Tour Operators
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in arranging and assembling tours. The tours are sold through travel agencies or tour operators. Travel or wholesale tour operators are included in this industry.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services sector comprises establishments performing routine support activities for the day-to-day operations of other organizations. These essential activities are often undertaken in-house by establishments in many sectors of the economy. The establishments in this sector specialize in one or more of these support activities and provide these services to clients in a variety of industries and, in some cases, to households. Activities performed include: office administration, hiring and placing of personnel, document preparation and similar clerical services, solicitation, collection, security and surveillance services, cleaning, and waste disposal services. The administrative and management activities performed by establishments in this sector are typically on a contract or fee basis. These activities may also be performed by establishments that are part of the company or enterprise. However, establishments involved in administering, overseeing, and managing other establishments of the company or enterprise are classified in Sector 55, Management of Companies and Enterprises. Establishments in Sector 55, Management of Companies and Enterprises, normally undertake the strategic and organizational planning and decision-making role of the company or enterprise. Government establishments engaged in administering, overseeing, and managing governmental programs are classified in Sector 92, Public Administration. |
| 561 | Administrative and Support Services 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Administrative and Support Services subsector group establishments engaged in activities that support the day-to-day operations of other organizations. The processes employed in this sector (e.g., general management, personnel administration, clerical activities, cleaning activities) are often integral parts of the activities of establishments found in all sectors of the economy. The establishments classified in this subsector have specialization in one or more of these activities and can, therefore, provide services to clients in a variety of industries and, in some cases, to households. The individual industries of this subsector are defined on the basis of the particular process that they are engaged in and the particular services they provide. Many of the activities in this subsector are ongoing routine support functions that businesses and organizations perform in-house. However, it is common to contract or purchase services from businesses that specialize in such activities and can, therefore, provide the services more efficiently. The industries in this subsector cannot be viewed as strictly "support." The Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services industry group includes travel agents, tour operators, and providers of other travel arrangement services, such as hotel and restaurant reservations and arranging the purchase of tickets, serving many types of clients, including individual consumers. This group was placed in this subsector because the services are often of the "support" nature (e.g., travel arrangement) to businesses and other organizations that purchase such services. The administrative and management activities performed by establishments in this sector are typically on a contract or fee basis. These activities may also be performed by establishments that are part of the company or enterprise. However, establishments involved in administering, overseeing, and managing other establishments of the company or enterprise are classified in Sector 55, Management of Companies and Enterprises. Establishments in Sector 55, Management of Companies and Enterprises, normally undertake the strategic and organizational planning and decision-making role of the company or enterprise. Government establishments engaged in administering, overseeing, and managing governmental programs are classified in Sector 92, Public Administration. |
| 5615 | Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in one of the following: (1) travel agency services; (2) arranging and assembling tours; or (3) other travel arrangement and reservation services. |
| 56152 | Tour Operators 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 561520. |
| 561520 | Tour Operators 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in arranging and assembling tours. The tours are sold through travel agencies or tour operators. Travel or wholesale tour operators are included in this industry. |
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Use this NAICS classification as the starting point, then connect it to Item workflows across inventory, warehousing, order management, fulfillment, and transportation.
Classification References
- 01Acting as agents in selling travel, tour, and accommodation services to the general public and commercial clients--are classified in Industry 561510, Travel Agencies;
- 02Conducting scenic and sightseeing tours--are classified in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation; and
- 03Providing guide services, such as archeological, museum, tourist, hunting, or fishing--are classified in Industry 713990, All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries.
Index Items
Tour operators (i.e., arranging and assembling tours)
Travel tour operators
Wholesale tour operators
How Item Can Help
Optimizes inventory management for physical tour packages and equipment by tracking stock levels across multiple distribution centers in real-time.
Automates the end-to-end booking and reservation process to handle high transaction volumes with reduced human error during peak travel seasons.
Analyzes customer data to identify popular routes and trends, enabling operators to dynamically adjust pricing and allocate resources efficiently.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 561520.
U.S. Travel Association
A major trade association representing major companies involved in planning and selling travel products and services.
National Park Service – Recreation.gov
A U.S. government page providing information on tour operators and services at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
AOTA Professional Services Directory
An industry directory listing professional travel-related services including tour operators across the United States.
