Start A Travel Directory - Business Ideas

Updated: September 15th, 2022
Start A Travel Directory

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

An online travel directory is a website that serves as a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.

It provides travelers with a vast selection of trusted reviews and tips to help people travel across the globe with ease.

These directories usually offer a comprehensive database of destinations, including hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and travel agents, among others.

One of the significant benefits of these directories is that they allow users to add destinations from their travel agent’s listings or local business listings based on reviews and testimonials from fellow travelers.

This feature helps users make informed decisions about their travel plans by providing them with a wealth of information on various destinations.

Additionally, online travel directories tend to have an active community of users who share their travel experiences and offer valuable insights and tips.

This community-driven approach to travel planning ensures that users get reliable and up-to-date information that can help them plan their trips with confidence.

Overall, online travel directories are an excellent resource for anyone looking to explore the world, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-timer.

They offer a wealth of information on various destinations, making it easy to plan a memorable trip that meets your unique preferences and budget.

Starting a travel directory requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.

If you're interested in how to sell travel directory, or selling travel directory online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.

Key Stats

market size
$540B
starting costs
$5.89K
gross margin
65%
time to build
210 days

Startup Costs

Min Startup Costs Max Startup Costs

Office Space Expenses

$0

$7,000

Training & Education Expenses

$0

$1,000

Software Expenses

$0

$594

Advertising & Marketing Costs

$0

$2,750

Website Costs

$13

$215

Specific Industry Expenses

$0

$100

Total Startup Costs

$13

$11,659

Successful Businesses

Business URL Rank

RCI

rci.com

34,913

Travel.gc.ca

travel.gc.ca

41,550

TRAVEL TOURISM DIRECTORY

traveltourismdirectory.info

53,929

World's Best Luxury Travel Advisors and Hotels

virtuoso.com

54,336

Travel Weekly

travelweekly.com

68,536

Everything you need to know to travel to South Africa (US)

southafrica.net

146,001

Tour Travel World

tourtravelworld.com

146,252

Signature Travel Network

signaturetravelnetwork.com

153,979

Travel Leaders

travelleaders.com

214,352

Travel Tourism Directory

traveltourismdirectory.net

220,724

Flight Database & Statistics

oag.com

232,330

Pros & Cons

Pros Description

Flexibility

You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own.

Ability to start your business from home

It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning!

Little startup costs required

The cost to start a travel directory costs significantly less money than most businesses, ranging anywhere from 12 to 11,659.

Rewarding work

Starting a travel directory can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

Scalable

With businesses and processes changing daily, there will always be demand for new features, products and services for your business. Additionally, there are several different business models and pricing tiers you can implement that will allow you to reach all types of customers.

Traffic to your website

A travel directory gives people a reason to visit your website and to keep coming back to you!

Cons Description

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your travel directory, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Constant maintenance of publication

You may find yourself constantly needing to update your travel directory in order to stay relevant for your audience and for those searching on google.

Lack of benefits

With a travel directory, you are typically self-employed and responsible for finding your own insurance, which can be quite costly and time-consuming.

Isolation

Often times, as a travel directory, you typically work alone and do not have much face-to-face interaction with other team members.

Taxes

As a travel directory, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.

No safety net

Typically, as a travel directory, you do not receive a consistent pay-check and instead earn money based on your transactions each month. During the slow periods, you typically take away less since the job is based on commission. It's important to budget accordingly for the slow times.

Marketing Ideas

  • 1

    Affiliate Program

    Affiliate marketing is a great way to bring in a new revenue stream, especially when you don't sell products or services.

    Simply put, an affiliate program is an agreement where a business pays another business or influencer ("the affiliate") a commission for sending traffic and/or sales their way.

    The affiliate typically gets a unique link where clicks and conversions can be tracked.

    Learn more about affiliate program ➜

  • 2

    Direct Sales

    Direct sales strategy implies a direct contact between a seller and a consumer without the involvement of any third party. Direct selling is popular in sectors where sellers communicate with their clientele personally. The sales technique occurs at non-store locations which include at home, work, or online.

    For direct selling to succeed, hire a few (or many) salespeople to support the sales conversion process. It's critical that you assign them specific roles and responsibilities to nurture the client and provide excellent support.

    Learn more about direct sales ➜

  • 3

    Word of mouth

    Word of mouth is when a consumers reflects their interest in a company’s product or service in their daily dialogues.

    Therefore, word of mouth advertising is essentially a free advertising triggered by the customers experience.

    According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family.

    Therefore, in today’s hyper-connected world, a single recommendation through a word of mouth can have a huge impact to your business.

    Learn more about word of mouth ➜