Chretien Point Plantation, Jubilee Zoo and Christmas in Roseland are popular tourist attractions in Louisiana. As a Louisiana travel agent, you should be able to tell people about the tourist attractions in their chosen destination, just how you would be able to tell them about the Louisiana tourist attractions. Learning how to become a travel agent in Louisiana is not difficult and this page can help answer any questions you may have. http://www.wegoplaces.com/USA_State_LA.aspx

Travel websites like Expedia.com, Travelocity.com and Priceline.com are used by consumers to book flights, accommodations and car rentals. The consumer basically becomes their own travel agent. Because many people book their travels online, travel agents have to become extra savvy. They have to be able to provide the client with information that they will not be able to find anywhere else. Basically they have to become experts when it comes to travel arrangements. Travel agents often have access to special deals and discounts that are not available to the general public. Some travel agents specialize in one type of travel. There are agents that specialize in cruises, honeymoons, and business trips. http://career.qandas.com/jobs/what-are-the-job-duties-of-a-travel-agent.html

After reading this page, you should have a better idea of what it takes to become a travel agent.

REQUIREMENTS: If you want to become a Louisiana travel agent some good qualities to have include being organized, accurate, professional and detail-oriented. If you know your way around a computer and the Internet it will also come in handy since travel agents spend a large amount of their time searching for deals and discounts on the internet.

Aside from personal qualities, there are also educational requirements you need to have. To become a travel agent you need a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent. Employers usually prefer to hire people who have some sort of training geared towards becoming a travel agent. Vocational school is a great option. Some people even get a bachelors or masters degree in tourism and travel. Various courses such as world history, geography, computer science and foreign languages might be beneficial to your career as a travel agent. Some schools in Louisiana offering classes for future travel agents include Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Strayer University Online, Stratford Career Institute, and Penn Foster Career School. These are either physical schools of online schools. http://www.citytowninfo.com/employment/travel-agents/louisiana

SALARY: As with any occupation, salary depends on various factors such as experience, education, and age. According to salary.com the average base salary in 2010 for a travel agent in Louisiana is estimated at $30,853.00 per year. http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_salaryresults.asp?op=salswz_psr&hdOmniNarrowDesc=Materials+Management&hdOmniTotalJobsFound=20&pagefrom=selectjob&redbird=&jobfamilycode=23&joblevelcode=&hdLocationOption=1&hdSearchByOption=0&hdKeyword=travel+agent&hdJobCategory=AR02&hdZipCode=70139&hdStateMetro=118&hdGeoLocation=New+Orleans%2C+LA+70139&hdCurrentPage=1&hdViewAllRecords=0&hdSortBy=0&hdJobCode=OF13000058&hdJobTitle=Travel+Clerk&hdNarrowDesc=Hotel%2C+Gaming%2C+Leisure%2C+and+Travel&hdJSBoolDisplayAdvertisement=&jobcounter=8&countertype=1&rdbSearchByOption=0&txtKeyword=travel+agent&totaljoblistnum=2&hdAjaxDisplaySection1=0&hdAjaxDisplaySection2=1&hdAjaxKeyword=travel+agent&hdAjaxKeywordWithOR=%23travel%23+OR+%23agent%23

'EXPERIENCE: Before becoming a Louisiana travel agent, many start out by working at travel agencies as receptionists or reservation clerks]. As time goes by they get more responsibilities and duties and eventually they end up being travel agents. If you cannot find a job at a travel agency, you can always offer to work as an intern for free. It's a good way to gain experience and will help with future job applications. Once you are a travel agent you have to constantly keep educating yourself about the industry. You need to be aware of the changing trends in various destinations. If there are new hotels, or attractions, you need to be aware of this. You have to be able to provide the client with up to date information that they were not aware of. Some people who work for a travel agency venture out and start their own business selling travel right from their home. Depending on how hard they work, they can be quite successful since they have previous experience.

LICENSING: If you decide to start your own business as a travel agent, and sell travel right from your home, there is no need for any licensing. The only state that requires a license to sell travel from your home is Rhode Island. Louisiana (and the other remaining states) don't require a license to sell travel. Unlike a real estate license or a driver's license there is no state administered test to pass. Anyone can basically get into the business of selling travel. Some cities, counties and towns might have licensing provisions for people selling travel from their home. You may have to become a part of the "Travel Seller's" registration program that many states carry. Usually this is done by paying a financial contribution. If you don't register and just print business cards saying that you are a travel agent, you will not be recognized by suppliers as a legit entity. http://www.homebasedtravelagent.com/FAQ.htm http://hometravelagency.com/travel-agent-articles/travel-agent-license/

FINDING A JOB: Many people that want to become travel agents start out by working as a reservations clerk or receptionist at a local travel agency. This is a great way to gain experience in the field. You can watch other travel agents in their day to day activities and learn from them. Over time you might eventually get more responsibilities resulting in becoming a full fledged travel agent. If you have trouble finding a job at a travel agent, you can even offer to work for free as an intern. This will look good on your resume and help you get that future travel agent job.

DUTIES: If you want to become a travel agent it's good to know what your duties will be. This way you can see if they include tasks that you need more training in. Before getting that Louisiana travel agent job, it's always good to know what will be expected of you. Following you will find a list of duties:

• ■ A travel agent has to communicate with customers to see what their wishes are. Where do they want to go? What about transportation? What are the desired travel dates? What is their budget and what accommodations would they like? It's your job to assist and inform them about their options.
• ■ A travel agent has to calculate various rates and quote prices on selected tour packages.
• ■ You will also have to provide your customers with brochures and publications about their desired destination. Provide information about local customs, required travel documents and vaccinations and foreign country regulations.
• ■ As a travel agent you have to plan, arrange and sell tour and promotional packages offered by various travel carriers.
• ■ You have to book the car rental and accommodations for the client using either the phone or terminal.
• ■ Further duties include printing of the ticket and answering any questions that customers have.
• ■ If you work for a tour operator you might also have to promote their tour package through presentations, direct mail and the Internet. http://www.careerplanner.com/Job-Descriptions/Travel-Agents.cfm