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Looking for jobs in the travel industry? From entry-level positions at major airports around the world to travel advisors who plan awesome trips and vacations, we’re covering six of the coolest travel jobs.
Since Fora is a modern travel agency, you probably already know which job is our favorite. Want to know what it’s all about? Sign up to become a Fora Advisor.
Who works in the travel industry?
People who love travel, of course. Perhaps more than any other field, the travel industry pulls people of all types and backgrounds. By nature, jobs in the travel industry are filled with people from all corners of the globe.
(Sidenote: outside of the travel industry, what’s the best job for traveling? There are plenty of jobs where you travel that have little to do with the industry itself. Our guide breaks down some of the coolest choices.)
Virtually all jobs within travel are taking off
Now’s a great time to consider a career in travel and tourism. More people than ever are traveling around the world. Naturally, that means there are many opportunities to facilitate said travel.
Where are travel jobs booming?
Jobs within travel are outpacing just about every other profession across the United States. Travel destinations like New Orleans, Oahu and Las Vegas — just to name a few — have seen a dramatic increase in tourism since the pandemic ended (a.k.a. “revenge travel”). Likewise, travel jobs are springing up everywhere to take advantage of the excess opportunity. This is also coinciding with a renaissance of sorts for contemporary travel advisors (ahem).
What’s fueling this job growth?
It’s not exactly clear why travel is more prominent now than it was prior to the pandemic, but it’s not isolated to the United States. Many destinations across the world, including Portugal and Italy in Europe and Japan in Asia, have seen record numbers of travelers — and these trends are reciprocated on every continent.
Which sectors in the travel industry are experiencing the fastest job growth?
It varies by area, but broadly, hospitality (think hotels and other accommodations), tourism and travel advising are the three sectors that are seeing the most growth.
(BTW: we’re probably biased, but of the three, only travel agent careers offer the best all-around perks, from unlimited flexibility to uncapped earnings potential.
6 great jobs in the travel industry
Read on for a quick breakdown of great jobs in the travel industry, with a special focus on becoming a travel advisor.
(P.S. Looking for the best remote jobs for moms? There may be some overlap between our two guides.)
1. Airport staff & flight attendants
Of all the travel industry jobs, airport staff are among the most critical since they facilitate most long-distance trips. Entry-level positions rarely require more than a high-school diploma, with pilots, advanced mechanics and some administrative staffers being the only major exceptions.
If you’re eager to explore yourself, flight attendants are often able to stay overnight in new cities before returning to their home airports.
The downside is that airport staff’s schedules are largely determined by the airlines, so if you’re looking for flexibility in the travel industry, you may want to consider a different path.
2. Hospitality professionals
From hotel staff to property managers, hospitality professionals provide travelers with lodgings and amenities during trips. Front-facing roles like concierge and customer service staff rarely do much traveling themselves, but as in any corporate business, higher-tier roles are often required to visit new places for conferences, expos and so on.
Most entry-level jobs in the travel industry’s hospitality sector offer comparable pay and requirements to any other entry-level job. However, the most reputable hospitality providers — such as the coolest hotels in Vegas or the best places to stay in Utah — tend to offer lucrative salaries in exchange for providing discerning travelers with white-glove service and elite comforts.
3. Cruise workers
Cruise-line jobs mirror roles in both the airline and hospitality fields since cruises are a mode of transportation, and most offer onboard accommodations.
For the right person, it can be an awesome experience to be ocean- or river-bound for up to months at a time. However, it’s worth noting that some of the lower positions are among the most grueling jobs in the travel industry, as workers tend to stay in tiny shared cabins and navigate strenuous schedules. Moreover, compensation depends heavily on the home country of the cruise line.
Esteemed positions — cruise directors, engineers, captains — often pay very well, but they also require considerable experience and education.
4. Travel writers & bloggers
Generally, travel writers get to blend their wordsmithing skills with their passion for exploration. It can be an extremely exciting job in the travel industry that regularly allows you to research and wax poetic about new destinations, modes of travel and more.
Of course, not all travel writers are able to travel themselves, and compensation can be all over the place. The best positions tend to be quite lucrative, while others may be better suited as part-time roles.
