Careers in Travel and Tourism
A career in travel and tourism can be exciting and challenging. Training to become a travel agent varies, but travel experience can help any candidate, as well as experience or training in the tourism industry. Other careers in travel and tourism include becoming a flight attendant, filmmaker, or teacher. Making a career based on travelling is possible and there are various options for creating such careers, or even for creating your own travel agency.
Travel and Tourism Careers Overview
Wondering how to get a job in travel and tourism? There are multiple options. Travel agents plan trips for their clients. Employers typically prefer applicants who have completed at least some college coursework. While the employment outlook for travel agents isn't favorable, there are a lot of other travel and tourism jobs that are on the rise.
| Required Education | High school diploma or equivalent; some college training preferred by employers |
| Other Requirements | On-the-job training |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | -26% decline for travel agents |
| Average Salary (2019)* | $40,660 |
Flight attendants, on the other hand, work on airplanes in order to provide customer service for travellers. Job prospects for flight attendants are much more favorable than they are for travel agents.
| Required Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Other Requirements | On-the-job training; prior customer service training preferred |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)* | 17% (much faster than average) |
| Average Salary (2019)* | $56,640 |
Source:*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Other Travel and Tourism Jobs
- Pilot
- Independent filmmaker
- Overseas teacher
- Hospitality
This article will not go into detail about all of these jobs, as they have very different requirements. Travel agents, flight attendants, and filmmakers will be the focus here.
How to Get a Job in Travel Industry Areas
- Obtain a high school diploma
- Decide what parts of a travel career interest you
- Gain travel knowledge
- Consider university experience
- Pursue your chosen career option or create your own
Step 1: Complete High School
A high school diploma is a requirement for most travel agency jobs. Classes in geography, history, and foreign languages may provide students with background information for travel destinations. Many high schools offer foreign language classes or clubs that provide students with cultural events pertaining to the language or countries of origin. Some high schools offer travel clubs that organize trips for large student groups, which may provide students with experience in travel planning and budgeting.
Step 2: Gain Travel Knowledge
Prospective travel agents may benefit from being experienced travelers who are knowledgeable about popular destinations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, experience within a city or foreign country may be an asset because it can help clients make travel decisions (www.bls.gov). Those with experience may be able to better answer questions on customs, weather, politics and exchange rates.
Tip for Travel Agents
Consider how you might start an online travel agency of your own. Travel agents rarely work in designated offices anymore, but it is still possible to build travel advice for a clientele using your own digital skills. But you may be wondering how to create travel agency services without the structures inherent in traditional travel agent offices. You may benefit from taking web design courses, promoting your business on sites like Instagram, and reaching out to others in a similar position.
Step 3: Consider Degree Programs
The BLS indicates that employers favor individuals with some travel-related training. Aspiring travel agents may look to vocational schools, community colleges and universities that offer certificate, associate's or bachelor's degree programs in travel, hospitality or related fields. These programs include coursework in U.S. and world geography, hospitality law, and principles of tourism. Courses in specific types of tourism, such as ecotourism, may be offered.
In addition to tourism and hospitality-based courses, curricula may include coursework in marketing, customer service, and computer skills. Some programs offer internships with major tourism industries that can be beneficial to prospective travel agents.
Step 4: Find Work
The BLS estimates that employment for flight attendants will increase by 17% for the decade 2019-2029. These workers earned $56,640 as a median annual wage in May 2019. Flight attendants generally work for a single airline, and can have domestic, international, or long-haul routes on their schedules. In addition to helping customers on flights, flight attendants get the opportunity to visit a number of destinations around the world as part of their work.
Jobs for travel agents are decreasing quickly, but jobs for tour guides, foreign language teachers, au pairs, pilots, remote online workers, and independent filmmakers all offer potential opportunities to make a living while traveling the world and using travel expertise to help others to learn more about planet Earth.
Step 5: Consider Career Options
Think about how to make a career in travelling worthwhile for you. What parts of travelling do you enjoy? What kind of relationship would you like to have with the public? If you are not interested in creating your own travel agent business, or if you don't want to be a flight attendant, consider becoming an independent filmmaker. Sites like YouTube and Vimeo host video content and creators can generate advertising revenue. Travel vlogs and other travel content can be extremely popular, and this is a great way for you to travel while also making a living. There are many instructional blogs and videos to help you get started on this career path.
Knowledge of foreign countries, cultures and languages may be all that's needed to work in travel and tourism, and college courses or a degree in tourism or a related field could be helpful for many people considering travel-related careers. There are many tourism-related industries, many of which are on the rise and give prospective workers significant freedom to travel the world while earning a living.