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The Business
It is estimated that travel consultants book 80 percent of all domestic air travel, 85 percent of all international air travel, 95 percent of all cruises, 90 percent of tour packages, 50 percent of car reservations, 25 percent of all domestic hotel reservations and 85 percent of all international hotel reservations. Positions are open to people with good general business and selling skills, strong communication skills, basic computer skills and a knowledge of geography.
An Industry Leader
The travel and tourism industry is the nation's largest services export industry and one of America's largest employers, employing 16.2 million people (7 million directly and 9.2 million indirectly). Travel and tourism is America's third largest retail industry with an estimated payroll of $157 billion. Approximately 1 out of every 17 U.S. residents was employed due to direct travel spending in the United States during 1999. In fact, it is the first, second or third largest employer in 29 states in the U.S.
The travel and tourism industry comprises many different segments and includes tour operators, restaurants, meeting planners, car rental companies, hotels and motels, airlines, motorcoach companies, theme parks and attractions, National parks, convention and visitor bureaus, travel agencies and trade associations.
(From Tourism Works for America, 1998 &
TravelFORECAST March 2000)
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