How to become a travel agency manager or proprietor

Official title: Travel agency managers and proprietors

Also called: Manager, Shop manager, Store manager, Tours manager, Branch manager, Retail manager, Travel manager, Account manager, Tourist manager, Operations manager, Travel agency owner, Travel agent manager

Travel agency managers and proprietors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the resources and activities of travel agencies and booking offices.

Main tasks

• Plans work schedules and assigns tasks and responsibilities
• Co-ordinates the activities of clerical, secretarial and other staff
• Discusses client’s requirements and advises on road, rail, air and sea travel and accommodation
• Makes and confirms travel and accommodation bookings, arranges group holidays, tours and individual itineraries
• Advises on currency and passport/visa regulations and any necessary health precautions needed
• Determines financial, staffing, material and other short- and long-term needs

How to become one

Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades but is possible with other academic qualifications and/or relevant experience. Off and on-the-job training is available. BTEC/SQA awards and NVQs/SVQs at level 3 are available.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £35,105 a year
• About 16,100 people work in this job now, and about 18,600 are projected by 2035. (+15.6%)

Related jobs

• Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors
• Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors
• Publicans and managers of licensed premises
• Leisure and sports managers and proprietors

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Questions people ask

How do I become a travel agency manager or proprietor?

Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades but is possible with other academic qualifications and/or relevant experience. Off and on-the-job training is available. BTEC/SQA awards and NVQs/SVQs at level 3 are available.

How much does a travel agency manager or proprietor earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £35,105 a year (Office for National Statistics).

Is a travel agency manager or proprietor a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2035, from about 16,100 to about 18,600 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a travel agency manager or proprietor?

Not always. 50% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03