Will Travel Agents Make a Comeback in a Post-COVID-19 World?
After the last couple of years coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s probably safe to say that we could all use a vacation right about now! To travel overseas, relax at a beach resort or curl up in mountainous area and enjoy the views. Most people will say traveling is one of their hobbies, and many of us love planning our vacation itineraries as we want to experience the joy of getting out of our mundane routines for a change.
How Did the Coronavirus Pandemic Affect Travel Agents?
The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic not only cancelled and delayed our travel plans, but it also had a massive impact on the travel industry. The World Travel and Tourism Council, which represents major global travel agencies, projects a global employment loss of 75 million jobs and a financial loss of $2.1 trillion in revenue.
Now that travel borders are open for tourists around the world, many people are ready to travel but face much conflicting information regarding the travel rules and restrictions online when making plans on their own. That is why people who previously booked and planned their itinerary on their own are resorting to travel agents to plan, book, and advise them on their travel plans.
According to a 2020 study by a British tech tourism company, travelers are likely to book their travels through an agent than on their own due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 33% rise in travel agent services offered to tourists. As the landscape continues to shift rapidly, the current job market for travel agents is difficult to predict but we are seeing promising improvement from the preceding years and expect that trend to continue. Currently, the employment of travel agents is projected to grow 5% from 2020 to 2030. Despite this being a bit slower than average for most other occupations, there are about 7,500 openings for travel agents annually, on average, over the decade.
What Do Travel Agents Do?
A travel agent is an individual whose job is to arrange travel for end clients (such as individuals, companies, and groups) on behalf of suppliers (such as airlines and hotels). There are numerous benefits of engaging a travel agent in a post-COVID world, including:
- They advise their clients about the SOPs that need to be followed at all times.
- With fluctuating travel restrictions, only a travel agent can advise on what restrictions are imposed on a client’s travel plans.
- Great agents can fast-track U.S. nationals through airport immigration as otherwise, there are huge lines at immigration desks around the world due to the pandemic.
- Having a travel agent can allow clients to get refunds from hotels and airlines without any hiccups. These cancellations are common in the COVID-19 era as governments around the world are restricting tourist influx to curb the spread of the virus.
Is a Travel Agent Career Right for You?
If you are passionate about traveling, having a travel agent career could be the right choice for you. The average travel agent salary was $42,350 in 2020. Additionally, most travel agents get great discounts when they make travel plans. Furthermore, during the pandemic, people are increasingly reliant on travel agents.
A good travel agent will help clients to make reservations for hotels, air tickets, car transportation, and support visa and passport requirements for the country the client plans to visit. During the pandemic, these agents have gone a step ahead by ensuring their clients follow all SOPs and are aware of any travel restriction changes around the world. This means you can help more clients fulfill their travel dreams, safely.
How to Become a Travel Agent
The first step to becoming a travel agent is to earn an industry-recognized certification. There are many specialized certification courses that you may access online. With the right training, you will be able to kickstart your journey as a travel agent. Most of these courses only require a high school degree to enroll.
Travel Agent Certification Course
In this six-month-long online Travel Agent Training course, you will learn about the domestic and international travel industry, including airline and ground transportation, accommodation, tours, cruises, specialty travel, and more. You will also explore techniques to market your services and improve customer service skills.
Once you complete this course, you will be able to sit for the Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test offered by Travel Institute, a certifying body for travel professionals. You will also become eligible to connect with Travel Placement Services (TPS) agent.
You can study at your own pace and complete 100-course hours, after which you will be ready to start your travel agent career. The best part is that you do not need any prior travel agent experience to enroll in this course. The certification has all the tools to equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and aptitude to deal with travel challenges in the post-COVID world. Enroll now to get started!
