Work in a travel agency without experience. Travel agent: free travel or stressful work? Personal qualities for professional growth

Olga Grafskaya, General Director of the Bonjour Travel Tourism Bureau

Looking for a travel job

Jobs in tourism attract job seekers with the opportunity to see the whole world. I hear this almost always from new employees. Experienced employees are willing to bet that not everything is so fabulous. Every medal, even the most expensive one, has a downside. Our foreign partners organize so-called information and familiarization tours for employees of travel agencies. I’ll say right away: there are never free tours, and the conditions are completely unroyal! The point of such trips is to see with your own eyes what we offer to clients, gain personal experience and express an opinion that is far from the phrases from the advertising booklet.

Such tours are organized out of season, and these trips are very difficult. Every day the agent inspects several hotels, and in countries of mass tourism it reaches several dozen. Your head is spinning and you start to get confused. Experienced specialists make notes and comments for themselves, someone takes photos or videos. And newcomers just walk, look and admire. And in the end they can’t remember anything. Usually one day is left for rest, the rest of the time is working time. Partners look at who behaves in such tours, and if they understand that the agent is incorrect, he may be blacklisted and will not be invited to the next tour. You can travel around the world, but if an employee is constantly traveling, when will he work?!

Who works in tourism and why?

The labor market in tourism, like many others, is also experiencing a shortage of personnel. It is divided into two parts: these are young girls with no experience who believe that there is nothing difficult in this field, and experienced specialists who have worked in the industry for many years. The disadvantage of the former is not even a lack of experience, but that many do not want to learn.

People from the second category do not need to be trained; they come with a client base, which is good for the head of an agency, but there is also a disadvantage here. Such an employee wants to receive exclusive working conditions. They may not bring direct losses to the director, but the profit for the agency will be zero, since all of it will be received by the manager who brought the client.

Fabulous salaries in tourism are rare. There is a dual situation in the market: on the one hand, there is an oversaturation of supply, on the other, a reduction in the industry as a whole. Therefore, the salary range for a tourism manager is from 20 to 60 thousand rubles. But it all depends on the person and his desire to earn money.

The perfect travel agent resume

The most important thing in the resume of applicants in the tourism industry is work experience. But this does not mean that I will not accept a person without experience. It is important for me that the employee is interested in earning money, not receiving it.

Cliche phrases are often written on resumes: determination, responsibility, opportunity for career growth. You can look through dozens of profiles and not find a single worthy candidate. How can we talk about any serious career growth in a travel agency? This work is very interesting, despite all the difficulties that you have to face every day. Increasing wages in tourism depends not only on management, but also on the employee himself. During the interview, I ask the question: “Are you ready to make efforts to attract new clients? If yes, which ones? If not, why not? Many applicants are willing to receive a small flat fee and not have to do anything else. I will refuse such an employee.

Personal qualities for professional growth

In tourism, attentiveness is very important, because a minor mistake in writing the personal data of tourists can lead not only to a fine, but also to the threat of trip disruption.

Punctuality, the desire to develop independently and constantly learn play an important role. Exploring new countries, excursion routes - isn’t it interesting?

And, of course, responsibility is extremely important! Here is an example, or rather, my nightmare, which I really hope will never happen in practice. A tourist must fly away on a long-awaited vacation and needs to get a visa. The employee carefully fills out all the documents and takes them for delivery. On the way, he loses his tourist passport. You can borrow money and pay for a tourist, but what to do with a lost passport?! To say that after this trust will be lost is to say nothing!

We teach you how to travel and sell travel

A travel agent can receive education at specialized higher educational institutions. When there was a boom in tourism, there were many educational courses on tourism. Now the industry is in decline - not only travel agencies are closing, but also educational institutions. But having a diploma, unfortunately, doesn’t mean anything.

Tourist routine

In fact, a travel agent has a lot of responsibilities: from maintaining cleanliness in the workplace to being ready to respond to their clients at any time of the day or night. The motto of our agency is: “Your personal consultant 24 hours.” The agent's schedule is irregular, especially during peak seasons. In the off-season the load is less. I do not force all employees to be at the workplace when there is no workload. Some are engaged in self-development, others come up with methods to optimize their work and attract new clients. I welcome and encourage this.

