Going places: An associate degree in travel and tourism can send you on your way

Travel agents help their clients go from here to there, and back again. It's the travel agent's job to pave the way, making arrangements to facilitate travel and being there if travel difficulties arise.

The responsibilities and job duties for travel agents include advising clients on the best way to travel to destinations, and providing information on those destinations--from car rentals and lodgings to local weather and public transportation. They also provide information on required travel documents and currency exchange rates, and handle alternate bookings if the itinerary changes.

Travel agents may also work as tour guides for package tours put together by their agency. Travel agents who perform these duties need a good grasp of specific destinations and may specialize in travel for a certain demographic, such as seniors.

Opportunities for jobs in the travel and tourism industry are generally better for graduates with proper training. An associate degree in travel and tourism can boost your chances of employment in the field. As the economy continues to improve, travel is picking up and job opportunities and earnings should follow, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Education and training: Associate degree in travel and tourism

Employers in the hospitality and travel industry prefer agents with education and experience. An online associate degree in travel and tourism can teach you about destinations, sales and marketing and the travel industry itself. Some of the courses you might expect to take include:

• Introduction to travel and tourism
• Computer classes
• Adventure travel
• Principles of marketing

An associate degree generally takes two years to complete. Benefits to an online degree in travel and tourism include the flexibility of distance education, and some hybrid programs allow distance education and campus-based classes. Some programs also offer credit for professional experience.

Once you've earned a travel and tourism degree, you can get certification from various travel industries, such as the International Airlines Travel Agency Network, which allows you to work with credit and accept payments for reservations. Certification can be useful if you're interested in owning your own travel agency.

Putting your degree in travel and tourism to work

There were 76,990 travel agents working in the U.S. in 2009, according to the BLS, with mean annual wages of $32,450. Travel agent isn't the only job available if you earn an associate degree in travel and tourism, however. Related occupations include:

• Travel arrangements and reservation services ($32,170)
• Scheduled air transportation ($34,550)

Get out and see the world through your work? If so, an online associate degree in travel and tourism may be a great place to start.

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