What are the pros and cons of being a travel agent?

• Minimal education requirements. You only need an associate's degree in tourism to be a travel agent. However, no strict educational requirements are needed to become a travel agent.

  An associate's or bachelor's degree in tourism should open you up to more job opportunities. There are also travel and tourism-related certifications you can obtain to help you find work as a travel agent.

• Fulfillment. Travel agents are professionals who organize and plan travel for clients. Here are some of the different services they provide to clients:

  • Travel for work trips (air, ground, or sea)

  • Travel for recreational trips (air, ground, or sea)

  • Hotel accommodations

  • Coordinating ground transportation at the destination

  • Special activities for clients, such as tours or cruises

  Providing these services to clients can be very fulfilling because they help plan trips for people they have wanted to take for their whole lives.

• Job flexibility. While many travel agents work directly for travel agencies, some become freelancers.

  Those working for companies might have to go into an office, but some travel agencies allow their agents to work remotely. And freelance travel agents can perform their jobs from home if they wish.

• Discounted travel and accommodations. One of the biggest perks of being a travel agent is the access to discounted travel and hotel accommodations.

  When selling travel packages, an agent must be knowledgeable about many different destinations, hotels, amenities, and attractions, so they often have to travel to these places themselves. Airlines, hotels, and other relevant businesses often give them discounts.

Cons:

• Low average salaries. One of the biggest drawbacks of the field is the pay travel agents receive. The average salary of a travel agent in the United States is $48,943 per year, which isn't low, but it isn't high either.

  Some travel agents can earn more than this, but the vast majority do not earn over $50,000 yearly.

• It can be a demanding job. Travel agents with clients traveling worldwide often have to be on call pretty much 24/7 due to the vast time differences.

  Clients having issues on their trip will call a travel agent immediately, which might be in the middle of the night back in the United States. Some clients can also be overly-needy, but this is just a facet of the job.

• Online booking/job security. There are many online travel services, and travelers have become quite savvy in using these platforms, contributing to less of a need for travel agents.

  It also has made travel agencies institute quotas concerning travel package sales for travel agents. If an agent can't meet their quota, it will jeopardize their job at the agency.