Planning a trip single-handedly is overwhelming, and this is where travel agents come in. Once the destination is fixed, clients will need to book tickets, reservations, hotels, insurance, tour packages, etc. Travel agents can help vacationers with these bookings, and get the opportunity to tour the world and earn money while doing it. In this article, Sky Bird Travel spends time debunking five myths about travel agents and explaining why it’s such an excellent career path.
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Misconceptions of Airline Consolidators
Myth 1: Travel Agents Are Outdated
With the huge amount of travel information now available on the internet, people often think that travel agents are rendered useless. Especially with the rise of websites that allow anyone to plan every aspect of their trip with the help of online information.
This is completely false! When compared to online booking websites, travel agents offer a lot more. They have a greater understanding of their consumers, services, and the travel industry. And they do it all with professionalism!
Myth 2: Clients See What Travel Agents Charge
Another outright wrong myth about travel agents is that they’re an additional expense to the client’s trip. Yes, they have a hiring fee, but it’s nothing compared to all the deals and discounts a travel agent can introduce clients to.
With Sky Bird’s WINGS Booking Engine, travel agents can hide their fees from clients and not “scare” them off with their charges. This gives the agents an opportunity to explain and break down why it is worth paying to hire them and how it actually saves the clients’ money.
Myth 3: Travel Agents Don’t Make Money
When deciding on a job, potential income is a key factor. According to the 2021 report from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, travel agents make an average of $46,580 per year. However, depending on the sort of travel employment and commissions, this can be higher.
Agents can actually make between $50 and $500k a year, according to studies from other academics like Pindar. A job where you can earn money and get to travel the world (or work from home) at the same time — sounds like the dream job, right?
Myth 4: It’s Hard To Find Employment
A career as a travel agent offers a variety of specialization options. As your experience increases, you can also advance in your career and expand your knowledge and work experience.
You have the option to focus on a subject that most closely matches your interests and skills. You can narrow your focus to a specific type of travel, such as being a travel agent who specializes in business trips. You can work for an organization or on your own. There are plenty of job openings in this industry.
Myth 5: The Travel Industry Is Dying
Travel agents are in demand now more than ever due to the increase in demand for customized tour itineraries. According to a 2011 survey by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), travel agents continue to sell 51% of all airline tickets, 87% of all cruises, 81% of tours, 45% of rentals, and 47% of all hotels.
Travel agents are definitely not a thing of the past and are still very much in demand. Consumer demand for travel agents has increased, which has led to both a need for agencies to hire new employees and a burgeoning interest in working as travel agents.
Sky Bird Can Help New Travel Agents
Being a travel agent is a lucrative and a rather fun career option, and Sky Bird is here to help all agents. Sign up for our WINGS Booking Engine and access a large suite of travel necessities from the industry’s most trusted brands. Also, keep an eye out for our monthly WINGS Webinars and quarterly New Travel Agent Webinars!