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Travel Agent/AdviserAlternative titles

Māngai Whakarite Haerenga/Kaitohutohu Whakarite Haerenga

This job is sometimes referred to as:

Travel and Information Consultant
Travel Broker
Travel Consolidator
Travel Wholesaler

Travel agents/advisers make travel arrangements and bookings for clients, and provide information about tourism attractions. They may sell airline tickets, book accommodation, tours and attractions, do ticketing, and process payments.

Contact us

Call us on 0800 222 733

Entry requirements

In most cases there are no specific entry requirements to become a travel agent/adviser as skills are learned on the job. Travel wholesalers and travel consolidators generally need a travel qualification, such as a National Certificate in Travel, and relevant experience at a retail or wholesale company.

Secondary education

Some employers may prefer their trainees to have at least NCEA Level 2. Useful subjects include English, maths, geography, tourism and languages.

Gateway work experience programme in travel

Secondary students may have the opportunity to take part in the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation's Gateway travel programme. Students earn NCEA credits while doing work experience in the travel industry.

Personal requirements

Travel agents/advisers need to be:

  • good at listening, and understanding of their clients' needs
  • able to relate to people from a wide range of cultures
  • enthusiastic, friendly, patient and helpful
  • professional, responsible and resourceful
  • excellent at time management and planning.

Useful experience

Useful experience for travel agents/advisers includes:

  • work in the travel and tourism industry
  • sales and retail work
  • overseas travel.

Related courses

View information on courses in the course database

Find out more about training

Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO)
(04) 499 6570 - info@attto.org.nz - www.attto.org.nz/
NZSkillsConnect
www.nzskillsconnect.co.nz/
Jessica Strawbridge using a specialised travel booking system

Travel agents and advisers usually learn specialised booking systems on the job

Jessica Strawbridge in front of a map of the world

Overseas travel is useful background for work in the travel industry

Updated 27 Mar 2013