Getting travel and tourism education is the best way to prepare for a career in the travel industry. The travel industry continues to expand with travel to areas that were never accessible to the average person previously, and new trends in travel including adventure and eco-tours. One of the newest niches is family-friendly travel, and since there aren't very many agencies that currently provide extensive services for families, the area is going to be wide open for the travel agents with the expertise to provide the very best in family vacations. Online networks provide information on some of the best family destinations, including many for families with babies and toddlers. Trips for multi-generational families are another area that hasn't been explored in detail. For the savvy travel agent, a business can be operated around one of these exclusive new niches.

When you choose to get travel and tourism education, you'll learn about the basics of operating a travel business, whether a brick-and-mortar location or online. The travel industry is one of the largest in the world, so even though there's a lot of competition, there's also a lot of room for specialization and niches that haven't been tapped into yet. Among the topics you'll have to know are the geography and history of a variety of thousands of locales around the world. You'll have to be aware of various cultures and languages. You'll also have to learn about the currencies of foreign countries. You must be able to provide information to your clients about every aspect of foreign travel before they leave on their trip.

Another aspect of travel and tourism education is marketing. You must keep up-to-date about the latest in travel trends, and what the key motivator is for people to travel. By having a thorough understanding, you can focus on the most positive ways to market travel products to your clients. There are different marketing techniques to use depending on the client. You'd use different techniques to market a couples-only weekend vacation and a family vacation for couples with children.

Vocational schools and community colleges around the country offer travel and tourism education. When you train to be a travel agent, you must know the procedures for booking airline travel for any destination around the world. Coursework will also cover leisure and corporate travel, structures for reservations and fares, reserving tickets, reserving accommodations, finding the best tour packages for your clients, and planning custom itineraries. Travel as an incentive is covered, and you'll have to be familiar with all the procedures.

Getting travel and tourism education can be completed on campus or online. A BA in Marketing and Communications or Organizational Management may be earned online. Other options are available and may also be completed online. You may major in food and hotel management, event planning, hospitality and tourism, or travel counseling. Associate's or Bachelor's in travel and tourism are available. Opting for a Masters Degree in Travel and Tourism could provide a salary of approximately $83,000 annually. If you prefer to get your degree at a local college, you can search online to find campuses near you.