18 Feb 2008 04:53:24 | Jay Bauder
Getting To Know the Work of a Travel Agent
For people who are fond of traveling to different places,
visiting marvelous beaches, and taking a trip to the most exotic
island paradise, the job of a travel agent seems to be a far
better job than anything else.
However, some people contend that the viability of a travel
agent being a lucrative work has lessened due to the emergence
of the Internet.
Nowadays, people can easily plan their vacation trips, acquire
their tickets, and make their own plans and reservation through
the Internet.
That is why some financial analysts have concluded that as the
need for travel agents fall off, their wages deteriorates as
well, considering the fact that it is already low. The median
yearly salary of travel agents amount to $26,630, that was in
2002. The top 10% of the travel agents in the US were reported
to have a salary of $41,660 or more. While the remaining half of
the travel agents is currently earning between $20,800 and
$33,580. All of these were bases on the U.S. Department Labor
reports.
The bottom line is that travel agents are really not earning
much. The only benefits they get are the discounts and special
privileges on travel. Funny thing is, with their present
salaries, travel agents may not even use these benefits because
they cannot even afford to travel.
However, there are still those who want to become a travel agent
in spite of everything. So, for those who really insist on
becoming a travel agent, here's how to do it.
1. A second language is a must for those who want to become a
travel agent. Travel agents deal with different nationalities
and a second language may just be handy in the future.
2. It is a must for every would-be travel agent to undergo 6-12
week training on how to become a travel agent. This includes all
the basics of the job.
3. Computer literacy is also important because all of the
transaction, invoices, and reports are done through computer
utilization.
4. Knowledge on up-to-date information about the trends in the
business. Also, it is a must for every travel agent to know the
best places to go.
5. It would be better for those who want to become a travel
agent to have their certification as a Certified Travel
Counselor. This is an added value to their work.
Becoming a travel agent is entirely dependent on the person's
interest. So, whether the salary is low or high, as long as the
person is happy with the job, then, there wouldn't be any qualms
for it.
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