Blueline Tours, Inc., operates tours throughout the United States. A study has indicated that some of the tours are not profitable, and consideration is being given to dropping these tours to improve the company's overall operating performance.
One such tour is a two-day Historic Mansions bus tour conducted in the southern states. An income statement from a typical Historic Mansions tour is given below:
Ticket revenue (105 seat capacity × 40%
occupancy × $60 ticket price per person) $ 2,520 100 %
Variable expenses ($14.00 per person) 588 23.3
Contribution margin 1,932 76.7 %
Tour expenses:
Tour promotion $ 700
Salary of bus driver 320
Fee, tour guide 720
Fuel for bus 200
Depreciation of bus 500
Liability insurance, bus 180
Overnight parking fee, bus 50
Room and meals, bus driver and tour guide 190
Bus maintenance and preparation 240
Total tour expenses 3,100
Net operating loss $ (1,168)
The following additional information is available about the tour:
a. Bus drivers are paid fixed annual salaries; tour guides are paid for each tour conducted.
b.The "Bus maintenance and preparation" cost on the previous page is an allocation of the salaries of mechanics and other service personnel who are responsible for keeping the company's fleet of buses in good operating condition.
c.Depreciation of buses is due to obsolescence. Depreciation due to wear and tear is negligible.
d. Liability insurance premiums are based on the number of buses in the company's fleet.
e.Dropping the Historic Mansions bus tour would not allow Blueline Tours to reduce the number of buses in its fleet, the number of bus drivers on the payroll, or the size of the maintenance and preparation staff.
Required:
By how much will the profits increase or decrease if this tour is discontinued?