Each agency has regular clients, and we maintain their files. We store all the data so that we don’t have to ask you to send the same documents every time. We keep a history of trips, wishes, comments. Our regular clients do not need to explain what they want to get from their vacation. They only say dates and wishes for choosing a country. Everything else is our work. Moreover, this part of routine duties is the most creative, providing an opportunity to please and surprise the client, to guess his desires.

Nothing to hide

In other industries, the practice of non-interference by a specialist in a client’s decision has been adopted. With us it's the other way around. If we are talking about regular clients, then I already know what they need, and I advise based on their preferences. But if a client chooses a country or a hotel himself, I always talk about the nuances that can ruin the vacation or upset the tourist. But I never insist. This is a person’s personal choice, and must be taken into account.

For example, a couple of years ago, several of my clients wanted to go to Egypt for the New Year. I didn’t refuse them and lose clients. The result, I think, is well known. The Egyptian route was closed, and the issue of refunding the funds had to be resolved. One could say: “Take care of yourself, you chose this country, now these are your problems.” But I can’t afford it, and for several months I fought with partners to return the funds to my tourists.

Nervous work

There have always been and will always be difficult clients. It’s very difficult with people who are used to criticizing everything and seeing bad things even where they don’t exist. It’s difficult with those who first ask about the size of the discount, without even saying what they want. Any work must be financially rewarded.

The situation in the tourism market is very difficult now. The crisis, sanctions, imperfect legislation and, unfortunately, dishonesty and financial dishonesty of partners have a very negative impact on the agent’s position in the market. After all, a tourist comes to the agency and trusts us, but we are not the last authority and cannot control or influence all the links that are involved in this process. Unfortunately, this cannot always be explained, and some colleagues face their clients in court, although the agent did his job 100% or more. But the argument is simple: “We came to you, so you should be responsible for everyone.”

Profession without career

The manager's job is a bit routine from a technical point of view. But it is very diverse: new clients, new requests, new countries, new hotels. Career development occurs in a horizontal plane. There is no step-by-step promotion from an ordinary employee to the director of your own agency. I can’t call this a career prospect; I consider it more of a transition to a new level. For an agency director, knowledge of tourism alone is not enough; he must understand both accounting and legislation, and know the work of a manager. You can hire employees who will be responsible for a certain segment of work, but this is financially expensive. I know several examples of former agency directors who closed their companies and went back to being hired employees because they did not want the huge responsibility on their shoulders.

Sometimes employees leave. Some went to larger agencies, some went to a tour operator, and some, completely disappointed, left tourism altogether. Some people don’t even want to hear about tourism anymore, others remember this experience with warmth!

One of my partners had a travel agency in another country. Everything got boring and she closed it. I went on vacation to Georgia, and fell in love with this country so much that I stayed there and opened... yes, yes, a travel agency! She studied the history of Georgia and, being a director herself, often accompanies groups as a guide.

“Work for the young”?

Many people believe that a tourism manager is a job only for young people. But I don’t agree that in tourism, employees over forty years old are rare specimens. On one information tour I met an agent who was 72 years old! She has more enthusiasm and energy than some young girls. I really respect such people.

Instructions

The position of software manager can combine a variety of functions. The larger the company, the narrower the range of responsibilities of each individual employee. Tour operating companies offer options for creating an agent network in the regions, and in travel agencies, staff communicate directly with clients most of the time.

A newcomer should consider it - they open there more often. It may be worth starting with a lower position, trying yourself, for example, as an assistant manager or trainee. Unfortunately, most trainees do not receive wages - they only work for percentage or seniority.

If you want to become a manager, do not accept the post of courier. While in the status of an intern or assistant, you learn the necessary skills - communicating with clients, working with objections, organizing tours, and studying special computer ticket programs. The courier spends most of his time outside, and has virtually no chance to improve his skills. In addition, a line indicating such a position is unlikely to decorate your resume.

Select the appropriate ones and send your resume to the address indicated in them, with the obligatory indication of the position for which you are applying. It's a good idea to include a cover letter and a photo of yourself. A couple of days after sending, call the company and ask if your papers have been received.

When preparing for an interview, find out as much as you can about the company you want to work for. Visit its website, study the programs offered, read customer reviews. It’s a good idea to look at other sites dedicated to tourism. When speaking with the employer's representative, be sure to mention what you learned.

During the interview, behave as politely and correctly as possible, do not argue with your opponent. Please note that correctness, non-conflict and confidence are important qualities for a future tourism manager.

