Everyone thought that 2020 brought an end to tourism, but things have changed.
While regulations change, there might be a greater need for travel agents at least in Louisiana.
Read this article to learn what you need to do in case you consider a new career as a travel agent!
Travel Agent Job Description and Duties in Louisiana
Usually, travel agents are in charge of arranging for their clients, the following:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Entertainment
They can’t do any of that without first completing these tasks:
- 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
Their job would be even easier if they considered becoming more familiar with at least two of these areas of interest:
- Honeymoon
- Family-oriented
- Business
- Budget
- Cruise
- Luxury
Taking care of additional tasks and traveling from time to time will be common occurrences for these professionals.
Requirements to be a Travel Agent in Louisiana
The job of a travel agent can also be made easier with a certain set of abilities.
Generally, these are:
- 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
Not many employers ask for experience in the field, but this can be obtained.
The most common way to become more familiar with the tourist industry is by working other jobs in this field.
Education and Certification for a Travel Agent in Louisiana
To become a travel agent, you should get some formal education.
This will help you develop the skills you don’t have and teach you how many job tasks should be completed.
Louisiana doesn’t have many schools to offer tourism programs, but the existing ones can be seen below.
Top 7 Schools in Louisiana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Delgado Community College | 615 CITY PARK AVENUE NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119 |
| Grambling State University | 403 MAIN STREET GRAMBLING, LA 71245 |
| Louisiana Culinary Institute | 10550 AIRLINE HWY BATON ROUGE, LA 70816 |
| Louisiana State University | 156 THOMAS BOYD HALL BATON ROUGE, LA 70803 |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | 175 SAM SIBLEY DRIVE NATCHITOCHES, LA 71497 |
| University of Louisiana | 104 UNIVERSITY CIRCLE LAFAYETTE, LA 70503 |
| University of New Orleans | 2000 LAKESHORE DRIVE NEW ORLEANS, LA 70148 |
Some of these schools offer programs for distance or online learning while others just for courses in a classroom.
A high school diploma or a GED is required by all those institutions, for those who want to enroll.
These are the main classes you’ll attend:
- 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 Louisiana
The main benefit of being a travel agent is the possibility of frequent travel.
This helps the professional to be always informed of any possible changes.
Furthermore, some institutions prefer to negotiate terms and packages face-to-face.
These agents usually work for tourism agencies, though working on their own is also possible.
For this, additional licenses will be needed.
Your salary will be influenced by a series of factors, including your type of employment, experience, and location.
In cities like Metairie, New Orleans, and Kenner, average salaries are higher than the state’s median of $36,774 per year.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$33K | |
$36K | |
$43K |
Average Salary of Travel Agents in Louisiana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $37,973 |
| Baton Rouge | $35,691 |
| Shreveport | $35,292 |
| Metairie | $37,973 |
| Lafayette | $35,268 |
| Lake Charles | $34,784 |
| Bossier City | $35,292 |
| Kenner | $37,953 |
| Monroe | $35,108 |
| Alexandria | $34,010 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 80 | $46,220 | $22.22 | $56,250 | $31,110 |
| Lafayette, LA | 30 | $46,590 | $22.4 | $50,690 | $29,120 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Travel Agents in Louisiana
If you obtain a license to run a business of your own, you might have to ensure it’s always current.
Most agents are part of various associations that help them create more connections and thus improve their careers.
I’ve always dreamt of turning my passion for travel into a career, and this guide provided such clear steps to make it happen, especially tailored for Louisiana.
This guide’s emphasis on leveraging Louisiana’s unique cultural heritage to offer specialized travel experiences is spot on.