How do I become a travel agent?

July 8, 2015 4:24 PM

I have been a writer and publicist for 7-plus years, but I'm ready to blend all my skills and become a travel agent. How do I do it?

I was recently on a FAM trip to Japan and everyone on it was a travel agent. It seems to be a sector that, despite what we might think, actually survived the advent of the internet. I have a niche and I know I could do it; I already traveled the world and collected itineraries for my writing. But the truth is, I don't know where to begin. It seems there are a lot of dodgy "schools" just waiting to take my money and I don't have much. Any advice as to how I can proceed? Thank you in advance, it's much appreciated.

posted by Lillitatiana to Work & Money (4 answers total)

Design, promote, and guide your own custom package tours focused on a particular area. Proceed by first getting a supporting gig working for someone else doing this, and learn what to do and what not to do.
posted by ovvl at 7:00 PM on July 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Start by reading the Travel Agents chapter of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, particularly the "How to Become One" section. (The book is published annually by the U.S. Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is freely available full-text online.)
posted by bentley at 9:40 PM on July 8, 2015

Go to IATA.org

http://www.iata.org/training/subject-areas/pages/travel-tourism-courses.aspx
posted by kschang at 11:08 PM on July 8, 2015

Travel agencies are steadily closing and consolidating. Find a deep specialty, some niche that is really hard (as in impossible) to research online. The only agents I see around are for cruise and specialized safaris. I noticed a sign for wine tours but that was at a wine shop not an independent agent.
posted by sammyo at 5:32 AM on July 9, 2015 [2 favorites]