By the beginning of the 20th century, the passion for travel had become a mass phenomenon among almost all segments of the population, and accordingly, people were needed who could organize it with maximum convenience.

Travel became thoughtful, routes began to follow a pre-planned plan, and people who have taken on the responsibilities of organizing such tours, so that tourists do not have any difficulties in the process of movement, and the cruise itself turns into a pleasant vacation, filled with various unforgettable experiences for a reasonable price. These people began to be called travel agents.

Due to the development of infrastructure, it became more and more difficult to work alone, agents began to unite into communities - agencies, where each of them contributed to the prosperity of the tourism business and making a profit for each tour.

This is how a whole network of large and small agencies was formed, interconnected by certain skills and obligations.

From tour operator to client

Today, the tourism industry suggests the following scheme of interaction with its consumers:

Tour operator

This is a team of (most often) talented people - tourism product managers who develop (create) route trips. The resulting product (this is what a completed, organized tour is called) will include such items as accommodation, insurance, meals, transfer (flight and travel) and various excursions and other entertainment.

Travel agency = Travel agency (Travel agent)

These are exactly the ones who sell (sell) prepared by the tour operator product tour.

A travel agency buys a package of documents from a tour operator - a tour developed in advance and often acquires the brand of the same tour operator in order to calmly work under it and receive updated tour products of its operator on time.

Manager

To sell the finished product through a travel agency, the travel agency hires people who are essentially sales managers, only they sell not consumer goods, but your vacation or business trips.

Since every tour operator is interested in selling more of their products, and the number of people wishing to visit a particular place is growing exponentially, the profession of tourism manager is gaining more and more every year. popularity.

Activities of operators, agencies and tour work. managers are regulated by Federal Law No. 132 “On the Fundamentals of Tourism Activities in the Russian Federation,” since tourism product managers and sales managers of these products interact with each other on the basis of a partnership agreement concluded between them.

Thus, the tourism manager sells to the client a package of services prepared in advance by the tour operator through a travel agent. It follows from this that any additions, changes, etc. should be made to this tour package. The manager has no right to contribute. Only the tour operator himself has the right to contribute!

However, if the client wishes, the travel agency entrepreneur can send a written request to the operator, which will allow the seller to make such changes or refuse.

1. Know the geography of the countries of the world. Know their climatic features, national traditions, interesting places to visit, currency, prices and, of course, features of national cuisines.
2. Visa formalities. The set of documents should be as complete as possible so that the tour operator can easily issue your visas through their channels.
3. Understand booking systems and services. Each operator has its own requirements for the collection and execution of documents (depending on the country where the tour was created).

A tourism manager must know such subtleties, How:

• in which column to enter the full name of the candidate for the voyage;
• what to enter to obtain insurance and visa;
• checking the authenticity of a foreign passport (if any) and a general passport;
• client’s bank card balance (statement);
• correct indication of the photo format, because There are also minor differences here.

FMS specialists will not allow documents to be processed due to the mistake of an inattentive manager!

It is possible to inform the visitor of the company about the composition of the tour. To do this, a company representative must thoroughly know not only the product itself (which hotel, the presence of a swimming pool, entertainment and the availability of a buffet and additional food), but also such “little things” as the quality of the beach and temperature characteristics in a given annual period.

It is imperative to warn the client that 28 Schengen countries may not issue a visa to enter and stay on their territory if the person entering does not have insurance through a tour operator.

Knowledge of foreign language should be higher than the school general education curriculum. Tourist products are created, bought and sold not only by Russian operators! Ability to negotiate nuances with a foreign tourism administrator – direct responsibility of the tourism manager.

Be able to understand and prepare different types of travel documentation for all types of tours, no matter which operator they belong to. This includes travel packages, insurance policies, vouchers (confirmation of payment).

Remember which operators allow advance partial payment (at least 10% of the full amount), and which are categorically against it.

must be able to work with a computer.

Know, be able and understand what “sales techniques” means:

• search for the most profitable tour operators in terms of timing, payment and quality of service;
• be able to ask the “right questions” to determine the purpose of the trip and offer the best option;
• describing the advantages of a particular hotel, offer the buyer several advertising catalogs so that he can independently decide on the choice of tour, focusing on the prices indicated in the advertisement.

