The US trade association for the sector says its inbound operators, also known as receptive tour operators or DMCs, market and sell US travel products to international buyers such as tour operators, wholesalers and travel agents. They serve groups, independent travellers and the MICE market. The association began in 1991 as the Receptive Services Association, became the Receptive Services Association of America after a 2004 merger and was renamed the International Inbound Travel Association in 2016.

UK usage

VisitBritain says incoming tour operators and ground handlers manage overseas visitors’ experiences from the moment their clients enter Britain until they leave, and that many belong to the trade body UKinbound. UKinbound, established in 1977, is a trade association for inbound tourism with more than 500 member businesses, including tour operators and DMCs. Visit Wales describes inbound tour operators as operators that put together tours for international operators.

The role overlaps with a DMC, and VisitBritain notes an increasing amount of crossover between roles in the distribution system.

Why it matters for UK businesses

When a UK business is the organiser of a package that includes a receptive operator’s services, the Package Travel Regulations make it liable to the traveller for those services, whoever performs them. For packages booked from 6 April 2027, the rules add that a supplier that has agreed to provide a service in a package and then cancels or fails to perform it must refund the organiser within 14 days.