Definition of All Inclusive

The all inclusive label is used in the tourism sector and designates those tour packages in which the consumer pay a fixed price for all hotel services. Thus, when the traveler hires this type of package, the price includes the trip, room, food, drink and leisure activities and free time.

Who would be interested?

The all inclusive is not designed for all tourists but for a profile determined. Thus, it is an interesting product for:

- Those who want to spend their holidays in a hotel complex to rest and carry out activities in their own establishment.

- Those who want to stick to a budget and not get out of it. In this sense, it is convenient not to have to handle money during the stay because all the services are already incorporated in the initial price.

- Those who are not interested in excursions or complementary cultural visits.

The modality is not without criticism

Those responsible for leisure establishments outside hotels consider that it is a product that goes against their interests, since tourists do not consume outside the hotel. It is a product designed solely for the

tourism sun and beach. The all-inclusive only benefits large hotel companies, since small hotels cannot offer this type of service. The all-inclusive is considered by some as a threat for sustainable tourism. Sometimes the all-inclusive can have a certain trick, since it is not always true that everything is included but that almost everything is included.

New types of tourists

It is designed for the tourist that you want a fully closed price for the services you are going to receive. This reminds us that tourism is a social phenomenon that is in a process of permanent change.

In the present some travelers are looking for establishments where they can take their pets. There are people who look for hotels where they are not admitted kids, because they want to enjoy their vacations away from the bustle of children. There are gay tourists looking for hotels in which the gay community has a preference. To promote family tourism, some hotels offer significant discounts for children.

The profile of tourists is constantly changing and that is why we speak of single travelers, single-parent families, the backpacker, the explorer tourist, etc.

Photos: Fotolia - emaria / wollertz

Themes in All Inclusive