A travel agent's role is to help people plan, choose and arrange their holiday.

They will
usually work to a budget set out by whoever is planning the holiday. They also offer advice
and opinions on where to go and local tourist attractions, events and customs.

Typical duties include:

 promoting and marketing the business

 dealing with customer queries and complaints

 providing advice about visas or passports

 recruiting, training and supervising staff

 managing budgets

 maintaining statistical and financial records

 planning

 selling holidays and insurance

 meeting profit or sales targets

 preparing promotional materials and displays.

Typical employers of travel agents

 Tour operators

 Package holiday operators

 Cruise lines

 Independent travel agents.

Most graduates enter the profession as junior counter staff (travel agency clerk/consultant),
moving into managerial positions after having gained several years' experience.

A small number of companies operate head office-based graduate training schemes.

Vacancies are advertised in trade publications including Travel Trade Gazette and Travel
Weekly  , as well as their online equivalents. Networking and speculative applications are
advisable.
Qualifications and training required
A degree in any subject is acceptable, although travel, tourism, languages, leisure, business
studies or management degree holders may be at an advantage.

A travel training company qualification or relevant travel agency, retail or sales work
experience can also be helpful.

Key skills for travel agents

 Commercially aware

 Good interpersonal skills

 Numerical ability

 Verbal communication skills.

Fluency in foreign (particularly European) languages and personal travel experience are also
highly valued.