If you have been offered less pay than you expected, find out under what conditions and when you can expect it to increase. Do not overestimate your requirements if you do not have experience in the tourism industry. To dictate terms, you need to have your own base and certain developments. But in a year you will be able to claim more - in this company, or from its competitors.

Video on the topic

Sources:

• How do they work in a travel agency?

A job interview is always a very sensitive moment. Especially if this is not the first attempt to get the desired position. The main thing is to make it clear that you are a confident and knowledgeable person.

Instructions

Write a resume. It should contain all the necessary information about you. Indicate your personal information, address and contact numbers, marital status and previous places of work. The resume left after the conversation will not go unnoticed, since this indicates your serious intention regarding the position and readiness for the work process.

When forming a first impression, the visual factor has recently become relevant. If a person is pleasant in appearance, then it will also be pleasant to work with him.

Try not to be too assertive, but also not to be too modest and quiet. Otherwise, you simply won’t be noticed among other candidates. Standard requirements for a position in a travel agency: experience in tourism, knowledge of the industry, ability to work in the master tour system, knowledge of basic tourism technologies, English - a level sufficient for conducting business correspondence and communicating with partners. When hiring, personal qualities are also important - friendliness, attentiveness and accuracy.

Try to show your attitude towards work, your desire for professional development and how important this work is to you. And you will probably take the desired position and move from the status of an applicant to the status of an employee of a travel agency.

Working in the tourism sector is an exciting and creative activity that requires versatile knowledge and high professional training. Successful activities in this field require communication skills, responsibility, knowledge of foreign languages ​​and appropriate education.

You will need

• - Internet access;
• - telephone;
• - photo 3x4cm;
• - summary;
• - reference materials (on geography, document management, etc.).

Instructions

To get a job while traveling, study the entire labor market. Look through available vacancies in newspapers, on message boards and on specialized websites (for example, superjob.ru, rabota.ru, vakant.ru, etc.).

Call the numbers indicated in the advertisements that interest you. Keep a planner and pen with you to record meeting times.

Often at the end of an interview, a potential employer utters a phrase that frightens unprepared applicants: “Leave your resume, we will contact you.” To be fully prepared, make a detailed resume in advance and print it out.

This document must include full name, date of birth, address, purpose (indicate what position you want to obtain), education, work experience, additional information, personal qualities.

In order to get a job at a travel agency, pay special attention to filling out the last two points. Most applicants have specialized education and some work experience. Various related skills, certificates of completion of advanced training courses, knowledge of foreign languages, etc. will help you stand out from the crowd.

Take several standard 3x4cm photographs and attach them to your resume. When considering all candidates, the manager will look at the photo and immediately remember you and your positive qualities.

Provide as much information as possible about yourself - if you do not pass the selection for one vacancy, you may be offered an unexpectedly vacant position in a related specialization.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the preparation for the interview. Review basic geographical information (countries and capitals, main resort regions and their features). Recall in your memory the list of documents that the client must provide in order to issue a trip. The employer may ask you any question, so be prepared to improvise.

Video on the topic

Managers are specialists who perform various production and personnel management tasks. These employees are required in almost any company, so the demand for the profession is quite high.

Instructions

Decide for yourself in which area you would like to work as a manager. This can be either a company with an economic focus, or, for example, catering establishments, service providers and others.

Determine what kind of manager you want to be. There is such a position as lower-level managers, who are junior employees; they regulate the activities of ordinary and other employees. These include sales managers, foremen, heads of departments, etc. Middle managers include superiors over lower-level representatives - shop managers, branch directors, deans of faculties and others. The smallest group of managers are senior managers who manage the entire organization - the general director, the rector of the university, and others.

Get the education necessary for your target position. For lower-level managers, secondary specialized education is usually sufficient. Middle class managers must have a higher education in economics and enterprise management. To become a senior manager, you may need to obtain additional higher education, for example, in the field of law, as well as take special advanced training courses.

Research available vacancies in your city on the Internet or in newspapers, contact employers and send them your resume, indicating your education, work experience and relevant skills. You will be asked to sign up for an interview, and if you successfully complete it, you will receive the desired position. Make a complete list of companies you would like to work for and follow their news to be aware of openings.

Sources:

• how to get a job as a manager without experience in 2019

Tourism manager is an interesting and promising position. If you want to communicate with clients and learn more about other cities and countries, try getting a job at a travel agency.

