Travel Agent

I. JOB SUMMARY

Main Topic: Places and Regions
Secondary Topic: Human Geography  

Overview: Travel agents make travel arrangements for other people, including booking hotels and tours, arranging flights or other transportation. Often travel agents need to choose a destination and create an itinerary based on the client’s preferences and conditions. Travel agents provide information about foreign places and assist clients in organizing their trips accordingly. Besides excellent communication and research skills, travel agents must possess geographic knowledge. They must be familiar with the activities available to the client in the location, as well as the amenities and transportation. Geographic knowledgeable includes the location of the unique sights; physical geography features (mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and glaciers); potential hazards that can be dangerous to travelers; weather and climate; transportation routes. Cultural and regional geography provides a travel agent with the knowledge about the history, languages, traditions, socio-economic and political characteristics of a destination. A great travel agent is knowledgeable of the cultural of many places and can prepare their client for their dream vacation, so they do not have to worry. 

Geographers at Work: Human Geographers, Cultural Geographers, Regional Geographers, Physical Geographers, Environmental Geographers

Recommended College Courses: Human Geography, Regional Geography, World Geography, Cultural Geography, Environmental Geography 

Skills: Transportation, location analysis, weather and climate, cartography and GIS, regional geography, environmental assessment, cultural geography, human geography. 

Occupation Group: Sales

Learn more about Travel Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/travel-agents.htm