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O

Occupancy: Refers to the use of accommodation units such as hotel rooms, resort villas, or rental apartments by guests. It indicates whether a room or property is occupied or in use.

Occupancy Limit: The maximum number of individuals allowed to occupy a hotel room, vacation rental, or similar accommodation, set by the operator for safety, comfort, and regulatory compliance reasons.

Occupancy Rate: A percentage that shows the number of occupied rooms or properties out of the total available for a specific period. It’s a key performance indicator in the hospitality industry, measuring demand and utilization.

Ocean Cruise: A voyage on a large ship designed for leisure travel, where the journey itself and the ship’s amenities are part of the experience, often including multiple stops at ports across different countries or continents.

Offline Connection: In travel, this term can refer to a transportation connection that requires passengers to transfer between different modes or services without a seamless, pre-arranged coordination, often necessitating manual re-check-in or luggage transfer.

Off-peak: A term used to describe periods when demand for travel and tourism services is lower, resulting in fewer crowds and often lower prices. Off-peak times can vary by destination, season, and local events.

Off-road Adventure: An activity or tour that involves traveling on unpaved roads or terrain, using vehicles like four-wheel drives, ATVs, or mountain bikes, appealing to those looking for adventure and exploration off the beaten path.

Onsite: This term refers to services, facilities, or activities located within the premises of a specific place, such as a hotel, resort, or conference center, accessible to guests or attendees without needing to leave the property.

Onsite Guide: A professional guide who operates at a specific location or attraction, providing detailed information and tours to visitors. These guides are experts on their site, offering insights into its history, significance, and features.

Online Adoption Rate: The percentage of individuals or entities that use online services for booking and planning travel, including flights, accommodations, and activities. A high rate indicates a preference for digital over traditional booking methods.

Online Event: An online event is hosted entirely over the internet, allowing participants to join from anywhere with an internet connection. It can include webinars, virtual meetings, and live-streamed conferences.

One-way Drop-off Charge/Fee: A fee charged by rental companies when a vehicle is picked up at one location and dropped off at another. This charge compensates for the cost of returning the vehicle to its original location.

Online Booking: The process of reserving travel services, such as flights, hotels, car rentals, or tours, through the internet using websites or mobile apps. This method offers convenience, allowing travelers to make bookings at any time from anywhere, often with the ability to compare prices, read reviews, and access a wide range of options.

Online Check-in: The process by which travelers can confirm their presence on a flight, cruise, or accommodation booking through the internet, often allowing them to select seats or rooms and reduce waiting times at the airport or hotel.

Open Jaw: A travel term describing a flight itinerary where the traveler flies from one city to another but returns to the original city from a different destination, or vice versa. This allows for greater flexibility and exploration of multiple areas without retracing steps.

Open Return: A ticket that does not specify a return date, offering flexibility to the traveler to decide when they wish to return. It’s commonly used in long-term, flexible travel plans but may be subject to availability and fare differences.

Open-Jaw Itinerary: Similar to an open jaw flight, this type of itinerary involves traveling to one destination and returning from another, or arriving and departing from different airports in the same city, facilitating circular travel routes.

Operations: In the context of travel and tourism, operations refer to the day-to-day activities and logistical management required to deliver travel services, including tours, accommodations, and transportation.

Operator: A company or individual responsible for running tours, accommodations, or transportation services in the travel industry. Operators play a key role in planning, organizing, and executing travel experiences.

Option Date: A specified date by which a traveler or travel agent must confirm or cancel a booking without penalties. It’s a common practice in hotel reservations and tour bookings to manage availability and demand.

Optionals: In tourism, optionals refer to additional activities or services not included in the basic tour package, which travelers can choose (and pay for) according to their interests, such as excursions, special meals, or cultural events.

OTA (Online Travel Agency): A web-based marketplace that allows consumers to research and book travel services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages, often offering competitive rates and a wide range of options.

Outbound: Refers to travel from one’s home country to a foreign destination. In the context of tourism, it focuses on residents traveling abroad.

Outbound Operator: A travel company that specializes in organizing trips for residents to travel outside their home country, offering services such as tour packages, transportation, and accommodations.

Outbound Tour: A tour arranged by an operator for travelers going from their home country to a destination abroad, often including a variety of services like flights, hotels, and itineraries.

Outbound Tourism: The activity of traveling from one’s own country to visit another country for leisure, business, or other purposes, contributing to the economic and cultural exchange between nations.

Outbound Tourism Consumption: The total spending by residents traveling abroad for tourism purposes, including payments for transport, accommodation, food, and activities in the destination country.

Outbound Tourism Expenditure: The amount of money spent by outbound tourists from their home country on trips abroad, covering all expenses related to their travel and stay in foreign destinations.

Outdoor Tourism: A type of tourism that focuses on activities and experiences in natural settings, including hiking, camping, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and adventure sports. It appeals to those seeking to connect with nature, explore the outdoors, and participate in physical activities outside of urban environments.

Outrigger Canoe: A type of canoe featuring one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which provide stability on the water; popular in regions like Polynesia and often used for both recreational and travel purposes.

Outside Cabin: A cabin on a cruise ship that includes a window or porthole with a view of the ocean or surroundings, offering natural light and views, in contrast to inside cabins without windows.

Outside Salesperson: A sales representative who works primarily outside of the office environment, often traveling to meet with clients or prospects in person to sell travel products or services.

Overbook: The practice of selling or booking more seats or rooms than are available, based on statistical predictions of no-shows. This strategy is used by airlines and hotels to maximize occupancy and revenue.

Overbooking: A situation in which more reservations are accepted than there is capacity for, with the expectation that some bookings will cancel or not show up. Overbooking can lead to situations where guests or passengers must be compensated or re-accommodated.

Overland Tour: A journey that involves traveling by land, often through multiple countries or regions, using vehicles like buses, vans, or trucks, offering an immersive experience of the landscapes and cultures encountered along the way.

Overseas Territory: A piece of land under the jurisdiction of a country but located outside its mainland, often remote and situated in another part of the world, which can be a unique destination for tourists seeking exotic locales.

Overtourism: The situation where a destination receives more tourists than it can sustainably handle, leading to negative impacts on the local community, environment, and overall visitor experience.

Owner-Operator: In the travel industry, this term refers to an individual who owns and directly operates a tourism business, such as a bed and breakfast, a boutique hotel, or a tour company, offering personalized services and experiences.