Instructions

Keep in mind that a tourism manager must have a certain set of personal qualities. These include, for example, the ability to find contact with people, good memory, patience, responsibility, and organization. It is advisable that you yourself have experience in . This will make it easier for you to advise other people on the choice of tours.

It is not mandatory, but desirable, to have a diploma from a higher educational institution. Specialties such as tourism manager, hotel management or foreign language are especially welcome. In general, knowledge of English, German, French or another language, even at an average level, will allow you to apply for a better position and a higher salary. You should also be proficient in office computer equipment and basic programs. After all, most bookings of tours and hotels occur via the Internet.

Be prepared for the unique challenges of working as a tourism manager. First of all, it is worth noting the lack of a clear work schedule. After all, you will not be able to leave your workplace at the end of the working day if you have a client who needs advice. Sometimes employees working in the tourism industry need to go to work on Saturday or Sunday. Sometimes floating days off are assigned according to the schedule. It is advisable to always be on the phone, both before the start of the working day and after. After all, you can get calls from clients, the number of whom determines your income.

A tourism manager can expect to earn a decent salary, but he will have to get used to the seasonal fluctuations that the tourism market is subject to. During vacations, as well as during long holidays, you can expect a higher income. But in those periods when only expensive trips are available for tourism, the salary level will be lower. Remember that a tourism manager's income consists of salary and interest on transactions. As a rule, the salary itself is not very large.

Find a tourism manager position. If possible, choose an agency that officially places its employees. At first, take a closer look at which area of ​​activity is closer to you - hotel booking, visa processing, external or internal tourism.

Grow as a tourism manager. Study information on other countries, their characteristics and traditions. Be able to advise clients on which hotel is better to choose and which attractions to visit. You will probably have to take an information tour from the agency you are applying for. During it, you need to carefully examine the hotels that you happen to visit, so that you can then form your opinion in front of the buyer of the voucher. Attend various lectures and introductory seminars to learn more about the areas in which your company operates.

The profession of tourism manager is not just hard work, but also a way of life. At any time of the day, you can be disturbed on your personal phone by excited tourists asking for help in finding a voucher for accommodation or returning a plane that took off a few minutes ago. If you love people, you are not embarrassed by sales, and tourism itself evokes good associations, then this profession will bring you good luck and success.

If you are new to the world, then try to get a job in a travel agency - a company that sells tours to tour operators. As a rule, these are small enterprises employing 5 people. Getting a job as a manager here is not difficult if there are vacancies, especially if you have your own travel experience. But even if you haven’t traveled anywhere, you can still interest the director of the company. The main thing is that you give the impression of a polite, competent and confident person who can talk interestingly. The earnings will be small, but you will learn how to sell well and gain valuable experience in tourism, which will be useful to you for further career development.

Mixed travel agencies - tour operator/tour agent - are a great way to start small and achieve heights. Here it is possible to get a job as an assistant manager or as a manager for the sale of agency tours, that is, tours of other travel agencies. By selling tours from other companies, you bear less responsibility to tourists and your company. And this is only a plus at the initial stage of your career. When you begin to have a good understanding of each component of the tourist package - the main destinations, transfers, flights, hotels, and of course, documents for traveling abroad, you will be offered a more difficult, but interesting, in every sense, activity and decent wages.

note

The old stereotype that the career of a tourism manager begins with a courier has long become obsolete. The courier is constantly traveling and is rarely in the office. So he doesn’t have to watch the specialists work. His activities are completely different from those of a tourism manager.

Helpful advice

Learn English. It is necessary for business correspondence and communication with foreign partners of the travel agency.

Learn to use not only the Internet, but also basic office computer programs for working with documents.

Smile during an interview.

Working in the tourism sector attracts many people. By sending a client to a Mediterranean resort, it seems as if you yourself are becoming a little closer to the sea, sun and all kinds of pleasures. The work is not difficult, and it is pleasant to communicate with people. In addition, employer companies, as a rule, promise employees preferential holidays. And this is a big plus. How realistic is it to apply for a position in a travel agency without experience and special knowledge? What exactly can employers offer such applicants?

“Tourist” advertisements in newspapers can be divided into three types. The first includes vacancies that require experience in a specific position and knowledge of a foreign language: tourism manager in certain areas, working with VIP clients, air cashier with knowledge of certain programs, etc. Unfortunately, this is not for us.

