Travel

The Travel Industry

The travel industry will continue to grow significantly over the next few decades. Global trade and the increased convenience of air travel have made it both more interesting and easier for people to visit other countries. With rising household incomes, smaller families, and an increasing number of the older population who are more likely to travel, more and more people will be spending vacations in other parts of the world. Business travel will also increase, especially as U.S. businesses expand their foreign operations.

Travel Career Tips

If you are a world language major and want to work in the travel industry:

• Take courses in hotel or restaurant administration or general business 
• Find a part-time job in a hotel or restaurant to gain practical experience 
• Spend time abroad to learn the cultural tastes of the target language, including food and drink 
• Brush up on your knowledge of geography
• Plan to attend a travel school
• Develop office skills such as typing, organizational skills, and working with computers
• Read international newspapers to keep up with overseas developments

Employers desire agents with knowledge of world languages, geography and foreign cultures, as well as excellent communication skills. Courses in accounting and business management are equally important, especially for those who expect to manage their own travel agencies.

Experience, sales ability, and the size and location of the agency determine the salary of a travel agent. The average Travel Agent salary in Columbus, OH is $58,640 as of June 27, 2024, but the salary range typically falls between $50,777 and $66,942.

The Travel Institute

Experienced travel agents often take advanced self-study or group-study courses from The Travel Institute, leading to the designation of Certified Travel Counselor. The Travel Institute also offers marketing and sales skills development programs and destination specialist programs, which provide detailed knowledge of specific regions such as North America, Western Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim. With the trend toward more specialization, these and other specialty travel courses are increasingly important.

The American Society of Travel Advisors offers a correspondence course that provides a basic understanding of the travel industry. Travel agencies also provide on-the-job training for their employees, a significant part of which consists of computer instruction. All employers require computer skills of workers whose jobs involve the operation of airline and centralized reservation systems.