subject: Travel Agent [print this page] If your idea of a dream vacation features horses, then your dream job may be working as a travel agent. Love of travel and the advantage of industry discounts are the main reasons why people enter the travel business. As a horse lover, you have another incentive for becoming a travel agent, as you can specialize in trips or organizations that relate to horses. Although you won't have daily contact with horses, you will have the chance to familiarize yourself with horse-related vacations, as you arrange these getaways for clients. When it's time for your own vacation, you can put that knowledge to work in planning your own trip and enjoying the perks of reduced rates.
This kind of specialization is becoming increasingly important in the travel industry, so now is the perfect time for horse lovers to enter this field. The Internet has made enormous amounts of information available to virtually everyone, making it faster and easier for travelers to book their own flights and reservations. Vacationers who seek professional travel assistance now expect agents to offer something above and beyond what is readily available in cyberspace. The most sought-after assets in the travel agency world are expert knowledge in a specialized area and a thorough understanding of the computer systems used in the business.
Although the reduced demand for travel agents will likely result in a decrease of available jobs in that field, applicants who are well-versed in computer technology, geography, specialized forms of travel, and interpersonal communication will have a distinct advantage. Because of this need for diverse skill sets, people with some sort of post-secondary credential such as a bachelor's degree or completion of a college program for travel agents will be considered more qualified than those with only a high school diploma. In the United States in 2004, the median annual salary for travel agents was $27,640, with the middle fifty percent earning $21,600-$35,070 and the top ten percent earning more than $44,090.
Pros
Industry discounts for personal travel
Inside information about travel deals
Option of at-home self-employment or office staff employment
Cons
More demand for post-secondary training due to industry changes
If self-employed, considerable time needed to build up client base
Travel Agent
By: kevyellow
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