Advertisements of the second type - for candidates with minimal or no experience, but also with minimum salaries (about $200) - courier manager, assistant manager.

And finally, a balm for the soul - offers “for everyone”: no experience, no foreign language and with salaries from 500 to 1500 dollars + interest.

So, let's start our investigation with these attractive advertisements.

This is business, not all sorts of nonsense!

In terms of content, they are approximately the same: “To the office of a travel company, without traveling, etc. Vacancies: administrator-manager, deputy. department head, manager. From $1300 +%. From 20 years, including reserve officers, higher, secondary specialized education. Training is free (with earnings). Flexible schedule, possible. combination and foreign Career growth. Preferential foreign rest. Weekly payout salary." There are also variations regarding all sorts of benefits: social package, work, business trips abroad, etc.

We dial the first number.

— Hello, I'm here for a job advertisement.

They don’t let me finish, taking the initiative into my own hands:

— Do you have experience in tourism? No? Not scary. What kind of education? Pedagogical? Wonderful! Come for an interview. We have vacancies: office tourism manager, administrator, control department manager. Responsibilities: Negotiating, concluding contracts. For beginners - a series of lectures at the Academy of Tourism during business hours. Registration under an employment contract or under a contract - the entire speech is delivered in a memorized patter, without any opportunity to insert a clarifying question. In conclusion, the interlocutor dictates the detailed address of the travel agency at the same speed.

— Excuse me, can I ask about the salary, because it’s impossible for a newbie to receive 1000 bucks?

— It all depends on the position, come and let’s talk. We have a salary system. For the company, salaries range from 3 to 38 thousand rubles plus interest, and ours is high.

- But in the beginning, apparently, we will have to count on the minimum?

- Everything is individual for us. Come and let's talk. Will you come tomorrow?

- I'll think about it and call you back. Thanks for the info.

The conversation during the second call is repeated almost verbatim. They just offered to come to the All-Russian Exhibition Center.

Yeah, great. But the question naturally arises: getting a high-paying job without experience is a big problem. And here, you have dozens of travel agencies to choose from. They are eager to hire you, teach you everything and pay you crazy money. Strange. I make the third, control call.

- Hello. I'm on the advert

The interlocutor produces a text absolutely similar to the previous ones, but I don’t give up:

— Tell me, is the salary - $1,000 indicated in the advertisement - a normal salary or not?

— We have fixed rates for different positions, they are calculated individually.

- Excuse me, what does this mean? Is there no salary as such?

— Girl, you’ve apparently never worked in business. There is no salary in business,” the interlocutor explains in a tired voice, “this is a different level.”

— Can I ask one last question? Do you register officially, according to labor? And about taxes and social contributions.

- Girl, you are asking strange questions. We have serious work, business, you know? I don't have time for empty talk. If you want to change your life, come.

If she had bothered to explain how she proposed to change life, I would have thought. Well, it's suspicious. Why secrets? We seem to be talking about work, and not about initiation into the Masonic lodge. Why is a personal meeting so necessary and you can’t get details over the phone? In general, in order not to waste time traveling to numerous interviews (in vain), I decided to turn to the Internet: what are people saying there?

Managers' promises

I found a large number of reviews about exactly the companies I called. For example:

“I saw an advertisement for a job in a travel agency on a recruiting site (without the name of the office, without an email). Great positions and salaries! I phoned and went to VDNKh for an interview: a crowd of people (!), polite “managers”. Fill out a short questionnaire. Talk about anything, the result is the same - pay 480 rubles for three days of training (?!). They can’t really say what exactly (for example, the peculiarities of various countries, visa support). You say: “I don’t have any money with me.” They ask: “Leave at least some amount as a deposit (!!!). Then they promise two months of work in the same office at VDNKh, but find it difficult to answer in what capacity (“with applicants”). Then they promise some more training"

“I went to these three-day classes, expecting: where’s the fun. I waited: on the second day they said: in order to become a manager of mass destinations (that is, working with clients), you yourself need to go on their voucher for 450 USD. Well, or sell it to someone yourself. But it’s better to go, the “manager” explains, how will you work later if you haven’t been abroad? And if there were, it wasn’t from our company - that’s not it. I don’t know if work starts after the trip for 450 USD, I didn’t pay.”

