National parks, history-rich sites and events rank as the top three types of tour packages offered by tour operators who are members of the National Tour Association.

Nearly three-fourths of the association's 700 tour companies package travel to national parks, and some two-thirds offer tours both to historical sites and events. Other packages offered by 40 percent or more of NTA tour operators are performance, luxury, culinary, cruises, active/adventure and sports. Along with those types of travel, the most popular markets served by NTA tour operators are students and family/multi-generational groups.

In a survey of its members, NTA gathered tour-market data from 2015 to compile its annual tour operator profile. Other notable results:

• NTA tour operators moved nearly 15 million travelers throughout the year, generating total sales of $10.5 billion.
• Three-quarters of NTA tour operators offer tours for travelers 50 years and older, and 58 percent conduct tours for travelers 18 and younger.
• A majority of operators offer customized tours (77 percent) and scheduled departures (71 percent). Just under half (45 percent) package FIT, or individual travel.
• NTA members serve customers traveling to, from and within North America, with 70 percent of operators packaging travel within the continent. Nearly 45 percent package outbound tours, and 35 percent bring (or send) international travelers into North America.
• Two-thirds of NTA tour operators offer commissionable tour packages, and 62 percent offer receptive services.

Along with reporting their current tour product, NTA operators projected the types of travel they plan to offer in the next three years. The leading tour types not currently offered but expected to be introduced are ecotours, cruises, voluntourism, culinary and sports. 

About NTA: Founded in 1951, NTA is a global association of packaged-travel professionals who serve customers traveling to, from and within North America. For more information, visit NTAonline.com.