By Maitri
If you are cross-checking the fares in Skyscanner and pondering that present-day travellers do not need a travel agent for their bookings, you are mistaken! Multiple journeys, bucket list destinations, connecting flights, personalised event planning, hotel rewards, inter-city transfers; every travel plans are made easy and hassle-free by the agents.
Expert recommendations, global connections and a reduction in time and stress levels are the added benefits of approaching an expert travel agent. Travel agents assist the travellers throughout the trip and take care of every trivial situation during the trip. Often, they also promote cruises, hotels and exclusive experiences on behalf of a third party to the travellers.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 confirms that an average annual salary of a travel agent is more than USD 38,000. With such huge figures, more and more individuals are inclining towards choosing their path as a travel agent.
The good news is that no specific degree course is needed to become a successful agent. But a relevant degree in marketing, hospitality or event management will surely save the day. Interested persons can also approach various travel institutes to learn the basics of itinerary planning and client management.
‘The person sitting at the desk ready to help you with your travel needs has himself to be educated in all genres of travel. Whether it is destination knowledge or travel route or the best deal,’ explains Rahul Burman, owner of D J Tours & Travels.
In fact, knowledge of the destinations, marketing skills and flexible itinerary planning is all that a client looks for in a good travel agent.
There are a variety of travel agent training programs available in the market. Travel agency schools offering a degree certificate fits the best that are new to this industry. Often, host travel agencies also carry out training programs. This results in a better understanding of the host’s demands along with perks of extra commission to the learners.
The online courses of travel agent certification is neither host-specific nor destination-specific, only needs to be renewed after a certain interval of time. Business and sales coaching also list in the categories of agent education, particularly focuses on a specific travel niche like destination wedding and romantic travel. A few names of such course include Destination Wedding University by Will Medina, Romance Travel University by DWHSA and Travel Prolific by Ashley Metesh McCoy.
‘Nevertheless, more clarity in booking with land operates will bring in more changes in the way people travel. Besides, current agent education curriculum also needs to include cinematic tourism in its course,’ continues Burman.
The principal strategy that works behind every travel program is to develop customer service skills, problem-solving abilities and negotiating skills in an individual. Besides computer skills are also a prerequisite in the present era of online portals.