that strategies are implemented through functional steps.
He will take the helm in creating the organization's culture.
Overseeing the complete operation of an organization in accordance with
the direction established in the strategic plans.
Maintaining awareness of both the external and internal competitive
landscape, opportunities for expansion, customers, markets, new industry
developments and standards, and so forth.
Provides general oversight of all Sunlight Tours activities, manages the
day-to-day operations, and assures a smoothly functioning, ecient
organization.
Assures program quality and organizational stability through development
and implementation of standards and controls, systems and procedures,
and regular evaluation
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 21/40
Sanele Mhlongo
Managing Director
Mr. Mhlongo will be the Managing Director. Before Sunlight Tours, he was
working for the Greyhound Transportation Company as a Director of Operation
for 5 years. Prior to that, he worked as a Product Manager at the Ushaka Marine
World. He has been a Travel Agent for 4 years, working for the Flight Center
Travel Agency. Educationally, he has a Bachelor's Degree in Travel and Tourism
obtained from the University of Cape Town, a National Diploma in Oce
Management from Witwatersrand University, and a Postgraduate Certicate in
Business Administration from the University of South Africa.
Summary of duties:
Direct the activities and productivity of a department or the entire
company.
Provide training and guidance.
Delegate duties such as typing, copying, and scanning.
Create schedules.
Work with the Assistant Director to sustain and grow programs and
services.
Participate in strategic planning.
Represent the organization to the public, key stakeholders, and business
partners.
Plan and implement the annual calendar of activities including
fundraising initiatives, special events, and the ocial administrative acts.
Help create budgets and track expenditures.
Create presentations for meetings
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 22/40
Sylvia Khumalo
Sales and Marketing Manager
Ms. Khumalo will serve as the Sales and Marketing Manager. Before Sunlight
Tours, she served as the Head of the marketing department at the Elephant
Coast Tours. Prior to that, she was working as the Junior Sales manager at the
Drakensberg Safaris. Educationally, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing
obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an Advanced Diploma in
Travel and Tourism.
Summary of duties:
Develops and implements strategic marketing plans and sales plans and
forecasts to achieve corporate objectives for products and services.
Develops and manages sales/marketing operating budgets.
Plans and oversees advertising and promotion activities including print,
online, electronic media, and direct mail.
Develops and recommends product positioning, packaging, and pricing
strategy to produce the highest possible long-term market share.
Achieves satisfactory prot/loss ratio and market share in relation to
preset standards and industry and economic trends. Ensures effective
control of marketing results, and takes corrective action to guarantee that
achievement of marketing objectives falls within designated budgets.
Oversees and evaluates market research and adjusts marketing strategy
to meet changing market and competitive conditions.
Monitors competitor products, sales, and marketing activities.
Establishes and maintains relationships with industry inuences and key
strategic partners.
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 23/40
Buhle Mchunu
Chief Financial Ocer
Before Sunlight Tours, she served as the Financial Manager for the Intercape
Tours. Prior to that, she worked as an Accountant and Bookkeeper at the
Bayside Hotel. Educationally, she has a Bachelor's Degree in Cost and Auditing
Management obtained from the Durban University of Technology and a National
Diploma in Bookkeeping from the University of Johannesburg.
Summary of duties:
Manage the accounting, investor relations, legal, tax, and treasury
departments
Oversee the nancial operations of subsidiary companies and foreign
operations
Manage any third parties to which functions have been outsourced
Oversee the company's transaction processing systems
Implement operational best practices
Oversee employee benet plans, with particular emphasis on maximizing
a cost-effective benets package
Supervise acquisition due diligence and negotiate acquisitions
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 24/40
Wandile Ninela
Human Resource and Communication Manager
Before Sunlight Tours, he was working for the Durban Pentravel as the Human
Resource Manager. Prior to that, he was working as a Senior Communication
Manager Assistant at Tsogo Travel and Tours. He has also worked
independently as a Website Developer for 3 years. Educationally, he has a
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Programming obtained from the University of
Cape Peninsula, a National Diploma in Human Resource and Public Relations
Management from the University of Witwatersrand.
Summary of duties:
Plan and manage recruitment and selection of staff
Plan and conduct new employee orientation
Identify and manage training and development needs for employees
Develop and implement human resources policies and procedures
Administer policies and procedures
Administer compensation and benets
Ensure compensation and benets are in line with company policies and
legislation
Benchmark compensation and benets
Support annual salary review
Implement and monitor performance management system
Supervises and coordinates the work of the communications team.
