How To

How to Become a Travel Agent

By eHow Careers & Work Editor
Rate: (106 Ratings)

The need for experienced travel agents is increasing as more people travel for business and pleasure. Although this is not a high-paying career, it has the major benefit of deep travel discounts.

From Quick Guide: Hospitality & Tourism Jobs
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Book On Careers
  • Travel Guides
  • Travel Magazines
  • Career Counseling
  • Computers
  • Online Career Search
  1. Step 1

    Realize that larger travel agencies may require an agent to have a liberal arts or business degree.

  2. Step 2

    Learn to speak a second language. This skill is invaluable for a travel agent, especially in agencies that focus on international travel.

  3. Step 3

    Take a 6-to-12-week travel agent course at a community college to learn the basics of the career.

  4. Step 4

    Consider working as a ticketing agent to gain solid experience in the travel industry.

  5. Step 5

    Become as computer literate as possible - travel agents conduct much of their business via computer.

  6. Step 6

    Check with your state's Department of Commerce for any registration or certification requirements for travel agents.

  7. Step 7

    Read a wide variety of travel magazines to keep up with current trends in the industry.

  8. Step 8

    Work toward receiving your certification as a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) after you have gained experience. (See "Institute of Certified Travel Agents" at icta.com.)

Tips & Warnings
  • Remember that travel agencies servicing corporations generally offer better salaries and benefits than those focusing on leisure travel.
  • Realize that you must possess excellent attention to detail to be successful in this field. Mistakes can adversely affect a traveler's entire trip.

Comments  

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on 6/17/2009 I tried all these options and I decided it is not worth spending time and efforts in this profession if you do not want to take this up as a primary job. So i built few travel websites and affilliated with major booking engines to make money. I spend time on writing articles and blogs to drive traffic to the websites.. Have a look at-USA TO INDIA FLIGHTS
http://www.usatoindiaflights.com

darealbiz said

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on 6/15/2009 If you want to become a home based travel agent check out GT Trends. GT Trends provides you with a complete turnkey business system, with online training and materials, live agent support, 2 personal websites, and an online back office with tons of marketing and travel tools. GT Trends has been in business for over 8 years and has agents in over 70 countries. GT Trends is awesome! Travel has got to be the funnest business ever and GT Trends makes it so easy. I have been getting consistent checks from GT Trends for over two years. GT Trends is definitely a great opportunity. For more information on the company go to www.gttrends.net.

qamarjrk said

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on 5/27/2009 I tried to access get this error message. pls see bellow.Representative Not FoundPlease enter the web address below of the representative you are trying to locate.http://www.ytb.com/ please help.

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on 3/25/2009 online

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on 3/25/2009 Be-an****-travel-agent.com is the Web site to see.

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