Consumers as a marketing tool for the development of tourist activities
The article explores the features of the behavioral nature of consumers of tourism services, allowing to ensure the economic development of tourism companies based on the implementation of the basic principle of marketing - customer orientation. The competitiveness of a travel company is significantly affected not only by natural, climatic, economic, political, environmental, but also social factors. In order to study consumer preferences in the market of travel services, a questionnaire was developed and a survey of consumers (customers) in the amount of 100 people was conducted. The survey was conducted among real consumers (customers) of travel companies in the city of Nalchik. It was found that the higher the level of education of consumers, the greater their desire for knowledge and travel; mid-level managers and employees annually use part (a couple of weeks) of their vacation for recreation; the education and professional activities of potential clients of travel agencies affect not only the number of trips they make, but also the choice of travel destination; the main source of information about tourist destinations and services among potential clients of travel agencies is Internet resources; a decrease in cash income entails a reduction in the need for tourism services. Thus, socially oriented consumers are a marketing tool for the economic development of tourism companies and ensure their competitiveness. The information obtained as a result of the research will allow us to better understand customer behavior, timely identify problems that impede the effective conduct of business and reduce the likelihood of risk in the process of making the right management decisions in the tourism sector. Implementation of the main marketing principle - customer orientation will allow you to concentrate on the most promising market segments, to increase the efficiency of the applied forms and methods of sales, advertising, sales promotion, and, in general, to ensure the economic growth of tourism companies.