The acronym OTA in the tourism sector stands for Online Travel Agencies purchasing tour packages online, whether through websites, apps, or social media (it's very common for smaller OTAs to operate via WhatsApp or Telegram, in addition to their own website).
Currently, the online channel has revolutionized the travel agency sector , bringing numerous benefits to both the agency itself and the user.
Benefits for the user:
Benefits for the agency:
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It's important to understand the difference between an OTA and a metasearch engine . For example, Airbnb, Booking , and Expedia are OTAs, as they offer a range of travel services on their platforms; however, Kayak acts as a metasearch engine, providing different results from the aforementioned OTAs based on the selected date and city.
Online travel agencies (OTAs) operate very simply . They act as intermediaries between the provider and the end user, taking a percentage of each booking made through their platform . This commission typically ranges from 10% to 25% of the sale price.
While the commission is one of the biggest drawbacks of OTAs, they do, on the other hand, provide users (both providers and end users) with a secure platform to operate.
In Europe, OTAs are key platforms for the functioning of tourism. Below we will look at the best-known OTAs, or vacation rental platforms :
When working with OTAs, there are no language or geographical limitations, unlike in the traditional market; therefore, it's much easier to internationalize and scale your business without significant investment. By integrating Check-in Scan with the most popular OTAs, we can streamline the check-in process, converting traditional paper-and-pen check-in to automatic online check-in .
Have you tried the Check-in Scanapp yet?
Create and register your Traveler Forms online and submit them directly to the authorities.
Integrating OTAs into your marketing strategy or plan can be a great way to increase bookings. OTAs invest heavily in advertising to drive traffic to their platforms, so indirectly, travel providers who choose to advertise there will increase their online visibility. If this is combined with excellent service from the travel provider, generating positive reviews from end users, the OTAs will further enhance the visibility of the quality service offered.
Online travel agencies (OTAs) increase the visibility of the tourism services they offer, but, as previously mentioned, they operate on a commission basis. Therefore, many end users, once they've learned about a company's service (hotel or apartment bookings, plane or train tickets, tour packages, etc.) through an OTA, prefer to book directly on the provider's website. This way, they avoid the OTA's commission and can find the same service at a lower price.