Professionally draw up and conduct a tour purchase and sale agreement. After drawing up an agreement between the travel agency represented by the tour. manager and client (in fact, he buys a tour from the manager), all that remains is to book the tour correctly and competently and, after waiting for confirmation on the operator’s website, order paperwork (vouchers, hotel, bus, etc.)

After receiving the completed documents, they should be printed and handed over to the buyer no later than 5 days before departure.

No later than 6 hours before departure (departure), a reconciliation is made (if anything has changed), and a call back to the client with a reminder of the trip, the name of the airport, departure time, etc.

Protecting the interests of tourists is also the responsibility of the manager! After the tourist returns, he is obliged to call back and ask whether the client is satisfied with the proposed tour and whether he has any complaints.

In such cases, the entrepreneur competently draws up a complaint to the tour operator about the provision of poor-quality services on his part and demands compensation for the tourist (refund of money, official apologies, discounts, etc.).

Search and organization of charter flights at the request of the client. It is impossible to charter a charter and purchase tickets for it at the ticket office; all orders and payments are made exclusively through a travel agency or tour operator.

Only a tourism manager can purchase a ticket through a special booking service to which he has access. The advantage of working with tour. manager - savings. The price for charter flights is 30-50% lower.

However, the manager’s responsibilities also include a warning that the ticket will be “non-refundable” - due to your fault or in the event of force majeure, the money for the charter ticket will not be returned.

Where and how can you get a profession?

There are several ways to get such a complex and at the same time promising job.

Upon completion of bachelor's and specialist's degrees at social institutions. In this case, the concept of tourism manager expands significantly. The following branches appear:

• tourism design specialist;
• recreational specialist in geography and tourism;
• specialist in cultural tourism and excursion activities;
• recreation and tourism management;
• specialist in tourism, housing and communal services, social and hotel business.

And further about 50 tourism managers, each of which has its own range of responsibilities and actions.

To work in a travel agency selling tourism products, it will be enough to complete a bachelor’s degree in your specialty and, after receiving a diploma, send your resume to the websites of travel agencies and tour operators.

Specialists are always in demand! And good specialists are doubly in demand!

After graduating from high school, you can ask to study at a travel agency with an experienced worker, motivating your desire to learn the profession from the inside.

At first, the applicant will get all the auxiliary work, starting with coffee and answering calls, followed by an invitation to the office, but this is how experience is gained.

From the junior round. In this way, it is possible for a manager to rise to the rank of senior manager, but without diplomas and certificates it will not be possible to jump to the position of general manager!

The interview process for a tourism manager is presented below.

What does an employer expect from a manager?

A tourism manager is first and foremost a specialist in his field, and then an “office decoration”. Although a neat appearance, good manners, correct speech and clear diction - unconditional components of the external image of an employee.

In addition to this data, the tour. a manager must have such personal qualities, How:

• a high degree of stress resistance, including self-control, endurance and external equanimity;
• the ability to quickly organize and navigate the situation;
• responsibility and organizational skills;
• communication skills and ability to work with a large flow of clients;
• flexibility of thinking and excellent memory;
• charm and diplomacy;
• eloquence and ability to persuade;
• desire to earn money and work for business development.

How much can you earn

A young specialist will not earn much at first. This is primarily due to lack of own client and information base.

The client base is developed over several months of independent intensive work.

Information base - as you accumulate your own experience gained in promotional tours from the tour operator.

What is a promotional tour and why is it needed?

Each operator offers its employees several times a year promotional tours, in which managers can get acquainted with the places and hotels where the tourism product will be prepared. During such a tour, each manager compiles “travel notes” for himself, which he then uses to work with clients.

Since the salary consists of the number of commissions for the sale of tours, at the initial level it is low - 10000-15000 rub. for regions remote from the capital, And about 30,000 rubles in Moscow and the region.

After about 5-6 years, wages double.

Do the cons outweigh the pros?

The answer to this question is No. The profession is in demand even during quiet seasons. As the flow of vacationers increases, wages also rise.

Tourism is developing year by year, and, contrary to forecasts, is not going to roll back, which means there will be a demand for competent specialists in this field just grow. And along with demand and professionalism, rewards will also increase.

A smart operator who cares about his employee will definitely provide him with 2-3 “last minute” vouchers per year, the priority right to purchase which, of course, at a minimum price (15-30%) is given to the company’s employees.

It’s good and pleasant to properly organize a holiday-holiday for others, but organizing it for yourself is doubly pleasant!