Oversees and writes or edits Development documents including:
fundraising proposals to individuals, foundations, and corporations fund-
raising publications; communications materials, such as press releases,
cultivation, solicitation and acknowledgment letters documents present
ocial Institutional
Responsible for all communication materials
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 25/40
Average Salary of Employees
The following table shows the forecast data about the salaries of the employees for the next three
years:
Personnel Plan Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Chief Executive Ocer $85,000 $95,000 $105,000
Sales and Marketing Manager $45,000 $50,000 $55,000
Managing Director $550,000 $650,000 $750,000
Chief Financial Ocer $145,000 $152,000 $159,000
Human Resource and Communication Manager $50,000 $55,000 $60,000
Technical Assistant $87,000 $94,000 $101,000
Customer Representative $42,000 $45,000 $48,000
Total Salaries $1,004,000 $1,141,000 $1,278,000
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 26/40
Start writing here..
Revenue growth
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Cost savings
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Access to capital
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Being an integrated eco and cultural travel business, Sunlight Tours seek to effect on rural
development, sustainability, and conservation and give back to society. To ensure that Sunlight
gives back to the environment, all of its operations will be orientated towards carbon reduction
and recycling. As this business will be established in a high unemployment rated region, the job
that it will create will be numerous. Not only will jobs be created by Sunlight Tours itself, but
also by those travel packages that Sunlight Tours will market to tourists.
For Sunlight Tours, Corporate Society Responsibility means adopting sustainable business
practices that positively impact both the country where we are based, as well as the
destinations visited, in terms of economic effects, the environmental and cultural resources,
and policies towards the host communities Implementing sustainability practices may require a
fundamental shift in our corporate thinking and organizational culture, as well as the adoption
of a more holistic approach towards success, as Sunlight Tours, we aim for the ‘triple bottom
line’: running a protable business while also preserving the environment, looking after the
workforce and giving something back to the communities.
To use sustainable practices will allow us to generate some immediate business advantages in
the form of cost savings and improve relations with staff and local communities, many of the
benets, both on us and to society, are more long-term. In addition, not all the benets are
tangible, and some cannot be easily measured, which may make up-front investments in
sustainability more dicult to justify. The key business benets for Sunlight Tours of acting
sustainably include:
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Being seen to be sustainable can help us increase income by securing the loyalty of current
customers and attracting new ones, resulting in increased market share.
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Sustainable actions can help lower operating costs and improve overall productivity and
eciency by reducing resource use, decreasing waste output, and avoiding non-compliance
nes.
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As environmental and social criteria are becoming a standard part of lending risk assessments,
as a sustainable tour operator, we are more likely to be able to attract capital from banks and
investors.
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Ex :: Sunlight
Ex :: Sunlight
Ex :: Sunlight
Ex :: Sunlight
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 28/40
Human capital
Start writing here..
Brand value and reputation
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Preservation of destinations
Start writing here..
Our challenge here is to design holiday packages that have lower environmental and social burdens
while still yielding acceptable economic returns.
Our staff will feel proud of working for us as employers that take their responsibilities to society
seriously. Our sustainable policies will have an increase in the capacity to attract and retain
skilled and talented employees and contract labor, thus increasing their ability to innovate and
compete.
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A reputation for being sustainable will add value to our brand and strengthens our market
position, making us less vulnerable to short-term market and economic changes.
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Acting sustainably will help make tourist destinations more pleasant places to visit and live in.
Ensuring the long-term quality of the destination also helps guarantee business viability.
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Ex :: Sunlight
Ex :: Sunlight
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Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 29/40
Start writing here..
Important Assumptions
The nancial projections of the company are forecasted on the basis of the following assumptions.
These assumptions are quite conservative and are expected to show deviation but to a limited level
such that the company’s major nancial strategy will not be affected.
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Plan Month 1 2 3
Current Interest Rate 10,00% 11,00% 12,00%
Long-term Interest Rate 10,00% 10,00% 10,00%
Tax Rate 26,42% 27,76% 28,12%
Other 0 0 0
Brake-even Analysis
Monthly Units Break-even 5530
Monthly Revenue Break-even $159 740
Assumptions:
Average Per-Unit Revenue $260,87
Average Per-Unit Variable Cost $0,89
Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost $196 410
The last component of a travel agency business plan is an in-depth nancial
plan. The nancial plan crafts a detailed map of all the expenses needed for
the startup and how these expenses will be met by the earned prots. It is
recommended that you use our nancial planning tool for guiding you
through all nancial aspects needed to be considered for starting a travel
agency business.
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The company will be nanced by Mr. Miya himself and he will control the direction of the
business to make sure that it is expanding at the forecasted rate. As for the travel agency
business start-up, no equity funding or outside loans will be required. With the help of nancial
experts, Miya has developed the following nancial plan for his travel agency start-up business,
which outlines the nancial development of the travel agency over the next three years.