In general, miracles do not happen. I'm looking for a job, not a “business” of dubious nature. It’s a pity that the promised thousands of USD are not yet achievable. I wanted it so much!

You will have to continue your search through other advertisements that offer a specific job, but for little money.

The quieter you go, the further you'll get

There are few such advertisements, but they exist. For example, you need an assistant tourism manager with at least six months of work experience, or experience in active sales. True, knowledge of mass trends is still necessary. Salary - $200 +%. I'm calling.

- Hello. I'm responding to a vacancy announcement. I’ll say right away that I have no experience in tourism, but I worked as a sales manager, and you said - experience in active sales. I have vacationed abroad several times, so I have an idea about popular destinations. Maybe I'll come over?

— Send your resume and we’ll see.

- Sorry, but do I have any real chances?

— Of course, we would like to find a person with experience in tourism so that he has an understanding of ticket booking systems, hotels, etc. But since the position is starting, options are possible. If you are a confident PC user and know a foreign language, that’s a plus.

- Thank you, I will definitely send you my resume and will wait.

There is hope. But for $200. Well, let's continue. An employee is required for a travel agency. Salary - Doc. Girl, high school, PC, foreign languages.”

— Good afternoon, you advertised that an employee was required for a travel agency.

— Yes, we need an assistant manager.

- Excuse me, but what is the salary and at what level should the language be? I can't say that my English is perfect, but it's quite decent.

— We need a good level of language proficiency so that no problems arise with partners. And the salary is around 8,000 rubles.

— Isn’t it scary that I didn’t work in the tourism industry?

- No. Send us your resume and we'll see.

Well, here's another chance. Of course, there are not many such vacancies, but there are several in each issue of the newspaper.

And finally, I discovered one more proposal, and I liked it. “A courier manager is required to work with embassies and deliver air, railway. dor. tickets." Many people say that the main thing in a career is to get into the flow. And even if you prove yourself well in a courier position, you can count on more interesting work. Let's ask about this.

— Good afternoon, I am interested in the vacancy of a courier manager.

— Yes, we need a full-time employee. Salary 6,000 rubles, travel card and telephone. If you are satisfied with the conditions, let's arrange an interview.

— This is interesting to me, but I have a question: is career growth possible in such a position? That is, become a tourism manager?

- You know, everything is very individual. If you like it with us and you are a responsible, reliable employee, everything is possible. In principle, with us you can take a closer look at what areas of work there are, what will be more interesting to you: visas, booking tickets, hotels. As you work, you will be able to understand what and where you should learn. So there are chances.

- Thanks, I'll think about it.

Simple conclusions

So, let's summarize our research.

— If you need a stable job, it’s better to forget about offers of “crazy money” for participating in a “cool business.”

— Reliable employers offer positions with absolutely specific responsibilities and ask to send a resume.

— In principle, everyone has the opportunity to become a tourism manager. You will have to start with starting positions for small salaries.

— Your chances increase significantly if you speak a foreign language at a high level.

Tourism manager is a specialist in the tourism industry who organizes tourist trips for clients. Currently, this is one of the most sought-after professions in the leisure and entertainment industry. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in foreign languages, geography and social studies (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

Salary

Salary as of 06/06/2019

Russia 15000—100000 ₽

Moscow 30000—130000 ₽

Short description

The tourism manager makes our dreams come true about the vacation that each of us looks forward to. From the outside it seems that this is the most romantic and interesting profession - a holiday every day, the opportunity to travel to distant countries on duty.

But these are different things - to relax on your own or to competently organize a problem-free vacation, which depends on many people and circumstances.

Tourism manager is a generalized name for a profession that is multifunctional. There are generalist specialists who can single-handedly organize a tourist’s trip from start to finish, but most often travel companies (tour operators) practice division of labor by specialization: customer service manager, ticket reservation manager, destination manager, visa manager and insurance, business tourism organization manager, etc. A tourism manager without work experience can handle each of these specialties separately under the guidance of a more experienced specialist. In large companies, organizing a tourist trip resembles the work of a conveyor belt: at each stage of organizing a tour, different specialists are involved in the matter.

Specifics of the profession

The functional responsibilities of a tourism manager depend on where he works: in a tour operator or in a travel agency. In a tour operator, managers are involved in the development and formation of tourist routes, and in travel agencies, as a rule, they sell tours to clients.

