5 jobs in Travel

Do you love travel, exploring the world and experiencing new things? Then why not make a career out of it? 

Whether you enjoy helping others organise their next holiday, or like the idea of taking travellers on unforgettable experiences, then a career in travel is right for you.

Here are 5 jobs which can propel you into a career in travel: 

the World Travel & Tourism Council reports that a staggering 319 million people are employed in tourism; a figure which accounts for a whopping 10% of total employment figures across the world. 

Resort Representative

What is a resort representative?

A resort representative looks after holiday makers during their stay and acts as a liaison between the hotel or resort complex and its guests. 

Do I need a degree? 

You do not need to have a degree in order to embark on a career as a holiday rep. Most employers will hire a holiday rep who has progressed into the industry directly from college. Courses such as the Level 2 Extended Diploma in Travel and Tourism will provide an individual with the knowledge and understanding of both people-skills and the industry, to thrive within this job role.

What will I do?


As a holiday rep, you could expect a typical day-to-day to include some of the following: 

• Meeting and greeting groups of holiday-makers when they arrive at the airport
• Transporting and accompany holiday-makers by coach to their accommodation
• Holding welcome meetings for new guests
• Dealing with enquiries
• Keeping an information board up to date at each hotel or holiday camp
• Arranging, and sometimes accompany, excursions and sightseeing trips
• Organising car or equipment hire
• Being on hand to give advice and deal with emergencies

What sort of salary could I earn? 

New and inexperienced holiday representatives can expect to earn anywhere from £16,000+ per calendar year, to £25,000 as a more experienced professional. 

Travel Agent

What is a travel agent?

A travel agent’s role is to help people plan, choose and arrange their holiday. They will usually work to a budget set out by whoever is planning the holiday. They also offer advice and opinions on where to go and local tourist attractions, events and customs. 

Do I need a degree? 

As with the majority of job roles within the travel and tourism sector, you do not need a degree-level qualification in order to become a travel agent. 

As the role is slightly more advanced than a resort representative for example, it is expected that candidates who apply for this position hold a Level 3 Travel and Tourism qualification, or equivalent. 

You can get into this job through:

• A college course
• An apprenticeship
• Working towards this role

You can also start as a trainee travel agent and receive on-the-job training from your employer.

What will I do?

A typical day-to-day could include:

• Talking to customers to understand their needs
• Helping customers find a suitable package holiday or plan independent travel
• Making bookings and payments using online computer systems
• Advising customers about passports, insurance, visas, vaccinations, tours and vehicle hire
• Informing customers of changes like cancelled flights
• Arranging refunds and handle complaints
• Meeting sales targets
• Keeping up to date with developments in the travel industry

What sort of salary could I earn?

An individual working as a travel agent could expect to earn anywhere between £18,000 as an inexperienced, newly-qualified professional, up to £27,000 with experience. 

Cabin Crew

What is cabin crew? 

Do I need a degree? 

You can get into this job through:

• A college course
• An apprenticeship
• Applying directly

Whilst there are some cabin crew professionals who have studied bespoke courses, such as a Level 2 Certificate in Air Cabin Crew, students can also get into the industry and gain employment as cabin crew by completing dedicated modules, as part of broader travel and tourism courses. 

Top tip: Some airlines and private providers run 2-day cabin crew courses, which may help your chances of getting a job.

What will I do? 

Before a flight you could:

• Attend a staff meeting about the route and schedule
• Check supplies on the plane and make sure emergency equipment is working properly
• Greet passengers and check documents
• Demonstrate emergency equipment and procedures

During a flight, you might:

• Make sure passengers are comfortable and respond to any requests
• Serve food and drinks, and sell duty-free items
• Make announcements
• Reassure passengers in the event of an emergency, and make sure they follow safety procedures

At the end of a flight you’ll often:

• Make sure passengers leave the plane safely
• Write a flight report, including details about any unusual incidents
• Add up and record food and drink orders, and duty-free sales

What sort of salary could I earn? 

Depending on experience and airline, cabin crew professionals could expect to earn anywhere from £13,500 – £30,000. 

Tourist Guide

What is a tour guide? 

A tour guide show visitors around places of interest like cities, historic buildings and art galleries.

Do I need a degree? 

Theoretically, an individual does not need any qualifications in order to become a tour guide. However, knowledge and understanding of the travel and tourism industry, as well as qualifications within the sector are preferable to employers. 

You’ll need:

• Customer service skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• To be flexible and open to change
• Sensitivity and understanding
• An interest and knowledge of history
• Good memory
• Knowledge of English language
• To be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What will I do?

What salary could I earn? 

As is the case within the travel and tourism sector, the available salaries depend on a variety of factors. As a tour guide, the company you work for, landmarks and destinations you work at could all have an impact on the salary you earn. 

Although most tour guides are freelance and/or self-employed, the average yearly salary for a tour guide in the UK is from £18,000 – £30,000, depending on experience. 

Tourist Information Centre Assistant 

What is a tourist assistant?

One thing you can guarantee in the travel and tourism industry, is that tourists will have lots of questions, and want to see as much of a landmark, city, or country as they possibly can. 

Working as a tourist information assistant can be incredibly rewarding, as your information and guidance can make the different between a traveller experiencing everything a place has to offer, or one who leaves feeling underwhelmed. 

Do I need a degree? 

No, you don’t need a degree in Travel or Tourism for this role. It is expected that you would have college-level qualifications from Level 2 and Level 3 Travel and Tourism courses, which are both offered at Oaklands College, here. 

What will I do?