Many people are attracted to becoming a travel agent as their career because of various perks such as: discounted lodging, transportation, and many opportunities to visit every part of the world. They provide travel advice, offer travel packages, find out about great vacation spots and confirm the itinerary and bookings that have been made.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Education and Training
Step 1. High School Graduate
This is the most common requirement for most jobs today, high school graduation is the minimum requirement when you want to enter and work in a particular business world.
Graduates with a package C diploma are not a big deal, as long as you achieve good grades and are skilled at using computers
Step 2. Take a trip planning class/course
With specialized travel knowledge, you will be a highly qualified candidate when you apply for a job with a travel company.
Look for educational establishments such as local universities, vocational schools, or industry associations for classes related to travel planning. The classes provided should prioritize learning about booking systems, travel regulations (domestic and international), and marketing knowledge
Step 3. Get a degree in travel and tourism
Some schools offer online learning. But it would be better if you find one of these schools/ learning institutions in your area. If you can't find one, you can take an alternative by taking a selection of online classes, such as:
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Johnson & Wales University
- University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management
- East Carolina University
- Robert Morris University
-
Strayer University
If you are planning to start your own travel agency, you will also need some business knowledge
Step 4. Have a business license
For certain locations and business arrangements, you will need a travel agent's license (If you are a subsidiary, you can use your employer's business license number). Having a business license will also make your travel agent look more legal and more trusted by the public and consumers. The following is a list of some countries that implement mandatory business licenses if you plan to operate your business in the following areas:
-
6 states in the United States that require travel agents to have a business license:
- California (most restrictive and complicated)
- Florida
- Iowa
- Washington
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Louisiana and Delaware are making concessions to new travel agencies.
- Agents, supervisors, and managers in Ontario, Canada must take the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) exam. The cost to take the exam is around IDR 338,000.00.
- Travel agents in British Columbia, Canada are required by the British Columbia Insurance Council to take a travel insurance exam. The permit is binding on the agent and all travel agency companies in it to attend training for 2 hours every year.
- Business licenses granted to travel agents in Saskatchewan, Canada also relate to travel insurance and require agents to undergo an examination by the Saskatchewan Insurance Council. However, unlike in British Colombia, these permits and tests are only tied to the agents, not to the travel agency business entity. Agents are required to attend 3 hours of training annually..
Step 5. Get a mandate
There are usually two distinct forms of mandate; both are useful for increasing your credibility as a travel agent.
- Undergraduate courses and training and IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent network) identity card.
-
Additional training from training sources such as travel institutions and IATA (International Airline Transport Association) training institutions. Both provide training and opportunities for experienced agents to develop themselves so that they can become more professional. The exams given have certain levels, and can be taken by travel agents according to their level of experience.
If you are interested in a particular travel destination, certification from certain organizations such as the Cruise Lines International Association will be quite useful for you
- Be wary of "card-mills" offers. Often they offer you a "Travel agent qualification" for a relatively low price. Don't be fooled by fake offers.
Part 2 of 3: Abilities and Tips
Step 1. Build your character
To be a successful travel agent, you must be knowledgeable, curious, and have an extensive network. Even if you work for your family company, you still have to do your best and convince your clients that you always offer the best for them.
- Dare to explore. Dare to explore new areas of travel is part of the life of a travel agent, sometimes you encounter dangerous things, sometimes you find the most beautiful things in life when you explore them.
- Improve communication skills. When you work in your office, one of the most decisive aspects of your level of success is how you communicate, whether you're sending e-mails, or talking on the phone.
- Maximum service. Every client has ideal vacations that they like -- ensuring that every basic facility (Example: bus conditions, friendly travel guide, fast response) that you provide is able to satisfy clients is the key for a client to subscribe to you.
- Organize your work neatly. You'll be working with your clients' stacks of flight plans on an ongoing basis. Neat layout and organization will help you complete your work with more efficient use of time.
- Expand your network of contacts. You will need clients to earn commissions, start offering your business to all your friends and family for information and travel planning. Start expanding your network from now on.
Step 2. Expand the travel experience
You will not be successful selling anything foreign. Having personal experience allows you to understand a client's point of view and that way, you can anticipate problems that may arise in the future.
- Provide specific information from your side. Being able to spread information and make offers that no one else has is what makes your clients feel special. Clients really like your direct suggestions in terms of accommodation, services and geographic area. This is the reason why travel agents get a lot of discounts while traveling.
- Knowledge of several foreign languages will be of great help to you!
Step 3. Learn the business facts
Before you start any business, make sure you know and know the business market well enough.
- The average start-up travel agent in the United States makes 15 U. S. dollars. per hour or about 30,000 U. S. dollars. per year.
- In 2010, there were 82,000 travel agents in the United States, it is predicted that this number will increase by 10% by 2020.
Step 4. Become a destination specific area specialist
To be able to do well in this work environment, you will feel greatly facilitated when you have a certain area that you are good at. Have you ever walked to the markets in Istanbul? Galangal Island in Belitung? Choose an area that you find interesting.
Some specialist destinations are geographic locations such as Mexico; specialty trips such as cruises or group trips; price-focused trips such as luxury accommodation special trips or budget vacation packages; there are also travel groups based on hobbies, special interests, and lifestyles such as older people or vegetarians
Step 5. Choose your work environment
There are many self-employed travel agencies. Determine whether you want to work alone, or work for a specific travel agency.
Travel agencies like YTB and Transverse provide you with a page that you can consider “yours”, for only a relatively low fee. They will train and support you and provide you with a regular income. All of these travel agents have employer companies; if you want to work directly for the employer, you can try working for them directly without a travel agent acting as an intermediary between you and the company. Keep choosing the way and the work environment that you feel is most suitable for you
Part 3 of 3: In Work Process
Step 1. Apply to a travel agent
Starting a job as a receptionist or assistant in a travel agency gives you the possibility to take your career further further, especially when you work in the travel industry.
Never hesitate to try. There are some companies that ask for long work experience to join them
Step 2. Expand the network
When you work, whether at home or in an office, promoting your business to people is the best way to make people aware of your business existence. Do some research and provide attractive offers that are able to attract the attention of consumers.
You can also work with other travel agents or other business agents with the aim of recommending yourself (and vice versa) when a client requests certain requests that are in your area of expertise. This can be a win-win situation for you and another travel agent
Step 3. Join an organization
The best way to improve your skills is to watch and learn how professionals work. When you join an organization that has an interest in that field, you will meet several people who may have several years of experience working above you.
- Professional organizations, such as the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) provide support, training and educational opportunities, fees, networking, travel equipment, access to publications, evaluation services, seminar information, expos, and even scholarships for students.
- These organizations also give you access to job offers that you can take.
