13 Things This Tour Operator Is Doing to Get Past Coronavirus

Chris Wilson founded Typically Swiss Tours in 2018 after years of working in the event and broadcasting industries, Chris also owns a number of holiday accommodations for international guests.

Reading Time: 2 mins 30 sec

by | 26 March 2020

Chris has provided a handy 13 Things This Tour Operator Is Doing to Get Past Coronavirus list, here is what he has been doing to be in the best possible position post-Coronavirus to attract and deliver the best tour business possible.

1) Speaking to experts at this time is incredibly important to position yourself well and make informed decisions. 

I took advantage of Peter Syme’s free advice. Peter is the Managing Director, 1000 Mile Journeys and a top bloke on the tours and activities industry, and what to do now. He is brilliant and giving his time and advice for free!

2) Another top man to speak with is Josh Oakes of the Sunshine Tribe. He provided guidance on what to do now and in the future. 

If you have time, I recommend reading his in-depth 5-step plan, alternatively, Arival have provided a summary of his plan: Navigating a crisis: A 5-step action plan for tour business owners

3) To prepare for upcoming sales, I’ve worked with my developer to make the Typically Swiss Tours website more impactful.

4) Next, to get our marketing plan together I’ve been using two resources that are offered for free by Chris Torres, Lookers into Bookers and his tour operator battleplan to fight against Coronavirus.

5) The general advice here; Read everything you can to learn about our industry and how your brand can grow. 

6) The hardest part of my day is refunding customers 100% and speaking to them about the future (and this isn’t easy).

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7) To stay relevant and provide content for when the industry picks up, I’ve been investing time in posting about Switzerland, follow us on Facebook to keep us motivated.

8) Maintaining my marketing spend of $500 per month to ramp up my SEO (search engine optimization), so that I am very findable when travelers start shopping again.

9) One of those things I always said I’d do later… Going through my photo data and organizing, cleaning, and optimizing. 

10) As part of my new sales strategy, I am now looking at joining various OTAs to increase my exposure. Hopefully, you’ll be seeing Typically Swiss Tours on Expedia, ToursByLocals, and other Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) soon.

11) Speaking to as many tour operators around the world to learn, connect, and also help. So far I’ve made great contacts with people from Italy to Tasmania.

Join Arival Connect to network and help others in the tours, activities, and attractions community. 

12) Keeping fit, staying healthy, and maintaining distance from others.

13) Anxiously awaiting news of when Arival Berlin will be rescheduled.

Arival says: We’re working away on this, Chris. Stay tuned! And thank you for sharing what you are doing to see your business through this tough time.

Chris also shared more about changing careers and his journey into tours on Episode 62 of the Tourpreneur Podcast.

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIVAL | ACTIVATE EDINBURGH AND ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA AND WHICH SHOULD I ATTEND?

Since 2019, Arival has hosted one major event in Europe each year. For 2024-2025, we’re thrilled to offer two exciting events: Arival 360 | Valencia and Arival | Activate Edinburgh. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which event to attend—or why you might want to come to both:

Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
  • Arival Theater Content: Global topics including: over-tourism and sustainability, technology, distribution, European consumer and operator trends.
  • Breakout Sessions: In-depth workshops on operational best practices, product expansion, AI, channel management, marketing tech, a Spain-specific track and an Innovation Showcase highlighting the most tech-savvy companies in our industry.
  • Networking: Connect with leading OTAs and distribution companies, and build valuable partnerships.
  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
Arival | Activate Edinburgh (23-25 November 2024)
  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
  • Audience: Operators and industry professionals from the region.
  • Content: Gain insights on regional topics like technology, distribution strategies, and hear from top regional tourism leaders.
  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
Why attend both?

With limited opportunities for business development, learning, and networking in our industry, attending both events is a strategic move. By participating in both Edinburgh and Valencia, you maximize your exposure to diverse markets and influential contacts. 

However, if budget constraints or a specific regional focus dictate your decisions, choose the event that best aligns with your primary business goals. Join us in Edinburgh for regional insights or Valencia for global perspectives—or better yet, attend both to fully leverage the potential of Arival’s expansive network.

For service providers such as a restech or ticketing platform, distribution company, or other services including marketing, AI tools, etc., attending both gives you access to attendees from both markets to connect with your current customers and to meet new ones!

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