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Who is a Travel Agent?
I traveled among unknown men, in lands beyond the sea; nor England! did I know till then what love I bore to thee ~ William Wordsworth
A travel agent works in the tour and travel industry. His or her work responsibility involves arranging travel for the end clients such as individuals, corporations, or groups on behalf of suppliers such as hotels, airlines, package tours, and other facilities. A travel agent involves working for an independent travel agency or can be a part of a travel agency.
Individuals who opt for a career as a travel agent are involved in planning trips for their clients in their day-to-day life. Travel agents stay updated about the hospitality and travel industry. Students can pursue some travel agent courses, such as BTTM (Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management), and MTHM (Master in Tourism and Hotel Management) to become a travel agent.
Quick Facts for Travel Agent
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Industry
Hospitality, Tourism
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Average Salary in India
₹61332.5
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as a travel agent is suitable for everyone regardless of gender. Whether a person is male, female or belongs to any other gender, he or she can opt for this career. There is not any gender-based restriction in this career. It suits everyone who has passion and willingness to make travel convenient and easy for their customers.
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Any special needs
Yes
A career as a travel agent provides various types of job roles. It could be on the field or a desk job. A desk job suits candidates with special needs otherwise it may become difficult if it will require travel. There are several types of travel agent jobs, candidates with special needs can opt for a desk job which requires taking queries on calls and emails and resolving them.
Table of Contents for Travel Agent
What is the role of Travel Agent?
Travel agency jobs come up with various roles and responsibilities. A travel agent goes through the vast information to find the best options to plan trips for their customers. He or she visits various locations and cities in order to get first-hand experience. He or she can recommend vacation packages to his or her clients and hence they will make profits on commissions as well.
Individuals in travel agent careers contact airlines and hotels to make travel arrangements. There is a travel system commonly known as a Global Distribution System or GDS widely used by travel agents to access travel information and contact travel suppliers such as airlines, and hotels to make reservations.
A travel agent is responsible for arranging business travel and vacation travel for his or her customers. He or she organises the trip which involves reserving flights, hotels, rented cars and other facilities for a comfortable journey.
He or she understands what his or her customer wants, and what they do require such as schedules and costs.
A travel agent is responsible for planning and arranging tour packages for incursions and day trips. He or she makes each arrangement as per the timings and budget that suits the client.
A travel agent stays informed about fares and the schedule of travel. He or she stays updated about the schedule of airlines and other developments for travel and plans the budget accordingly.
A travel agent confirms reservations for travel, hotel, airlines, rental cars, and events such as tours and excursions on the scheduled date and timing and informs the same to his or her customers.
A travel agent describes his or her customer about the weather conditions, customs, and other major attractions of the cities or destinations they are planning to visit.
A travel agent makes alternate travel bookings if a sudden change arises during the trip or before.
Types of a Travel Agent
There are various sub-disciplines of travel agent careers. If one is planning to opt for a career in the travel industry, then he or she must be aware of various types of a travel agent or travel agent career options. We have mentioned below the major types of travel agent jobs.
Leisure Travel Agent: Leisure travel agents sell vacation packages to their clients. They plan and arrange trips as per the interest and budgets of the clients. They plan adventure tours. The leisure travel agents may also cater to a specific group of people such as senior citizens or single people.
Corporate Travel Agent: Corporate travel agents are responsible for making travel arrangements for businesses. They plan and organise trips for the employees of an organisation for the purpose of business meetings or to attend conferences.
Retail Travel Agent: Retail travel agents advise the general people about the travelling requirements such as visas, and passports. They provide information about the exchange of currency for those who are travelling to foreign nations. They provide all the necessary information such as timetables and travel literature. A retail travel agent computes fare costs, makes reservations, and sells tour packages developed by wholesale travel companies.
Web-Based Travel Agent: A web-based travel agent sells holiday and tour packages over the Internet. He or she provides all the information about accommodation and flight bookings on the Internet. Web-based travel agents make last-minute travel deals with varieties of options for travel convenience. It saves time and money to visit other travel agents to make bookings at the last minute.
What is the workplace/work environment of Travel Agent like?
Travel agents recommend travel packages to their clients while assisting them in booking vacation packages that include a tour and visiting specific locations of their interest. Travel agents work with individuals to plan trips including multiple destinations, transportation modes, and sightseeing.
Does Travel Agent require travelling?
Likely
All the careers in the tour and travel industry do not require travelling. It depends on the organisation if it assigns several responsibilities to a travel agent that requires travel. Otherwise, travelling is not a necessity.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time, Work From Home
A career as a travel agent ensures full-time and work-from-home employment opportunities. There is no scope for hourly basis employment but part time option is also available.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
The Travel Industry offers both types of employment contractual and permanent. It depends on the requirements of the organisation and travel agent careers with varying job roles.
Work Place
Office, On-Field, Work From Home
In a career as a travel agent, individuals work in an office setting. There are also home-based corporate travel agent jobs available in the industry. Several travel agents require to travel on a regular basis. Travel agency jobs vary depending on the requirements of organisations.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
A career as a travel agent provides flourishing opportunities in locations enriching with historical heritage and monuments or vacation destinations irrespective of their geographical conditions. New Delhi, Kerala, Jaipur, and Agra are the job hubs for travel agents in India. These cities are enriched by cultural heritage and attract a huge number of travellers every year.
Time Pressure
Likely
Individuals in travel agent careers do not face any extent of time pressure. Usually, travel agents work 8-9 hours a day and 35-40 hours a week. Sometimes, it can be stretched due to excess work and deadlines.
