Maybe not people see Georgia as a travel destination, however, this doesn’t mean residents of this state don’t want to travel.
They most likely want to travel even more after 2020.
However, there’s a need for travel agents in Georgia, and this guide will tell you how to become one!
Read on and don’t forget your cup of tea or coffee!
Travel Agent Job Description and Duties in Georgia
Being a travel agent means you have many responsibilities to complete.
Agents find, for their clients, the best:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Entertainment
This can only be done by knowing what the customers like or not, as well as what’s the price they’re willing to pay.
By narrowing down your expertise, you can better help your clients.
These are the main niches in tourism:
- Honeymoon
- Family-oriented
- Business
- Budget
- Cruise
- Luxury
You’ll be even more successful if you combine at least 2 of these niches.
A day in the life of a travel agent is usually filled with:
- Reviewing visas, vaccinations, and other travel necessities
- Understanding the needs and desires of their clients
- Keeping accurate records
- Finding solutions to issues and emergencies
- Handling payments and deposits
- Promoting the various packages resorts, hotels, and cruise companies offer
- Negotiating with hotels, resorts, cruise companies, and more
All these are tasks that will help clients have a better and safer time at their destination.
It’s not uncommon to also receive additional tasks, at least periodically.
Requirements to be a Travel Agent in Georgia
What does it take to become a travel agent in Georgia?
The answer is not very easy, as you’ll need several abilities, such as:
- Good communication skills
- Good management skills
- Able to use various computer programs
- Good problem-solving skills
- Great marketing skills
- Able to work full-time
- Detail-oriented
- Being confident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a clean criminal record
- Be honest
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Speaking a foreign language
- Liking and having the ability to travel
Unlike with many other positions, having previous experience in the field is not mandatory for these agents.
Education and Certification for a Travel Agent in Georgia
The majority of travel agents are highly educated individuals.
They graduate with Bachelor’s degrees in tourism and hospitality.
The schools below have such programs to offer to those interested.
Top 20 Schools in Georgia
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Albany Technical College | 1704 SOUTH SLAPPEY BOULEVARD ALBANY, GA 31701 |
Athens Technical College | 800 U.S. HWY 29 NORTH ATHENS, GA 30601 |
Atlanta Technical College | 1560 METROPOLITAN PKWY SW ATLANTA, GA 30310 |
Augusta University | 1120 15TH ST AUGUSTA, GA 30912 |
Central Georgia Technical College | 80 COHEN WALKER DRIVE WARNER ROBINS, GA 31088 |
Chattahoochee Technical College | 980 S COBB DRIVE DR SE MARIETTA, GA 30060 |
Coastal Pines Technical College | 1701 CARSWELL AVE WAYCROSS, GA 31503 |
College of Coastal Georgia | ONE COLLEGE DRIVE BRUNSWICK, GA 31520 |
Columbus Technical College | 928 MANCHESTER EXPY COLUMBUS, GA 31904 |
Georgia Northwestern Technical College | ONE MAURICE CULBERSON DRIVE ROME, GA 30161 |
Georgia Piedmont Technical College | 495 N INDIAN CREEK DR CLARKSTON, GA 30021 |
Georgia Southern University | 1332 Southern Dr, Statesboro, GA 30458 |
Georgia State University | 33 GILMER ST ATLANTA, GA 30303 |
Gwinnett Technical College | 5150 SUGARLOAF PARKWAY LAWRENCEVILLE, GA 30043 |
Lanier Technical College | 2535 LANIER TECH DRIVE GAINESVILLE, GA 30507 |
Ogeechee Technical College | ONE JOSEPH E. KENNEDY BLVD STATESBORO, GA 30458 |
Savannah Technical College | 5717 WHITE BLUFF RD SAVANNAH, GA 31405 |
South Georgia Technical College | 900 SOUTH GEORGIA TECH PARKWAY AMERICUS, GA 31709 |
West Georgia Technical College | 176 MURPHY CAMPUS BLVD. WACO, GA 30182 |
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | 4089 VAL TECH RD VALDOSTA, GA 31602 |
Some of the schools have a 100% acceptance rate while others will select their future students.
In most cases, you’ll have to present a high school diploma or a GED.
It is also possible to be asked to have minimum grades in specific subjects in high school.
Online learning is available for those who cannot attend classes in person.
Some of the subjects for tourism and hospitality courses are:
- Introduction to the travel industry
- Professional Skills
- Basic/International geography
- Destination geography
- Introduction to international travel
- Introduction to air travel
- Transportation
- Career development
- Sales and marketing for travel
Travel Agent Salary and Employment in Georgia
In Georgia, travel agents usually work for tourism offices.
They can also work on their own, but for this, additional licenses are needed.
One of the advantages of this occupation is the ability and need to travel, making it possible to work from anywhere.
As far as salaries are concerned, they’re usually higher in cities like Atlanta, Athens, and Roswell.
Item | Percent |
---|---|
$33K | |
$37K | |
$44K |
Average Salary of Travel Agents in Georgia
City Name | Salary |
---|---|
Atlanta | $37,971 |
Augusta | $35,921 |
Columbus | $34,911 |
Macon | $35,815 |
Savannah | $36,069 |
Athens | $37,702 |
Roswell | $37,827 |
Warner Robins | $35,707 |
Albany | $35,285 |
Alpharetta | $37,774 |
Regional Salary
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,920 | $40,260 | $19.36 | $50,540 | $26,630 |
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 30 | $37,120 | $17.84 | $55,650 | $25,350 |
Savannah, GA | 160 | $35,640 | $17.14 | $46,660 | $24,350 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Travel Agents in Georgia
Travel agents from Georgia should look into joining various tourism-related associations.
This way, they’ll improve not only their credentials but also their careers.
As a travel agent in Georgia, I’d also recommend joining a host agency when you’re starting out. They provide great resources and connections to help you grow your business and navigate the industry.