Travel

Few careers offer the challenges and rewards of tourism management. It's a field that is part geography and history expert, part customer service agent, part sales representative, and part event planner. Travel agents must be knowledgeable about the different offerings of tourist destinations world wide, and must also be aware of the technical aspects of booking flights, hotels, cruises, etc. The ability to take part in people's vacation planning is both engaging and satisfying, and is what makes the travel and tourism industry so exciting.

If you're interested in becoming a travel agent, a tourism management certification may be a good fit for you. But how about studying to become a travel agent... without ever leaving home? Increasingly, many Canadian travel schools are offering on-line education to their students. The concept is simple: learn and acquire all the skills you need to become an employable travel agent using on-line courses, in the comfort of your home.

The content of on-line travel certificates is overseen by the travel industry, so students can study knowing that they are learning the skills required to work in the real world of tourism management. Travel agent programs typically target two types of students: people who are new to the travel industry and who are interested in breaking into the field, and experienced travel agents who are looking to either hone their skills, or specialize in a field such as cruises, or organized tours.

If you're new to travel planning, then 15-course Travel Agent Certificate will give you the knowledge you need to be part of the industry. Courses are taught by experienced professionals, and cover such topics as booking fares and tickets, making travel reservations, planning leisure travel and the computer reservation system SABRE. Finish all 15 courses and you'll get a Travel Agent Certificate of Completion... and a ticket into the exciting world of tourism management. Here are courses students would typically be expected to complete in order to acquire the certification:

1. Basics of tourism management
2. Trends in travel sales
3. Canadian air reservations
4. Canadian air fares
5. Automated air reservations
6. Destination geography
7. Basics of hotels and lodging
8. Ground transportation
9. Basics of cruise vacations
10. International fares and tickets
11. Canadian automated air fares and tickets
12. Canadian car rental and hotel accommodation systems
13. Specialty vacations and tours
14. Leading small group tours
15. Selling vacation tours and packages