What do you need to know to become a tourism manager? The answer to the question is in the video.

Functions and responsibilities of employees of the travel agency "Venera-Tour"

Each employee of a travel agency performs a number of functional responsibilities on which the implementation of the company’s goals depends.

A position represents a series of tasks, responsibilities that an employee must perform, as well as the responsibility that he bears for his work.

A position is a set of activities that an employee performs in accordance with his duties and responsibilities that he bears. Job definition includes its analysis, description and evaluation.

Director. A key figure who resolves a large number of issues, both economic and strategic.

The travel agency director performs the following duties:

• 1. Manages, in accordance with current legislation, the economic and financial activities of the travel agency, bearing full responsibility for the consequences of decisions made, the safety and effective use of the travel agency’s property, as well as the financial and economic results of its activities.
• 2. Ensures the achievement of the planned financial and economic indicators of the travel agency.
• 3. Manages the development of current and long-term plans for the sale of tourism products, studying the destinations served and the volume of services provided.
• 4. Organizes the work and effective interaction of all employees, directs their activities to the development and improvement of the activities of the travel agency, taking into account social and market priorities, increasing the efficiency of the travel agency, increasing the volume of services provided and increasing profits, the quality and competitiveness of the services provided, their compliance with international standards in in order to conquer the domestic and foreign markets and meet the needs of the population for tourism services.
• 5. Ensures that the travel agency fulfills all obligations to third-party organizations, customers of services, buyers of tourism products, as well as economic, employment contracts and business plans.
• 6. Organizes activities for the provision of tourism services and the sale of tourism products on the basis of scientific forms of management and labor organization, studying the market conditions for tourism services and tourism products in order to improve their quality.
• 7. Takes measures to provide the travel agency with qualified personnel, the rational use and development of their professional knowledge and experience, and the creation of safe and favorable working conditions for life and health.
• 8. Together with the workforce, ensures, based on the principles of social partnership, the development, conclusion and implementation of a collective agreement, compliance with labor discipline, promotes the development of work motivation, initiative and activity of travel agency employees.
• 9. Resolves issues related to the financial, economic and business activities of the travel agency, within the limits of the rights granted to it by law, entrusts the management of certain areas of activity to other officials.
• 10. Ensures compliance with the rule of law in the activities of the travel agency and the implementation of its economic relations, the use of legal means for financial management and functioning in market conditions, strengthening contractual and financial discipline, and regulating social and labor relations.
• 11. Monitors the results of work, the state of labor discipline in the travel agency.
• 12. Monitors the rational use of material and financial resources, evaluates the results of the travel agency’s activities and the quality of the services provided.
• 13. Issues orders (instructions) in all areas of the travel agency’s activities.
• 14. Approves internal labor regulations, vacation schedules, job descriptions, production instructions and other organizational and legal documents.
• 15. Makes decisions on the hiring, relocation and dismissal of subordinate employees; applies incentive measures to employees; imposes penalties on violators of labor discipline; resolves issues of sending employees on business trips in accordance with the established procedure.

The Tourism Manager performs the following job responsibilities:

• 1. Collects, studies and analyzes customer requirements for tourism services.
• 2. Searches for the most profitable tour operators in terms of cost, timing and quality of services provided, providing accommodation and excursion services to tourists.
• 3. Establishes contacts with hotels and organizations providing excursion and transport services for the transportation of passengers; coordinates with them the main terms of contracts for the provision of services and ensures their conclusion.
• 4. Provides the client with the necessary oral and written information and advises clients:
  • - about the rules of entry into the country and stay in it;
  • - about the procedure and terms for obtaining visas;
  • -- about currency and customs control;
  • -- about historical and cultural monuments;
  • -- about transport, visa, excursion services;
  • -- about accommodation and meals for tourists;
  • -- about the travel route and stay program;
  • - about the date and time of the start and end of the trip;
  • - about the procedure for meeting, seeing off and accompanying tourists;
  • -- about measures to ensure safety during travel.
• 5. Instructs tourists on compliance with safety measures, as well as on the rules of conduct on vehicles and the rules of first aid.
• 6. Immediately informs the head of the organization and interested parties about emergency incidents with tourists during the incident, as well as about tourists who have not returned from the trip.