Overtime Details
A career as a travel agent may sometimes involve working overtime. However, due to travel discrepancies, they might be required to work long hours.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 45 Hours
A career as a travel agent involves a minimum of 8 to 9 working hours a day and 35-40 hours a week. Work hours may extend depending on the time pressure and deadlines. Jobs that involve travelling do not have fixed hours, it can stretch up to 10 to 12 hours a day as travelling requires time.
How to become a Travel Agent?
Steps to become a Travel Agent
If you are passionate about helping people and guiding them while travelling and visiting different places, then a career as a travel agent is a good option for you. Here, we have listed some of the important steps for how to become a travel agent in India. To learn more about how to become a travel agent, follow the steps given below.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Travel Agent?
To pursue any career, gaining relevant skills and knowledge is the most important aspect. Similarly, to become a travel agent one must acquire relevant skills to work effectively as a travel agent. In this section we will discuss all the important skills which are important to become a successful travel agent.
Communication Skills: Individuals in travel agent careers have to interact with so many people and clients whom they are meeting for the first time and host them. It is necessary that they bear confidence while communicating with people. They have to listen to them attentively and resolve their queries.
Customer Service: There are times when customers ask for changes or cancel plans at the last minute or when every arrangement has been planned and taken out by the agents. In such situations, travel agents are required to tackle the situation with calmness and a friendly manner. A travel agent has to respond to their complaints and queries as well.
An Eye for Detail: In a career as a travel agent, individuals are required to be attentive and carefully check that the arrangements they have made are as per the customer's needs. They have to make sure the reservation dates are correct, seats are confirmed, and locations to meet the customers or travellers are correct and as per schedule.
Organising Skills: Travel agents are required to be organised as they have to meet many customers and resolve their queries and take their complaints as well. They have to interact with them in a professional manner by keeping them informed about the orders and ensuring their bills and receipts are processed.
Business Sense: A travel agent sells travelling packages with several services to customers. They must bear high persuading skills to ensure their customers that whatever they have offered to their customers is better. Most travel agents do not have permanent jobs. Their earnings depend on the commission and service fees. Therefore, it becomes an essential skill in a career as a travel agent.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Travel Agent?
We have provided below a list of travel agent certification courses. Individuals can opt for these courses to upgrade their skills to improve themselves to perform more efficiently.
Professional Certificate in Housekeeping & Hospitality Management
Introduction to the Travel & Tourism Industry: Passport to the World
Internship Availability
Aspiring candidates for a career in the travel industry can go through numerous recruitment websites and apply for internships. A certification in travel and tourism increases the chances of getting an early career role as an intern in a reputed organisation. Internships are essential for developing skills and getting exposure to the industry. Candidates can directly apply for internships through the official websites of travel agencies.
The interns are required to provide assistance to their seniors. They are asked to handle itinerary preparation for Indian destinations. They are also involved in cost estimation and acquisition of hotels. Travel interns are assigned to sell tour packages. Their responsibilities may vary depending on the size of the travel agency or organisation.
Travel Agent Jobs and Salaries
Junior Travel Agent
- Average Salary 27665
Job Description
The Junior Travel Agent job description includes maintaining financial records and statistics and planning travel plans and trips. A junior travel agent books transportation and hotel reservations and collects the payments.
Salary Description
The average salary of a travel agent is Rs 22,665 per month in India.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Travel Agent
- Average Salary 95000
Job Description
Senior Travel Agent job description includes ensuring meeting the profit or sales targets and preparing promotional materials. A Senior travel agent manages the budgets and manages large-scale events.
Salary Description
The senior travel agent salary in India holding an experience of eight-plus years of experience earns an average salary of Rs 8,59,703 lakhs per annum.
Salary Source: SalaryExpert
What is the job outlook for Travel Agent?
The Indian travel and tourism industry is expected to grow by 7.1 percent annually. The travel and tourism industry was the most expanding sector in India which resulted in increasing demand for travel agents. All the other economic sectors were after the tour and travel sector in growth. Nowadays, travellers rely on the internet to reserve airlines, buses, cars and hotel rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions for Travel Agent
Que. Is a license required for a travel agent career?
Ans.Yes, a license is required for a travel agent career. A license is provided by the ministry of tourism, Govt. of India for a period of five years. After the completion of five years, it is required to be renewed for the next five years.
Que. What are the top tourism colleges in India?
Ans.Some top tourism colleges are Christ University, Bangalore, Integral University, Lucknow, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, St Joseph's College of Commerce, Bangalore, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Institute of Business Management and Research, IPS Academy, Indore, College of Engineering, Guindy, and Institute of Management, University of Kerala, Trivandrum.
Que. Is there any formal training required to work as a travel agent?
Ans.No, there is not any requirement for formal training to become a travel agent. But somehow, formal training helps to learn the skills of a travel agent and it provides a vast knowledge about the travel industry.
Que. What is the difference between a corporate travel agent and a leisure travel agent?
Ans.A corporate travel agent plans and arranges travel for the employees of an organisation for the purpose of business trips, meetings with clients, and attending conferences. While a leisure travel agent is responsible for arranging travel for leisure vacations and adventurous trips. A leisure travel agent plans and arranges travel for a specific group or individual.
Que. What is the average salary of a travel agent?
Ans.The average salary of a travel agent is Rs.291,223 per annum in India, according to payscale.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
The U.S. travel market makes one-third of its earning by reservations by travel agents, according to a report published in the New York Times.
Fact 2
Osaka in Japan is the fastest-growing destination among globally emerging hotspots.
Fact 3
One of every ten jobs is supported by the tourism industry that estimates 9.9 per cent of global employment.
Fact 4
China spends 261 billion dollars in the tourism sector. It is the highest among the countries in the world.
Fact 5
Iceland has more the number of tourists than actual residents. By 2017, there were around three tourists per Iceland resident.
