The activities can range from booking tickets and accommodations to providing detailed tour packages complete with guided tours and transportation. Many agencies also offer added services such as insurance, currency exchange, visa assistance, and other services related to travel.

A tour operator controls, books and devises the whole trip. They create a package holiday by combining all elements such as hotel, airport transfers, activities, restaurants, tours and such like. A tour may not include all of these elements, the list is purely an example.

A tour operator is responsible for operating and providing your vacation by booking, packaging and organizing your hotel, transportation, meals, guides, optional tours and—sometimes—flights.