Responsibilities of a tourism manager working in a tour operator:

• route development;
• preparation of excursion programs and entertainment;
• hotel reservations;
• purchase of tickets for regular flights;
• organization of charter flights;
• negotiations with the receiving party;
• registration of insurance and visas;
• formation of tour packages;
• concluding agreements with travel agencies;
• conducting advertising campaigns;
• resolution of conflict situations with representatives of the receiving party.

In travel agencies, the job of a tourism manager is as follows:

• receiving calls;
• consulting potential clients (in person and by phone);
• provision of guides, catalogs, maps;
• study of offers on the market and optimal selection of tours at the client’s request;
• interaction with managers from tour operators;
• execution of an agreement with the client.

There are travel companies that combine the functions of a travel agency and a tour operator.

Pros and cons of the profession

pros

• the prospects of the industry as a whole and the constant demand for personnel;
• the opportunity to visit many countries as part of work or on last-minute trips and special offers on vacation;
• high salary level;
• the versatility of the tourism manager profession allows you to work with any level of education and experience; there is a job for anyone; There are no strict educational qualifications when hiring.

Minuses

• high responsibility;
• frequent stressful situations in the event of production discrepancies and force majeure circumstances (an airplane may be delayed, a natural disaster or war may break out, tourists may not be released by customs, etc.);
• trips to different countries are of a production nature and it is impossible to completely relax and enjoy your vacation;
• tourists can bother you with calls at any time of the day, and the manager needs to calmly react and answer questions that arise, resolve problems with the host party in favor of the client;
• seasonality of work and dependence on this level of salary.

Training to become a tourism manager (Education)

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— The largest educational institution of additional professional education. education in Russia.

Invites you to receive a diploma in your specialty at professional retraining courses. The Academy specializes in additional education programs, offers a convenient distance learning format, an individual approach to the needs of students and flexible prices.

Provides an opportunity, without interruption from work and place of residence, to acquire a new profession in the direction of “Domestic and international tourism” on the basis of an existing higher or secondary specialized vocational education. The programs have state accreditation, therefore state-issued documents are issued.

Colleges

Training to become a tourism manager within the specialties “Tourism”, “Management (by industry)” or “Organization Management” (with a specialization in “Tourism”) is offered in more than 20 Moscow colleges, including:

• at the Humanitarian College of the Russian State University for the Humanities
• Humanitarian College of Innovative Technologies
• Small Business College No. 48
• College of the International Academy of Business and Management.

Upon completion, graduates receive a diploma with the qualification “Tourist Services Specialist”

Place of work

• travel agencies
• tour operators

Personal qualities

• high stress resistance;
• iron restraint and self-control;
• communication skills;
• organizational skills;
• personal organization;
• eloquence;
• diplomacy;
• charm;
• good memory;
• the ability to persuade an interlocutor;
• responsibility;
• flexibility of thinking.

Career

An aspiring tourism manager may apply for the position of assistant manager, whose responsibilities include working the telephone or talking with clients. In the future, he may become a customer service manager. The average salary of a tourism manager consists of a fixed part and percentages. Specialists with five years of experience and their own client base can count on double the salary. In the future, a tourism manager may become a deputy director of a travel agency and even a director. Tour operators provide a richer experience in tourism than travel agencies. Here you can master all the specializations of the profession in organizing a tour from beginning to end. With proper diligence and the desire to master all the secrets of the profession, you can grow to the position of a top manager who actually manages the tourism business and is responsible for increasing the company’s profits, developing and expanding the market. His responsibilities include signing important contracts, conducting negotiations, conducting competent advertising policies, and marketing research. Accordingly, their salary level is high.

A travel manager or tour coordinator has a high status in tour operators, whose responsibilities include the development of individual and corporate tours. As a rule, they must have excellent knowledge of resorts, hotels, entry regimes into different countries, be able to work with accounts, credit cards, and book hotels and air tickets. Travel managers enter into contracts with the host party, so they must be fluent in at least English, have the skills to prepare commercial proposals and conduct negotiations, and know and follow the rules of business etiquette.

Business tourism managers who have to deal with businessmen who are accustomed to high standards of service, clarity and punctuality, regardless of force majeure circumstances, are also considered elite specialists.

Over time, many successful managers who have mastered the technology of promoting tourist destinations from start to finish can open their own business.