Work in the Travel and Tourism Industry

Earning an AA or certificate in travel and tourism opens the door to such fields as travel agencies, car rentals companies, hotels, tour operator and airline ticketing and reservations. Even in tough times, the travel industry is booming, with plenty of work in the corporate and private sector.

And working in the tourism industry comes with a variety of perks for the travel buff. Many travel agencies provide all the top destinations for little to no fees, allowing their employees to sample the world and grow in product knowledge and experience. In addition, the agent has inside information on the best travel deals with privileged discounts and incentives for tour packages and cruises.

The travel and tour industry will not make you rich, but can bring you a satisfying career helping others and planning your own discount adventures. Top agents work full time, but there's plenty of room for part time agents and even home based operations. Jet Blue is one such company that hires it's airline reservation specialists on a work from home operation, allowing freedom and flexibility with good pay. Many travel agencies are also participating in this fast growing and economical way to do business.

Tour operators are on the other end of the travel industry which package up vacations and are marketed with brochures to travel agencies. To obtain a tour operator degree or certificate, you will need a concentration on cultural and tourism geography, packaging tours, the airline industry along with expertise in hotels and lodging. The goal of the tour operator is to find the best possible prices for their clients while maintaining the highest standard of travel experience.

Another rewarding career, teeming with growth opportunities is the hotelier industry. Special degrees are offered on the community college and university levels for hotel management or food and beverage director. Regardless of the economy, this industry is here to stay. And by adding a foreign language to your list of credits may allow you to work anywhere in the world in this exiting industry with top pay. One of the highest rated institutions for this degree comes from the University of Las Vegas (UNLV), Nevada. Their multi-tiered coursework prepares the student for nearly every kind of hotel niche and also includes courses for gaming management.

Whether you elect to earn an accredited degree or prefer to finish quickly with a trade certificate, there are plenty of fun and well paying jobs waiting for you in the travel and tourism industry. The best candidates for the job are those who love to travel, experience foreign cultures and are effective communicators to others. If this is you and you feel the need for change, try a few courses in the travel agency and see what you think. Online courses are fast and cheap and probably your best bet to sample this exciting industry.

http://hotel.unlv.edu/departHotelMgt.html