As a travel agent, you sell all kinds of trips and adventures, but there are many sectors of travel where having an area of expertise can actually increase your business.
Travel Planners International advises its agents that whatever niche or specialization you choose, you should love it. Why? It's not about the money. It's about having your clients feel the passion for what you do and want to book with you.
Here are just a few of the travel sectors you could specialize in, but don't let these limit you:
Foodie tourism: According to a 2013 study of the American Culinary Traveler, Mandala Research has found that about half of all leisure travelers travel to learn about or enjoy unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences (51 percent), a notable gain from 2006 (when 40 percent said they traveled for these reasons). Travel agents with culinary knowledge can arrange cooking tours throughout the regions of Italy or organize a cheese tasting tour in Paris.
LGBT tourism: The LGBT sector of the travel industry is growing and these travelers are looking for an expert who can guide them to the best LGBT-friendly vacation spots in the world. If you are familiar with this travel territory, you can become the go-to person in a $65 billion per year business.
Sports tourism: Your sports knowledge and passion can easily translate into a profitable business. According to the National Association of Sports Commissions, sports tourism is a growing billion dollar business as youth, high school, college and amateur teams and individuals - including parents, coaches and staff - all need airfare, hotels, car rentals and other travel arrangements. And don't forget the obsessive fans who follow their professional teams around the country or vacationers who want to play golf where Phil Michelson and Tiger Woods once teed off.
Wine tourism: In addition to the thousands of wineries in the United States, there are wine festivals held around the world every year. Wine lovers, also called oenophiles, want to travel and taste the best of the best, so the business opportunities here are endless for the keen travel agent.
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Disney tourism: Many agents have turned their own love for the mouse into a thriving travel business and there's good reason why. Everyone loves Mickey and millions of families hope to take their children to the parks one day. These same travelers need help navigating the many aspects of Disney travel, including cruises, parks around the world, FastPasses, dining plans, and park tickets that can all become overwhelming for the newbie Disney traveler.
Cruise tourism: Speaking of confusing, cruising sounds simple - book your room and get aboard. The truth is that this business is rapidly changing. River cruising, especially in Europe, is becoming much more popular and has opened up an entire niche of travel business opportunities. If you are familiar with the cruising industry, especially the recent beverage and other changes on major cruise lines, you can easily benefit from being the go-to expert in this field.
Adventure tourism: If your idea of traveling is more about skydiving than lazy rivers, adventure tourism could be the niche for you. Adventure travel involves some possible risky activities or some serious physical exertion. With a market projected to be worth around $263 billion and an entire generation of travelers who are looking for more excitement in their travel, this market is ripe.
National Parks: It's the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service, which has drawn more attention to these wonders than ever before. From the Grand Canyon to Ellis Island and everything in between, travelers are flocking to the parks to learn about our country's history and see their beauty. If this is your interest, this is the perfect time to create that niche for yourself.
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