SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Travel Agents

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Auto Travel Counselor
  • Beach Expert
  • Corporate Travel Consultant
  • Destination Specialist
  • International Travel Consultant
  • Tour Coordinator
  • Tour Counselor
  • Travel Agent

What do Travel Agents do?

A travel agent is a professional who assists clients in planning and organizing their travel experiences. Their primary role is to provide expert advice, make reservations, and create customized itineraries for individuals or groups. Travel agents stay informed about various travel destinations, accommodations, transportation options, and attractions, enabling them to offer tailored recommendations based on clients' preferences and budgets. They also play a critical role in ensuring a smooth travel experience, handling logistics, addressing concerns, and providing support before, during, and after travel. In an industry characterized by constant change due to economic conditions, travel restrictions, and technological advancements, travel agents must continuously update their knowledge and skills to guide travelers effectively. Many agents specialize in particular niches, such as leisure travel, corporate travel, or specific regions, enhancing their ability to provide specialized services. Overall, travel agents serve as valuable resources for travelers, making the journey planning process more accessible and enjoyable.

What the work actually is

  • Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
  • Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
  • Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
  • Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
  • Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Abilities

  • Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Sales and Marketing Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  • Geography Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  • Computers and Electronics Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Associate's degree
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Bachelor's degree

A normal week

  • Working with Computers
  • Getting Information
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Data base user interface and query software Galor Travel Booster · Microsoft Access · Travel Agent CMS · Travii reservation system software
  • Video conferencing software Zoom
  • Calendar and scheduling software Apollo Reservation System · Globekey Agentkey · Rezdy booking software · Rezgo online booking software
  • Customer relationship management CRM software Colibripms Software Colibri · MGHworld Travel Agents · Sabre Airline Solutions SabreSonic Customer Sales & Service
  • Accounting software Intuit QuickBooks · SAP Concur

Tools

  • Personal computers
  • Point of sale payment terminal Card readers
  • Ticket dispensing machines Ticket printing machines
  • Photocopiers Copy machines
  • Inkjet printers Computer inkjet printers

Who it suits

Enterprising

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Social

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

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Questions people ask

How much do Travel Agents earn in South Africa?

Travel Agents salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Travel Agents do?

Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer, Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers and Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.