Tourist companies and cruise tour operators: possibilities for cooperation

Today it becomes evident that the financial crisis in Russia, the bankruptcy of tour operators and airline companies, a high degree of terrorist threat in key resorts threaten mass protracted crisis for the entire tourism industry, including for companies engaged in travel agency activities. In times of crisis it is especially important for businesses to be competitive, active and looking for new opportunities to maintain and increase the profitability of the enterprise. Cruises can become the instrument of the current growth in travel agencies. This article analyzes the possibilities of usage of cruise offers to expand the assortment policy of travel agencies. These problems are not adequately reflected in the work of scientists. The scientific works generally deal with issues of development trends of the cruise market, and actively discuss issues of cruise tourism development near Alaska, as well as regional peculiarities of river cruises. To disclose the theme and achieve the goal the author examines the development of cruise companies, conducts the analysis of price offer by regions, seasons and cabin types, compares cruise tour operators, operating on the Russian market, and also indicates the work prospects with each of them through the analysis of the contractual relationship and commission. The relevance of the study caused by a forecast of significant growth in demand for cruise tours among Russian tourists in the coming years against the backdrop of a flexible pricing policy cruise companies and the crisis in mass destinations such as Egypt and Turkey.