Leisure travel agents: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Leisure travel agents sell vacation packages to the general public. They are responsible for arranging trip itineraries based on clients interests and budget. Leisure travel agents increasingly are focusing on a specific type of travel, such as adventure tours. Some may cater to a specific group of people, such as senior citizens or single people.
- Education Required
- Employers generally require candidates to have at least a high school diploma, but may prefer those who have a college degree or who have taken classes related to the travel industry. Many community colleges, vocational schools, and industry associations offer technical training or continuing education classes in professional travel planning. Classes usually focus on reservations systems, marketing, and regulations regarding international travel. In addition, some colleges offer degrees in travel and tourism.
- Training Required
- Employers in the travel industry always give some on-the-job training on the computer systems that are used in the industry. For example, a travel agent could be trained to work with a reservation system used by several airlines.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: -9% (Decline)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- A good way to demonstrate competence for high school graduates with limited experience is to take the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test. The test has no eligibility requirements and is administered by The Travel Institute.
- Median pay: How much do Travel Agents make?
- $36,460 Annual Salary
- $17.53 per hour
Careers for Travel Agents
- Auto travel counselors
- Certified corporate travel executives
- Certified travel counselors
- Corporate travel agents
- Corporate travel experts
- Travel consultants
- Travel counselors
- Travel service consultants