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Travel agents: report says don’t count them out
The ease of internet bookings has virtually done away with the bread-and-butter travel agent businesses, but they are increasingly finding niches.
“While all agents charge fees to offset the commissions they used to receive from airlines and hotels, prices remain relatively low,” said a report in the Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Niches include adventure, ethnic and eco-travel.
While their numbers have shrunk from five years ago, when there were 142,000 of them, there remain 91,000 agents today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
On average, they charge $27 to book flights and $65 to plan a trip, according to figures from the American Society of Travel Agents.
Richard Nigosian, president of Bond Street Travel in Manhattan, said domestic business has dried up. “If you’re going to visit your grandmother’s condo in Palm Beach, what do you need me for?” he asks.
But Mr Nigosian’s customers are geared towards overseas vacation travelers. They are spending more money than ever, he said.
Bond Street’s fees range from $50 to $500 for complex, custom-tailored trips.
Other popular niches are student travel and travel for younger people under 26, for example.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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