How to become a travel agent
Official title: Travel agents
Also called: Travel agent, Travel clerk, Booking agent, Tourist agent, Travel adviser, Travel assistant, Travel organiser, Reservation agent, Travel consultant, Travel supervisor, Reservations agent, Travel agency clerk
Travel agents advise travellers upon travel arrangements, make bookings and receive payment for travel arrangements made.
Main tasks
- Discusses client requirements and shows brochures containing suitable packages
- Establishes availability with tour operators and makes bookings
- Consults travel time-tables, books travel tickets and accommodation
- Handles cash, debit and credit card payment
- Informs client of any changes in travel arrangements
- Advises on issues of currency, passports, visa requirements, insurance, car hire, vaccinations and other health precautions
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although many employers require entrants to possess GCSEs/S grades. Off and on-the-job training is usually available. NVQs/SVQs in travel services at levels 2 and 3, BTEC, apprenticeships and higher level qualifications are available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Travel consultant (level 3). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0340.
- University: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 26 universities in the UK
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £28,746 a year The middle half earn £25,357 to £37,527.
- About 39,900 people work in this job now, and about 41,400 are projected by 2035. (+3.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a travel agent?
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although many employers require entrants to possess GCSEs/S grades. Off and on-the-job training is usually available. NVQs/SVQs in travel services at levels 2 and 3, BTEC, apprenticeships and higher level qualifications are available.
How much does a travel agent earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £28,746 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £25,357 to £37,527.
Is a travel agent a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 39,900 to about 41,400 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a travel agent?
Not always. 53% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Travel consultant (level 3).
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
Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.