<P> In some countries, airlines have stopped giving commissions to travel agencies . Therefore, travel agencies are now forced to charge a percentage premium or a standard flat fee, per sale . However, some companies pay travel agencies a set percentage for selling their product . Major tour companies can afford to do this, because if they were to sell a thousand trips at a cheaper rate, they would still come out better than if they sold a hundred trips at a higher rate . This process benefits both parties . It is also cheaper to offer commissions to travel agents rather than engage in advertising and distribution campaigns without using agents . </P> <P> Other commercial operations are undertaken, especially by the larger chains . These can include the sale of in - house insurance, travel guide books, and public transport timetables, car rentals, and the services of an on - site bureau de change, dealing in the most popular holiday currencies . </P> <P> A travel agent is supposed to offer impartial travel advice to the customer, as well as coordinating travel details and assisting the customer in booking travel . However, this function almost disappeared with the mass market package holiday, and some agency chains seemed to develop a "holiday supermarket" concept, in which customers choose their holiday from brochures on racks and then book it from a counter . Again, a variety of social and economic changes have now contrived to bring this aspect to the fore once more, particularly with the advent of multiple, no - frills, low - cost airlines . </P> <P> Traditionally, travel agencies' principal source of income was, and continues to be, commissions paid for bookings of car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours, tour operators, etc . A fixed percentage of the main element of the price is paid to the agent as a commission . Commissions may vary depending on the type of product and the supplier . Commissions are not paid on the tax component of the price . Travel agencies also receive a large variety of bonuses, benefits, and other incentives from travel and tourism related companies as inducements for travel agents to promote their products . The customer is normally not made aware of how much the travel agent is earning in commissions and other benefits . Other sources of income may include the sale of insurance, travel guide books, public transport timetables and money exchange . </P>

What are the types of businesses that make up the travel and tourism industry