Tour Manager job at UTU East Africa Travels

Utu East Africa Travels Ltd is a growing tours and travel company based in Kampala, Uganda, specializing in tailor-made safaris, gorilla trekking, cultural tours, and East African travel experiences. We pride ourselves on professional service.

Job Summary

We are looking for a proactive, results-driven Tour Manager to lead our tour operations and drive business growth and oversee the day-to-day management of tour operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Tour Operations & Reservations

• Manage all tour operations, reservations, bookings, and travel arrangements
• Oversee the full booking cycle from enquiry to post-tour follow-up
• Ensure timely confirmations, payments, vouchers, and travel documentation
• Work confidently with Global Distribution Systems (GDS), including Amadeus, Galileo/Travelport, or Sabre.

2. Itinerary Design, Costing & Sales

• Design, cost, and sell tailor-made safari packages and travel itineraries
• Drive sales growth through proactive client engagement and follow-ups

3. Supplier & Partner Management

• Coordinate with hotels, lodges, airlines, transport providers, and tour guides.
• Maintain strong relationships with tourism suppliers and international travel partners

4. Client Service & Quality Control

• Provide excellent pre-trip advice and in-trip support to clients
• Handle client feedback, complaints, and emergencies professionally and promptly.

5. Team Leadership & Reporting

• Supervise and support reservations and operations staff and guides
• Maintain accurate records of bookings, sales, and supplier payments
• Prepare regular operational and sales reports for the Managing Director

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism, Hospitality, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in tour operations, travel consultancy, or airline ticketing
• Excellent knowledge of Uganda’s tourism products, safari destinations, lodges, and East African travel circuits
• Proven experience in itinerary planning, tour costing, and supplier negotiations
• Strong understanding of gorilla permits, park fees, and travel regulations in East Africa is an added advantage

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent communication, sales, negotiation, and customer service skills
• Strong organizational, multitasking, and problem-solving abilities
• High attention to detail and ability to work under pressure
• Proficiency in MS Office, email, and travel booking systems
• Proven hands-on experience in GDS reservations and airline ticket issuance.
• Professionalism, integrity, and a passion for tourism

• Manage all tour operations, reservations, bookings, and travel arrangements
• Oversee the full booking cycle from enquiry to post-tour follow-up
• Ensure timely confirmations, payments, vouchers, and travel documentation
• Work confidently with Global Distribution Systems (GDS), including Amadeus, Galileo/Travelport, or Sabre.
• Design, cost, and sell tailor-made safari packages and travel itineraries
• Drive sales growth through proactive client engagement and follow-ups
• Coordinate with hotels, lodges, airlines, transport providers, and tour guides.
• Maintain strong relationships with tourism suppliers and international travel partners
• Provide excellent pre-trip advice and in-trip support to clients
• Handle client feedback, complaints, and emergencies professionally and promptly.
• Supervise and support reservations and operations staff and guides
• Maintain accurate records of bookings, sales, and supplier payments
• Prepare regular operational and sales reports for the Managing Director

• Excellent communication
• sales
• negotiation
• customer service skills
• Strong organizational
• multitasking
• problem-solving abilities
• High attention to detail
• ability to work under pressure
• Proficiency in MS Office
• email
• travel booking systems
• Proven hands-on experience in GDS reservations and airline ticket issuance.
• Professionalism
• integrity
• a passion for tourism

• Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism, Hospitality, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in tour operations, travel consultancy, or airline ticketing
• Excellent knowledge of Uganda’s tourism products, safari destinations, lodges, and East African travel circuits
• Proven experience in itinerary planning, tour costing, and supplier negotiations
• Strong understanding of gorilla permits, park fees, and travel regulations in East Africa is an added advantage