The Future of Travel Agents

Posted by Unknown on 1:57 AM in amadeus amadeus course amadeus training becoming a travel agent galileo galileo course galileo training sabre sabre course sabre training travel agent | Comments : 0

There are many perks to being a travel agent, including chance to travel and get paid - or at least write it off as a legitimate tax deduction! (Obviously that four week trip to Greece was to expand your knowledge and support your current vocation. Not at all for pleasure!). Opening your own agency also allows you the freedom and flexibility to work from home and make your own hours.

However, a lot of people ask if pursuing a career as a travel agent is a smart and viable option these days.

Let's not sugar coat it, the invention of a little thing called the internet has certainly decreased the demand for this profession. But fear not, the idea that being a travel agent is a dying art is a misconception.

Firstly, just because you cannot see them, doesn't mean they're not there. The appearance of having stores shut down is one of the main reasons that we believe that there's no longer a need for travel agents. Travel agencies have evolved beyond the traditional store front with commission cuts lowering agency profits. Many are now home-based where there is little or no overheads.

A study from PhocusWright found that one third of US travel was booked through travel agencies in 2011, equating to $95 billion dollars. No demand for travel agents, you say?

Because of these unfounded beliefs about the future of travel agents, there is a huge demand for fresh blood. The population of travel agents is ageing, and not enough people are entering the field to replace them. Your young, frivolous ideas mixed with tech-savvy nature could see you move through the ranks and become very successful. Not to mention the fact that a 21 year old looking at a Contiki tour is going to prefer to talk to someone they can relate to.

Wait. A 21 year old would book online, right? Another myth. It's not just the older generation who are booking their trips through travel agents.

The internet can sometimes leave us spoilt for choice. Faced with hundreds (if not thousands) of options, with not a single clue where to start. Wouldn't it be great to have the help of an experienced professional who does this everyday? Someone with connections, or has perhaps visited the destination and knows the best way to get from A to B? This is where an expert can come in very handy.

So is there any money in it? Your rate of pay will depend on many factors. If you're a leisure or corporate travel agent, if you are full time or part time, if you are an employee or an independent contractor. But yes, there is certainly money to be made.

Previous sales or customer service experience is ideal when applying for positions, and it is an absolute must that you become proficient in at least one travel GDS system. Sabre and Amadeus are popular choices, but if you're going to choose just one, you can't go past the current leading system, Galileo.

To find out more about the industry and how you can gain an in depth knowledge of how to book flights, transfers, hotels, cars and tours in a matter of months, visit our website or call 1300 650 569 today!