Travel and Tourism Organisations: Food & Drink Providers, Attractions, Ancillary Services, and Transport Hire

Definition: Food and drink providers are travel and tourism organisations that provide food and/or drinks for sale.
Types of food and drink providers:
- Restaurants: serve meals to customers who sit down to eat.
- Cafes: provide drinks, snacks and sometimes meals to customers who may sit or stand.
- Local street food vendors: have stalls or carts in the street and sell snacks that are typical of the local food of a destination.
- Takeaways (takeouts): travel and tourism businesses that sell food for customers to take away to eat elsewhere, for example, in tourists' self-catering accommodation.

Visitor attractions are places and events that appeal to tourists.
Visitor attractions can be:
- natural attractions, for example, beaches and waterfalls;
- built attractions, for example, museums and theme parks;
- events such as sports competitions and arts festivals, which also attract tourists.

Natural attractions are places that appeal to tourists because of the environment.
Examples include: spectacular scenery for sightseeing; waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, valleys, beautiful lakes and cliff coastlines.
Beaches can be scenically beautiful and also attract tourists who want to sunbathe, picnic, swim or enjoy watersports.
The nature and wildlife of rural areas and the marine life of coral reefs are also examples of how natural attractions appeal to tourists.

Built attractions are buildings and monuments that appeal to visitors.
Museums, art galleries and historical monuments attract cultural tourists.
Historic and beautiful buildings and ruins such as castles, fortresses and religious buildings also attract tourists.
Travel and tourism organisations manage built attractions and often sell tickets to tourists, as well as providing guided tours, gift shops and cafés.

Events are time-limited happenings that appeal to tourists.
Examples include sports competitions such as the Olympic Games, arts festivals and religious celebrations.
Events in destinations attract visitors and help to increase low season occupancy rates at hotels.

Definition: Ancillary service providers are travel and tourism organisations that provide services to tourists other than travel, accommodation, food and drink and visitor attractions.
Characteristic: Ancillary services are extra or additional services that are not usually included in package holidays.

Tour agents in destinations are tour operators that provide guided tours as a tourism service.
Example: tourists visiting a historic city destination may choose to hire a local guide to show them the local built attractions.
Example: tourists visiting a rural (countryside) destination may hire a local guide to explain the local scenery and wildlife.

International tourists may need to exchange the currency of their home country for the currency of the destination.
Examples: inbound tourists to many European countries may need euros (the local currency of many European countries); tourists to the USA need US dollars; visitors to India need rupees.
Travel and tourism organisations including travel agents and some larger hotels provide currency exchange as an additional, ancillary service for customers.

Car hire and bicycle hire are examples of local transport rental services in destinations.
Tourists visiting a destination may choose to rent a car or a bicycle to move around more easily.
Travel agents may provide car and bicycle hire as ancillary services.
Customers buying a package holiday from a travel agent could choose to pay for car or bicycle hire as an optional extra.
Large hotels in destinations sometimes allow car and bicycle hire providers to operate desks in the hotel.
Car and bicycle hire desks in an all-inclusive hotel may be provided as an extra, ancillary service for customers.

These categories show how tourism supply chains are interdependent: accommodation, transport, food, attractions, and ancillary services all contribute to the tourist experience.
Built attractions often monetize through tickets, guided tours, gift shops, and cafés, creating multiple revenue streams.
Events can boost destination appeal outside peak seasons, aiding hotel occupancy and local economies.
Currency exchange services facilitate international visitors but require regulatory compliance and security considerations.
Transportation options (car/bike hire) increase mobility and flexibility, influencing how tourists experience a destination; integration with other services (hotels, package holidays) matters for guest satisfaction.

Sustainability: operating attractions and transport services should consider environmental impact and resource use.
Local impact: events and attractions should respect local communities and avoid over-tourism; manage crowding and preserve cultural integrity.
Accessibility and inclusivity: services should be accessible to people with disabilities and to diverse visitor needs.
Responsible tourism: providers should promote respectful behavior, preserve natural and cultural heritage, and support local livelihoods.