Travel agents facilitate customers to find out best possible travel arrangements. They recommend destinations and make arrangements for the hotel accommodations, car rentals, transportation, and tours for customers. Travelers may book tickets at their booking offices. Additionally, specialty travel groups and resorts use travel agents to endorse travel packages to their clients.
Nature of Work
Travel agents are expected to know about various destinations. They should be able to advice travelers and guide them to choose their destinations. A travel agent must possess knowledge of destinations such as local ordinances and customs, weather conditions, exhibitions, and attractions.
Travel agents who work at international level should possess ample information about various destinations in the world. They, usually, provide information about customs regulations, currency exchange rates, travel advisories, required papers such as visas, passports, certificate of vaccination, etc.
A travel agent has to use a variety of computer based and published information on arrival and departure of times, hotel accommodations, fares, and group discussion. These travel agents visit resorts, hotels, and restaurants to examine the cleanliness, comfort, and quality of a particular restaurant and hotel so that they can recommend colleagues and clients.
A travel agent initially works for tour operators. Subsequently, they help, develop, and sell their agency’s own package tours and travel services. Travel agents promote these services by means of telemarketing, internet, and direct mail. They prepare presentations for special-interest and social groups, suggest trip sponsored by the company, and arrange advertising displays.
Sometimes, travel agents face competition from airline and travel websites for low-cost fares; however, customers prefer employing travel agents who assists them in various ways to reach their destinations. In order to tempt these travelers, some travel agents specialize in a particular destination.
Work Environment
Travel agents have to spend much amount of time behind a desk consulting with clients, contacting airlines and hotels, competing paperwork, making travel arrangements, and promoting tours. They use computers to register prospective travelers’ destinations and other records. Travel agents use telephone and computer researching travel itineraries and updating travel documents and reservations.
At times, travel agents may work under extensive stress during travel emergencies or when they require rescheduling missed reservations. In summer and holiday travel period, travel agents tend to be busy. They deal with a number of responsibilities when traveling business is at its best.
Some travel agents who are self-employed, usually, work long hours. The arrival of advanced telecommunication networks and computer systems has made it possible for agents to work at home. With the help of these technologies, travel agents direct, guide and help their customers. However, many agents feel need of an office to fascinate prospective customers.
A travel agent has to deal with followings.
- Recommend destinations and give advice to travelers
- Make arrangements for hotel accommodations, tours, transportations, car rentals, recreation, etc.
- Advise customers on weather conditions, tourist attractions, and restaurants
- Provide customers information about custom regulations and currency exchange rate
- Interact with clients to know about their requirements
- Visit resorts, restaurants, and hotels to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene
- Collect payment for accommodations and transportation from customers
- Launch new and tempting travel packages to attract prospective customers
- Discuss with customers to decide mode of transportation, destination, travel dates, accommodations required, and financial considerations
- Estimate the cost of travel and accommodations using computer, calculator, hotel rate books, carrier tariff books, etc.
Educational Qualification
The first and foremost thing is a candidate who wants to become a travel agent ought to be enthusiastic and possess utmost knowledge of destinations. He/she must be able to recommend and advice people about itineraries and travel destinations. Excellent communication skills and computer knowledge are essential for interacting with clients and making registration.
Candidates aspiring to get into this field need to have completed high school diploma or equivalent. However, many employers seek candidates who have completed a degree with experience in the realm of traveling. Some travel agencies/firms offer training to their employees. This training, usually, consists of guidelines on how to use reservation systems on the computer.
There are many schools and colleges offering courses in tours and travels. These programs are also offered at leading community colleges, public adult education programs, and online. These programs incorporate fine blending of theoretical as well as practical exercises. The programs facilitate students to learn sales techniques, reservation systems, etc. They also equip students with general information about travel destinations.
Some colleges offer a bachelor’s degree in travel and tourism. After completing a degree, candidates get into the realm of travel and tourism with ease. They get good employment along with high remuneration. Some of the employers prefer candidate who have completed a degree in geography, computer science, foreign languages, communication, or world history. Candidates who completed courses in business management and accounting are also preferred.
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