Travel Agent Jobs: How the Internet is Changing Everything
by Elizabeth Buckner
elizabeth.buckner@collegedegreereview.com
College Degree Review Columnist
With Internet travel and tourism companies providing consumers more convenient travel packages, experts predict keen competition among those seeking travel agent jobs. For travel agent hopefuls, formal training can provide the tools necessary to stay on top of market trends.
Travel and Tourism: A Booming Industry
Travel is big business. According to the Tourist Industry Association, travel and tourism generate $1.3 trillion of economic activity in the United States every year. That amounts to roughly $3.4 billion a day! With a workforce of 7.5 million--enough to fill a hundred Orange Bowl Stadiums--the travel industry is one of the nation's leading employers. But with the Internet revolution in full swing, travel agents are now scrambling to make themselves indispensable.
The Internet Effect: Keen Competition for Travel Agent Jobs
While consumer spending on tourism is expected to increase over the next 10 years, the ease of booking provided by Internet travel companies should make for keen competition among those seeking travel agent jobs. If you're looking for a travel agent job yourself, you'd better be prepared--there's never been a more difficult time to keep abreast of trends in the travel and tourism industry.
Travel Agent Training: Online Travel and Tourism Degrees
As consumers become better-informed of their travel options, travel agents must continue to offer professional-quality advice on different destinations and up-to-date on travel deals. As a result, numerous online travel and tourism degrees are available to provide continuing education and training for travel agents. Travel agent training and coursework includes use of computerized reservation systems, key tourist destinations, tour and vacation packages, as well as training in specialty industry trends:
- Business Travel - Especially important for American companies who are expanding operations overseas
- Luxury Travel - for the increasing proportion of Americans with time and money to spend on travel.
- Foreign Visitors - since more and more American travel agents are planning trips for foreign visitors
With travel agent training at your fingertips, you'll be that much better prepared to face the challenges offered by today's internet travel giants. So what are you waiting for? You could be just clicks away from an exciting career. Begin the journey. Pursue your travel agent degree today.
Sources
About the Author
Elizabeth Buckner is a freelance writer and current Fulbright grantee to Morocco, where she is conducting research on language education and the growth of English. She holds a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology and Education from Swarthmore College.
Posted on: May 22, 2007
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