The site administrator performs the following duties:

• 1. Contributes in every possible way to the promotion and popularization of the site on the Internet.
• 2. Develops and supports the basic concept of the site, makes proposals for improving the concept and content of the site, and introducing a new service for site visitors.
• 3. Monitors the text content of the site and constantly updates information.
• 4. Reviews all documents and materials published on the site, deletes and edits materials that do not comply with the general concept and rules for using the site.
• 5. Monitors compliance by visitors with the rules for using the site, as well as other mandatory requirements put forward by its creators.
• 6. Performs work on editing and proofreading materials and their structuring, including the design of texts, tables, etc.
• 7. Researches the needs and requests of site visitors.

The travel agency "Venera-Tour" has three people on its staff: a general director (combining the functions of executive director, tourism manager and accountant), a tourism manager and a website administrator. A maximum of two employees are regularly in the office: the general director and the tourism manager. There is a shortage of personnel, namely, a tourism manager. Due to the fact that the general director (she is also the leading tourism manager) is often forced to be absent on business matters of the company, only one manager remains in the office to receive incoming calls, serve clients, send faxes, prepare documentation and online consultation, which reduces level of quality of services provided. Thus, we can conclude that it is necessary to optimize the company’s staffing table to reduce the risk of loss of quality of services in the event of the absence of one of the company’s employees for any reason.

Professional standards (qualification requirements) for the main positions of tourism industry workers

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the development of tourism. Tourism is becoming an intensively developing and efficient industry.

The tourism industry has provided many jobs, not only in tourism companies themselves, but also in tourism industry enterprises. Special educational institutions began to train personnel for the industry. The first professional standards were developed specifically for tourism workers.

Until 01/01/2005, the Qualification requirements (professional standards) for the main positions of workers in the tourism industry were in force, approved by Resolution of the Ministry of Labor dated 05/17/1998 No. 8, intended to resolve issues related to ensuring an effective personnel management system and labor quality, regulation of labor relations in organizations regardless of their form of ownership. Despite the fact that these Qualification Requirements have ceased to apply, tourism industry entities can be guided by them when recruiting personnel.

Currently, the activities of organizations in the field of providing tourism services are regulated by Federal Law No. 132-FZ of November 24, 1996 “On the Fundamentals of Tourism Activities in the Russian Federation” and are divided into tour operator and travel agency activities.

Tour operator activities are activities for the formation, promotion and sale of a tourism product, carried out on the basis of a license by a legal entity or individual entrepreneur.

Travel agency activities include activities related to the promotion and sale of tourism products.

Organizations engaged in tour operator activities are called tour operators, and organizations engaged in travel agency activities are called travel agents.

By “tourist product”, Federal Law No. 132-FZ understands the right to a tour intended for sale to tourists, and by promotion of a tourist product - a set of measures aimed at selling the tourist product (advertising, participation in specialized exhibitions, fairs, organization of tourist information centers for sale of tourism products, publication of catalogs, booklets, etc.).

Qualification requirements (professional standards), approved by Resolution of the Ministry of Labor dated May 17, 1998 No. 8, are intended to resolve issues related to ensuring an effective personnel management system and labor quality, regulation of labor relations in organizations, regardless of the form of ownership and organizational and legal forms of activity .

Despite the fact that these Qualification Requirements have ceased to apply, tourism industry entities can be guided by them when recruiting personnel. Qualification requirements are intended to determine the job responsibilities of employees, plan their professional growth, organize professional training and advanced training in accordance with the development of requirements for the quality and productivity of services, selection, placement and use of personnel, as well as justification of decisions made.

Qualification requirements have been developed for two sectors of the tourism industry: “Tourism activities” and “Hotels”.

There are several subsectors in the hotel sector:

reception and accommodation service; maintenance of the hotel fund; catering service.

The positions of employees included in the qualification requirements are grouped into three qualification levels depending on the direction of the employees’ activities, the complexity and volume of job responsibilities performed, the degree of independence and responsibility in making and implementing decisions.

Thus, the reception and accommodation service provides the following qualification levels.

The first level, which corresponds to the positions: telephone operator, doorman, porter. The second level, which corresponds to the following positions: reception manager, guest services manager, administrator, receptionist. The main activities of the listed employees are meeting and registering guests, accommodation, payment for accommodation, services provided, as well as performing other duties related to the activities of the reception and accommodation service. At the same time, the level of education of an employee can be different: primary, secondary, and for managers - higher professional education.

