If you want to try something new and are a fan of traveling, consider becoming a travel agent.
This industry is flourishing in Kansas, so you will have many career opportunities.
But, you will first need to have some info about this job and what it means.
So, have a look at the article in order to get more info.
Travel Agent Job Description and Duties in Kansas
Before starting your new career, you should know what this job is all about.
Usually, you have to assist your clients with doing the following:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Entertainment
Before that, you first have to:
- Review visas, vaccinations, and other travel necessities
- Understand the needs and desires of their clients
- Keep accurate records
- Find solutions to issues and emergencies
- Handle payments and deposits
- Promote the various packages resorts, hotels, and cruise companies offer
- Negotiate with hotels, resorts, cruise companies, and more
You can also choose one area to specialize in, which can be:
- Honeymoon
- Family-oriented
- Business
- Budget
- Cruise
- Luxury
Travel agents should have enough information about a place they are recommending to their clients.
You will also be required to have certain skills, which usually include:
- 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
- Having a clean criminal record
- Being honest
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Speaking a foreign language
- Liking and having the ability to travel
Experience in tourism is not necessary, however, it can be helpful.
Your job will also include doing quite a lot of traveling in order to check out locations.
Education and Certification for a Travel Agent in Kansas
While getting a degree and certification are not required, your chances of having a better job increase if you do.
Most of the time, travel agents choose a degree in tourism, and the most common is a Bachelor’s.
Once you decide to join a program in a school, you will take classes both online and in person.
In Kansas, the schools offering travel agent programs are below:
Top 4 Schools in Kansas
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Butler Community College | 901 S HAVERHILL RD EL DORADO, KS 67042 |
| Fort Hays State University | 600 PARK ST HAYS, KS 67601 |
| Johnson County Community College | 12345 COLLEGE BLVD OVERLAND PARK, KS 66210 |
| Kansas State University | 919 MID-CAMPUS DRIVE MANHATTAN, KS 66506 |
To attend such a program, you should have a high school diploma or a GED.
The programs for travel agents feature classes such as:
- 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 Kansas
There are various benefits to working in this field.
You will have the chance to go to various places and have a flexible work schedule.
Travel agents can also work in an office and get hired by an agency.
Or, you can choose to run your own travel agency.
You will have to apply for some additional certifications to be an independent travel agent.
Maybe you want to know what your yearly salary is gonna be as a travel agent.
If you live in a big city, you will have a better salary as well as more work opportunities.
If you have a tourism diploma and experience, you will also earn more compared to newer agents.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$33K | |
$36K | |
$43K |
Average Salary of Travel Agents in Kansas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Wichita | $36,966 |
| Overland Park | $37,549 |
| Kansas City | $37,683 |
| Olathe | $37,447 |
| Topeka | $35,887 |
| Lawrence | $36,456 |
| Shawnee | $37,549 |
| Manhattan | $35,503 |
| Lenexa | $37,549 |
| Salina | $36,582 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | 60 | $46,520 | $22.37 | $60,620 | $28,490 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Travel Agents in Kansas
In Kansas, you will be able to join the Kansas Travel Industry Association.
Joining this association will bring you more chances to advance your career.
You will also need to renew your travel license certification once in a few years before it expires.
You will have to take some additional hours of education in order to renew your license.
In order to have more info on when you need to renew it, make sure to contact the agency that released it.