On another note, travel writing (or blogging) is one of the few jobs you can do remotely while traveling with virtually no drawbacks.
5. Tour guides & operators
Helping travelers better understand a destination you’re passionate about can be an extremely exciting and rewarding job in the travel industry. Is there a better way to share your pride in a location than to teach travelers about what makes it special?
Tour guides can highlight all sorts of things, too: beer tours in Brussels, haunted tours in New Orleans, luxury tours in Egypt…there’s really no limit to the topic or locale.
Oftentimes, minimal or no experience is required to become a tour guide. But the trade-off is that most tour operators are seasonal and / or tend to be part time.
6. Travel advisors (a.k.a. travel agents)
Okay, we’re completely biased, but we fully believe that travel planning is the best job in the travel industry.
What other choice here grants you unlimited flexibility — you can work full time or enjoy planning as a travel side hustle — no cap to your pay and allows you to share your passion? All of the options above touch on one or two of those points, but not all three.
What does a travel agent do exactly?
First and foremost, travel advisors book accommodations and travel experiences like tours, rental cars and more for their clients (check out the types of bookings you can make as a Fora Advisor). Beyond accommodations, travel advisors act like any other type of advisor in their respective fields: they help their clients get the most out of their vacations or business trips with expert suggestions and custom itinerary building. It’s an enthralling position that allows people with an insatiable wanderlust to share their passion as a career or side gig.
Already interested? Sign up to become a Fora Advisor today.
(P.S. Curious about the different types of travel agent jobs? See our guide.)
How does the career path of a travel advisor differ from the others?
We can’t speak for all travel advisors, but at Fora, our advisors enjoy career paths that fit their lifestyles. Some Fora Advisors plan travel full time, others only book the occasional trip for their friends, peers or family and others operate somewhere in between.
We’re big on flexibility and bigger on putting our advisors in control of how they conduct the scale of their business. Our guide to Fora travel advisor salaries offers a little more context, but depending on their commitment (which, again, they decide), Fora Advisors make anywhere from side-gig-worthy pay to six figures per year and beyond (read how much do travel agents make).
While most jobs in the travel industry adhere to strict schedules and rules, remote travel agents at Fora work at their discretion. Even better, prior travel agent education or experience isn’t a requirement (we provide all the travel agent training you need).
Jobs in the travel industry: FAQs
Have more questions about jobs within travel? Here are some answers to the top FAQs.
How much can you expect to earn at a job within the travel industry? Which job within travel pays the best?
There’s no easy answer to this question. It’s safe to say that those holding executive positions across sectors in the travel industry tend to be among the top earners. However, the incomes of top earners in travel consultant jobs are surprisingly comparable, and some Fora Advisors earn north of six figures annually — just from travel agent commissions and planning fees.
As for which job in the travel industry pays the very best, there’s no one answer: pay varies widely, and is often dependent on things like seasonality, trends, the economy and the like.
What career will allow me to travel the most?
Interested in traveling the world while you work? Ironically, many jobs within travel are in-office positions. However, contemporary travel advisors — including Fora Advisors — have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world so long as they have an internet connection.
Which job within travel has the least education and experience requirements? How about skills requirements?
Most entry-level positions in the travel industry have limited education and experience requirements. More involved positions, such as hotel managers or tour operators, may require respective degrees.
If you’re looking for a position with limited (or no) education requirements, becoming a Fora Advisor may be the right choice for you (we don’t require prior travel agent education).
Are there special perks to being a travel advisor with Fora?
You bet: unlimited flexibility, comprehensive (and ongoing) training opportunities, marketing resources and an in-house booking platform that conveniently boosts your efficiency are just a few of the coolest perks we offer Fora Advisors. Of all the jobs within travel, few offer such a robust toolset.
(Want to know how to market yourself as a travel agent? We can help.)
Want to learn more about the best job in the travel industry? Ask Fora
Want to learn more about our favorite job in the travel industry? We’re here to help. Apply to become a Fora Advisor today and we’ll put you on the path toward selling awesome trips and vacations.
If you need a little more convincing, check out these travel advisor resources, too:
