Travel Agent/Adviser Māngai Whakarite Haerenga/Kaitohutohu Whakarite Haerenga

Travel agents/advisers provide information about tourism attractions, sell travel, accommodation, tours and attractions, do ticketing, and process payments.

Travel agents/advisers may do some or all of the following:

  • give advice on travel or holiday plans, accommodation, transport, and places of interest
  • book accommodation, transport, tours and cruises
  • advise clients about visas, passports and insurance
  • prepare itineraries, issue tickets and collect payments
  • organise and book conferences.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for travel agents/advisers includes:

  • work in travel or tourism
  • sales or retail work
  • overseas travel.

Personal Qualities

Travel agents/advisers need to be:

  • skilled in sales and customer service
  • good at listening, and understanding of their clients' needs
  • able to relate to people from a wide range of cultures
  • enthusiastic, friendly, patient and helpful
  • professional, responsible and resourceful
  • excellent at time management and planning
  • very accurate.

Skills

Travel agents/advisers need to have knowledge of:

  • New Zealand's and other countries transport systems, accommodation and tourist attractions
  • computer reservation systems
  • airline routes, alliances, and safety and security regulations
  • passport and visa requirements, travel insurance and foreign currencies
  • current affairs, including areas where travel may be dangerous.

Conditions

Travel agents/advisers:

  • usually work regular business hours, but may have to work long hours and weekends, or be on call
  • work in travel agencies and offices, from their home, or in tourist information centres
  • may take familiarisation trips within New Zealand or overseas.

Travel Agent/Advisers can earn around $47K-$55K per year.

Pay for travel agents/advisers varies depending on experience and employer.

  • Travel agents/advisers usually start on the minimum wage or a little more.
  • After five years travel agents/advisers can earn up to $55,000 a year.
  • Senior travel agents/advisers and travel wholesalers with more than five years' experience can earn up to $100,000 or more (including bonuses or commissions).

Travel agents tend to earn a low base salary, and receive commission and bonuses based on their sales.

Source: Trade Me Jobs, 'Salary Guide', 2017.

Travel agents/advisers may progress to set up their own business as a travel broker, or move into management.

Travel agents/advisers may specialise in travel wholesaling (selling airline tickets, accommodation and tours to retail travel agents).

Years Of Training

<1 year of training usually required.

There are no specific entry requirements to become a travel agent/adviser as skills are learned on the job.

Travel wholesalers generally require a travel qualification, such as a degree or New Zealand Certificate in Travel, and relevant experience at a retail or wholesale travel company.

Travel Agent/Adviser