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Ex :: Sunlight
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 31/40
Projected Prot and Loss
Revenue
$1,185,465 $1,952,997.20 $2,839,986.20
Package Tours
$868,875 $1,218,960 $1,567,245
Unit Sales
579 813 1,045
Unit Price
$1,500 $1,500 $1,500
Flight Bookings
$123,309 $149,639 $202,352
Unit Sales
2,466 2,993 4,047
Unit Price
$50 $50 $50
Travel Insurance
$193,281 $584,398.20 $1,070,389.20
Users
1,011 2,176 3,720
Recurring Charges
$30 $30 $30
Cost Of Sales
$339,560.68 $492,363.81 $665,824.81
General Costs
$339,560.68 $492,363.81 $665,824.81
Tour Operations Costs
$154,837.18 $218,039.76 $290,852.87
Tour Guide Fees
$60,000 $61,800 $63,654
Transportation Costs
$94,837.18 $156,239.76 $227,198.87
Accommodation and Meals
$184,723.50 $274,324.05 $374,971.94
Hotel Accommodations
$118,546.50 $195,299.72 $283,998.62
Meal Expenses
$66,177 $79,024.33 $90,973.32
Revenue Specic Costs
$0 $0 $0
Personnel Costs (Direct
Labor)
$0 $0 $0
Gross Margin
$845,904.32 $1,460,633.39 $2,174,161.39
2024
2025
2026
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 32/40
Gross Margin (%)
71.36% 74.79% 76.56%
Operating Expense
$879,473.27 $939,407.90 $1,005,920.37
Payroll Expense (Indirect
Labor)
$666,600 $683,010 $699,840.60
Management Team
$208,800 $215,064 $221,515.92
General Manager
$115,200 $118,656 $122,215.68
Marketing Manager
$93,600 $96,408 $99,300.24
Tour Operations Staff
$358,800 $365,976 $373,295.52
Tour Operations Staff
$276,000 $281,520 $287,150.40
Driver
$82,800 $84,456 $86,145.12
Administrative Staff
$99,000 $101,970 $105,029.16
Administrative Assistant
$57,600 $59,328 $61,107.84
Receptionist
$41,400 $42,642 $43,921.32
General Expense
$212,873.26 $256,397.89 $306,079.77
Oce and Administrative
Expenses
$30,000 $30,660 $31,335
Oce Rent
$24,000 $24,480 $24,969.60
Utilities
$6,000 $6,180 $6,365.40
Marketing and Advertising
$77,273.26 $116,009.89 $160,726.53
Digital Marketing
$59,273.26 $97,649.89 $141,999.33
Print Advertising
$18,000 $18,360 $18,727.20
Travel and Entertainment
$105,600 $109,728 $114,018.24
Travel Expenses
$96,000 $99,840 $103,833.60
Entertainment
$9,600 $9,888 $10,184.64
Bad Debt
$0 $0 $0
2024
2025
2026
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 33/40
Amortization of Current
Assets
$0 $0 $0
EBITDA
($33,568.95) $521,225.49 $1,168,241.02
Additional Expense
$11,218.93 $9,284.77 $7,231.31
Long Term Depreciation
$6,072 $6,072 $6,072
Gain or loss from Sale of
Assets
$0 $0 $0
EBIT
($39,640.95) $515,153.49 $1,162,169.02
Interest Expense
$5,146.94 $3,212.76 $1,159.29
EBT
($44,787.88) $511,940.72 $1,161,009.71
Income Tax Expense /
Benet
$0 $0 $0
Total Expense
$1,230,252.88 $1,441,056.48 $1,678,976.49
Net Income
($44,787.88) $511,940.72 $1,161,009.71
Net Income (%)
(3.78%) 26.21% 40.88%
Retained Earning Opening
$0 ($59,787.88) $452,152.84
Owner's Distribution
$15,000 $0 $0
Retained Earning Closing
($59,787.88) $452,152.84 $1,613,162.55
2024
2025
2026
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 34/40
Projected Cash Flow
Cash Received
$1,185,465 $1,952,997.20 $2,839,986.20
Cash Paid
$1,224,180.88 $1,434,984.48 $1,672,904.49
COS & General Expenses
$552,433.95 $748,761.71 $971,904.58
Salary & Wages
$666,600 $683,010 $699,840.60
Interest
$5,146.94 $3,212.76 $1,159.29
Sales Tax
$0 $0 $0
Income Tax
$0 $0 $0
Net Cash From
Operations
($38,715.88) $518,012.72 $1,167,081.71
Assets Sell
$0 $0 $0
Assets Purchase
$40,000 $0 $0
Net Cash From
Investments
($40,000) $0 $0
Amount Received
$150,000 $0 $0
Loan Received
$100,000 $0 $0
Common Stock
