Hannover/Palma/Brussels, 3 March 2023

TUI further drives product led growth with launch of TUI tours platform

  • TUI tours (www.tuitours.com) is the Group’s latest strategic initiative next to the expansion of dynamic packaging, accommodation- and flight-only, cars and experiences.
  • Platform will strengthen TUI’s leading position in growing global market (100 billion USD per annum) and target growth in existing & untapped customer segments
  • Available to customers and travel advisors in Belgium ahead of international roll out this year
  • Platform’s digital production and customisation capabilities simplify a complex, manual process
  • Developed with leading travel tech startup Nezasa

TUI, one of the world’s leading tourism businesses, is targeting product led growth in existing and untapped customer segments with the launch of TUI tours. The new platform tuitours.com is a cutting-edge tool that enables the digital production of group and individual tours by travel advisors and customers and simplifying the development of multi-day tours and roundtrips. The growing tours market is valued at 100 billion USD, with annual growth of 6 per cent – yet is largely offline and highly fragmented. TUI is already a market leader and since 2018 has provided tours for over 500,000 customers, but plans to drive further growth with the TUI tours platform, which has been launched in Belgium ahead of its international roll out.

The TUI tours platform is a single, end to end system that enables sourcing, production, distribution and fulfilment of tours. Built in conjunction with Nezasa, an award-winning travel tech startup, the platform provides fast and accurate itinerary development, with real time pricing and availability, in a modern drag & drop system, simplifying the previously complex process of building tours. Customers and travel advisors select from group or individual itineraries, which they can then seamlessly personalize in real time with access to TUI and third-party travel components, including flights, accommodation, transfers, car rental, experiences, and guides. This reflects the demands of the modern traveler for greater flexibility and convenience.

Peter Krueger, TUI Chief Strategy Officer & Holiday Experiences CEO: “TUI is already the market leader in multi day tours and now we enhance our product offering based on new technology. Growing our experiences product portfolio is a key strategic priority for TUI. The tours segment in particular is a sizeable and strongly growing market. We are proud having successfully launched a new fully integrated platform.”

The platform leverages the strengths of TUI, such as strong relationships with industry partners as well as high quality in-destination service delivery, and the knowledge of local and global experts for tour itinerary development and curation. Furthermore, customers and travel advisors can combine exclusive products, including the Robinson, Magic Life and TUI Blue hotel portfolio, and the unique TUI Collection range of experiences.

David Burling, TUI Markets & Airlines CEO: “Europe’s highest mountains in eight days, a road trip across the United States, or the amazing beaches of Mexico – with TUI tours, holidaymakers and travel advisors can easily and quickly find the tour they want, or customise a suggested itinerary to their needs. Through combining cutting-edge technology with TUI’s travel expertise and service promise, we are bringing something totally new to the market – scalable customisation of tours.”

The TUI tours platform is initially available exclusively in Belgium to travel advisors and direct to customers, with a wider international roll out during 2023 and 2024. Individual and group tours in 30 countries, including destinations in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, are already available. The platform replaces previously used local solutions and includes the full portfolio of existing Group tours offered by TUI.

Browse the platform at https://tuitours.com

What is a Tour?

‘Tours’, also known as ‘multi-day tours’ and ‘roundtrips’, vary in duration from two nights to several weeks, with a travel itinerary covering different regions / destinations / cities / islands in one or several countries.

There are two main types of tour: A Group tour, where the customers travels with like-minded individuals, or an Individual tour, which is organized on a more private basis for one or multiple customers.

A tour always includes accommodation and normally transportation, as well as other optional products and services, including experiences, guides and flights.

The TUI tours platform enables customers and travel advisors to adjust any a proposed tour element, or design a dream itinerary from scratch. In many cases, an extension can be added at the end or beginning of the tour to combine exploration with relaxation, e.g. some days at a beachside hotel.

About TUI Group

The TUI Group is one of the world's leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, in the regulated market of the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover and in the FTSE 250, an index of the London Stock Exchange. TUI Group offers its 19 million customers integrated services from a single source and forms the entire tourism value chain under one roof. The Group owns over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson and 16 cruise ships, ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 in the luxury class and expedition ships in the HANSEATIC class to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise ships operated by Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes Europe's leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms, for example for hotel-only or flight-only offers, five airlines with more than 130 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels and cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in vacation destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a global tourism platform company.

Global responsibility for sustainable economic, environmental and social action is at the heart of our corporate culture. With projects in 25 countries, the TUI Care Foundation initiated by TUI focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards. In this way, it supports the development of vacation destinations. The globally active TUI Care Foundation initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation.