Tourism Employment

Tourism Employment
As of May 2006, travel agents held about 101,000 jobs. Travel agencies are found in every part of the country. Two thirds of those employed in Tourism worked for travel agencies. Approximately 13% of travel agents were self-employed. Employment for travel agents should increase by one percent between 2006 and 2016. Because of the recent economic downturn, people are traveling abroad less and are taking vacations closer to home. The BLS reports that people are taking more exotic and highly customized trips. This increases the demand for specialized services.

Travelers Plan Their Own Vacations
The Internet has made it easy for travelers to plan their own vacations. Travel and airline websites provide unlimited opportunities to research and plan almost any type of vacation. These websites are very competitive and allow travelers to find lower prices.

Tourism Job Opportunities
The BLS reports that demand for travel agent jobs should be fair to good. Opportunities are best for agents that specialize in specific destinations, luxury travel and specific special interest groups. Many tourists prefer not traveling abroad because demand for travel is sensitive to economic downturns and political conditions in foreign countries. Positions in the Tourism market will open as travel agents retire or pursue other careers.