$0 $0 $0
Preferred Stock
$0 $0 $0
Owner's Contribution
$50,000 $0 $0
Amount Paid
$46,359.35 $33,293.51 $35,347.12
Loan Capital
$31,359.34 $33,293.52 $35,347.14
Dividends & Distributions
$15,000 $0 $0
Net Cash From
Financing
$103,640.65 ($33,293.51) ($35,347.12)
2024
2025
2026
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 35/40
Summary
Starting Cash
$0 $24,924.77 $509,643.98
Cash In
$1,335,465 $1,952,997.20 $2,839,986.20
Cash Out
$1,310,540.23 $1,468,277.99 $1,708,251.61
Change in Cash
$24,924.77 $484,719.21 $1,131,734.59
Ending Cash
$24,924.77 $509,643.98 $1,641,378.57
2024
2025
2026
Projected Balance Sheet
Assets
$58,852.77 $537,499.98 $1,663,162.57
Current Assets
$24,924.77 $509,643.98 $1,641,378.57
Cash
$24,924.77 $509,643.98 $1,641,378.57
Accounts Receivable
$0 $0 $0
Inventory
$0 $0 $0
Other Current Assets
$0 $0 $0
Long Term Assets
$33,928 $27,856 $21,784
Gross Long Term Assets
$40,000 $40,000 $40,000
Accumulated Depreciation
($6,072) ($12,144) ($18,216)
Liabilities & Equity
$58,852.78 $537,499.98 $1,663,162.55
Liabilities
$68,640.66 $35,347.14 $0
Current Liabilities
$33,293.52 $35,347.14 $0
Accounts Payable
$0 $0 $0
Income Tax Payable
$0 $0 $0
2024
2025
2026
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 36/40
Sales Tax Payable
$0 $0 $0
Short Term Debt
$33,293.52 $35,347.14 $0
Long Term Liabilities
$35,347.14 $0 $0
Long Term Debt
$35,347.14 $0 $0
Equity
($9,787.88) $502,152.84 $1,663,162.55
Paid-in Capital
$0 $0 $0
Common Stock
$0 $0 $0
Preferred Stock
$0 $0 $0
Owner's Contribution
$50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Retained Earnings
($59,787.88) $452,152.84 $1,613,162.55
Check
$0 $0 $0
2024
2025
2026
Business Ratios
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Industry Prole
Sales Growth 4,35% 30,82% 63,29% 4,00%
Percent of Total Assets
Accounts Receivable 5,61% 4,71% 3,81% 9,70%
Inventory 1,85% 1,82% 1,79% 9,80%
Other Current Assets 1,75% 2,02% 2,29% 27,40%
Total Current Assets 138,53% 150,99% 163,45% 54,60%
Long-term Assets -9,47% -21,01% -32,55% 58,40%
TOTAL ASSETS 100,00% 100,00% 100,00% 100,00%
Current Liabilities 4,68% 3,04% 2,76% 27,30%
Long-term Liabilities 0,00% 0,00% 0,00% 25,80%
Total Liabilities 4,68% 3,04% 2,76% 54,10%
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 37/40
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Industry Prole
NET WORTH 99,32% 101,04% 102,76% 44,90%
Percent of Sales
Sales 100,00% 100,00% 100,00% 100,00%
Gross Margin 94,18% 93,85% 93,52% 0,00%
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses 74,29% 71,83% 69,37% 65,20%
Advertising Expenses 2,06% 1,11% 0,28% 1,40%
Prot Before Interest and Taxes 26,47% 29,30% 32,13% 2,86%
Main Ratios
Current 25,86 29,39 32,92 1,63
Quick 25,4 28,88 32,36 0,84
Total Debt to Total Assets 2,68% 1,04% 0,76% 67,10%
Pre-tax Return on Net Worth 66,83% 71,26% 75,69% 4,40%
Pre-tax Return on Assets 64,88% 69,75% 74,62% 9,00%
Additional Ratios Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Net Prot Margin 19,20% 21,16% 23,12% N.A.
Return on Equity 47,79% 50,53% 53,27% N.A.
Activity Ratios
Accounts Receivable Turnover 4,56 4,56 4,56 N.A.
Collection Days 92 99 106 N.A.
Inventory Turnover 19,7 22,55 25,4 N.A.
Accounts Payable Turnover 14,17 14,67 15,17 N.A.
Payment Days 27 27 27 N.A.
Total Asset Turnover 1,84 1,55 1,26 N.A.
Debt Ratios
Debt to Net Worth 0 -0,02 -0,04 N.A.
Current Liab. to Liab. 1 1 1 N.A.
Liquidity Ratios
Net Working Capital $120 943 $140 664 $160 385 N.A.
Travel Agency | Business Plan [YEAR] 38/40
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