Reader’s Question:
Career in the travel industry??
I want travel to be my main part of my career when I get older…I am considering becoming a travel journalist hopefully for National Geographic or if that doesn’t work out, maybe a travel agent. Could you describe what some of my options are? Thanks in advance!

Reader’s Answer:
There are lots of options out there for you in the travel business. A travel agent would probably be the most common position to get in the travel field. But it sounds to be like you are wanting to travel more and get to see lots of places. I don’t think you will be able to travel as much as you would like if you work for a travel agency. Yes, you will be traveling to different places to experience them so you can help clients, but the majority of your work would be done in an office. The only way you would be doing a lot of traveling is if you were a group agent. You would book large groups of people and then go with them on the trip to provide a tour.

So, here are some more options that would allow you to do more traveling. As you said you could become a journalist for a company like National Geographic, or you could do this for a travel magazine as well, like Town and Country. You could also become a travel critic, similar concept to a journalist, but not exactly. You could also looking into being a food critic, you would travel to differnet places trying different foods and then writing on them. Another option would be to start you own travel website that offers reviews and such on travel. You could also become a pilot, flight attendant, etc. You would get to fly all over the world and also get discounted travel.

These are just a few of your options. If I were you I think I would go to your school counselor or a local college counselor for some advice. They will be able to get you information on different jobs in the travel field as well as lots of information on that jobs, including schools, average income, works skills, etc. It is really useful and could really help you out.

Hope this helps, good luck!