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Travel agents headed way of buggy-whip makers?
Are the US’s 100,000 travel agents headed for the type of extinction that came to buggy-whip makers?
“The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects positions as travel agents to decline through 2012 and warns those considering the profession to expect ‘keen competition for jobs,’’ suggests the Christian Science Monitor.
But to keep the situation in perspective: the travel market should continue to grow and despite the internet, many travelers like the human touch.
Many online travel agencies have expanded their services by adding live travel agents available via toll-free telephone.
Agents also are far from dead.
Some surveys show agents sell nearly 9 out of 10 cruise packages, 8 out of 10 tour packages and about half of all airline tickets and hotel rooms.
Their share of the market, however, continues to decline, says PhoCusWright. Present online bookings of 30% will rise to over half of all bookings within two years, the research company estimates.
Report by David Wilkening
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