The last sixty years have seen tourism expand and diversify to become one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world. Statistics have shown that more than half of the international arrivals around the world were for the purpose of leisure, recreation and holidays. The decline in travel and tourism in 2009 spurred by the global economic slowdown coupled with the uncertainty around the A (H1N1) influenza pandemic did not deter the industry from bouncing back. Asia was among the first regions to be affected by the crisis but was also the first to recover, posting an impressive 14% growth in international tourist arrivals in the first half of 2010.


Such encouraging trends have done good to all the segments of the tourism industry especially the one dealing in personalized services which include ticketing, reservations and documentation. Ticketing and reservations are not restricted to just air travel but are a big part of railways and the bus transport too. With the Incredible India campaigns working wonders for Indian tourism, travel in the country is at an all time high. This translates into more work for ticketing and reservation agents. The basic responsibility of a ticket agent is to sell tickets and provide the passenger with all the information that he requires for his trip. This would include the availability of tickets, flight/train/bus schedules, seating arrangements etc.


The job might seem to be an easy one but is a very vital one in this industry. A ticket agent is usually the first point of contact for a potential customer/passenger. He becomes the face/voice of the organization for the customer. Therefore ticket agents need to be well groomed with polished communications skills and a pleasing persona.


Career Prospects

Numerous institutes across the country are now offering specialized courses which focus on airline ticketing, computerized reservations, air/bus/railway/cargo fare construction. A qualified professional can easily get employed with any travel agency (which are burgeoning at an increasing pace), domestic and international airlines and at bus/railway stations and transit centres as ticket agents. After a gaining enough exposure and insights into the industry, one can always graduate to the level of a tour manager as well. Starting your own venture is also a viable option.

The travel industry in India is booming again and needs young and enthusiastic minds which can work tirelessly as this is a field buzzing with work, deadlines and excitement. On a global level international tourist arrivals added up to 421 million during the first six months of 2010 which is a 7% increase from 2009. This naturally translates into numerous career opportunities in the ticketing sector.


Payoff

Someone with no prior experience in this domain can start of at around Rs 7000 to Rs 9000. Within a couple of years this figure will increase to at least Rs 15000 to Rs 18000. One can always equip themselves with added educational qualifications like a Masters in Business Administration or a course in Financial Management or certification courses from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This will hone your skills and help you grow further and faster in this field.

Tagged in MAT MAT test pattern MAT exam AIMA MAT exam structure

Like us on :