The third level, which includes positions: head of the reception and accommodation service, senior administrator, etc. The activities of these workers are related to the management of the hotel reception and accommodation service, monitoring the performance of duties by employees of this service. The level of education of third-level workers should generally correspond to higher professional education.

In the subsector “Hotel maintenance”:

The first qualification level includes positions: maid, cleaner of office and common premises, wardrobe maid, laundry and dry cleaning workers;

The second qualification level includes positions: senior maid, tailor, etc.;

The third qualification level includes positions: head (manager) of the hotel fund service, floor duty officer, linen and dry cleaning managers.

All of the listed workers are employed in servicing the hotel's hotel fund and have different levels of education.

Professional standards provide a list of job responsibilities for workers at each qualification level, as well as a list of the basic skills and knowledge required to perform them.

In Russia, requirements for the personnel of a travel company must be specified in job descriptions approved by the manager and other documents defining the responsibilities of employees.

Requirements are divided into mandatory and advisory.

Mandatory requirements include: employee knowledge of his job responsibilities; knowledge of the provisions of the Law of the Russian Federation “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”; knowledge of regulatory and legislative acts of the Russian Federation in the field of tourism; presence of work experience in tourism or related fields of activity; knowledge of tourist formalities; knowledge of a foreign language used in the activities of a travel company (the amount of knowledge, as well as the list of employees who are subject to this requirement, are established by the manager).

• - availability of special education in the field of economics and tourism management (for the management team of the company);
• - regular staff training;
• - knowledge of materials, recommendations and other documents of international tourism organizations.

For example, the job responsibilities of the leader of a tourist group (guide) are regulated by the following documents: qualification characteristics of employee positions; officials

instructions; payment provisions.

Basic requirements for leaders of tourist groups (guides):

• - certificate of completion of training courses for leaders of tourist groups;
• - knowledge of the procedure for preparing financial documents (for group travel, when making payments to a hotel, restaurant, excursion bureau, etc.);
• - knowledge of the basics of psychology when communicating with a group (trip participants);
• - knowledge of the rules for transporting tourists and luggage on all types of transport, passing customs and border control;
• - knowledge of methods and rules for providing first (emergency) medical care;
• - knowledge of the conditions and procedure for insuring tourists and the head of the tourist group;
• - knowledge of foreign language .

Tour group leaders can accompany the group while traveling along the route or host groups (group guides). The group leader can be on the staff of the company or work under the terms of an employment agreement in accordance with current legislation.

Persons who have reached the age of 18 are accepted for the position of leader of a tourist group, as an agreement on financial responsibility is concluded.

The leader of the group (conductor, tour guide) is also the provider of excursion services when conducting specialized tours. In this case, he is subject to all requirements, including professional ones, imposed on the provider of tourist services.

A guide is an official appointed by the head of a travel agency or excursion bureau to conduct excursions for groups of tourists or on individual orders. The guide may be employed by the company or work under the terms of an employment agreement. The guide can also be a citizen-entrepreneur.

The job responsibilities of a tour guide are regulated by the following regulatory documents: qualification characteristics of employee positions; tour guide job description; regulations on remuneration; individual work plan.

Basic professional requirements for a tour guide: availability of higher (or incomplete higher) professional education; certificate of completion of courses for training guides; knowledge of methods for preparing and conducting excursions; knowledge of methods of providing first (emergency) medical care; specialization in a specific excursion topic (architectural, historical, literary, etc.); knowledge of the basics of psychology when communicating with a group (trip participants).

For each excursion, a travel agency, excursion bureau, or citizen-entrepreneur must have: the text of the excursion; methodological development of the excursion; approved safety rules when conducting Excursions; procedure for monitoring the quality of excursions; insurance system for tourists and guides.

The practice provides the basic conditions under which the work can be considered suitable for the employee and the employer.

• - professional suitability of the employee - professional education, qualifications (rank, class, category) corresponding to job requirements, work experience;
• - conditions of activity from the previous place of work - earnings,

working hours, labor protection;

• - the employee’s health status;
• - transport accessibility of the place of work for the employee.

Currently, the further development of tourism industry organizations, the formation of their positive reputation among consumers, high quality of service, and individuality of the tourism services provided is impossible without large-scale, continuous work on the development and training of personnel.

The main activities of travel agency workers are:

providing information to clients;

work with clients;

booking and issuing tickets;

work with tour operators;

performing administrative functions.

Travel agency staff usually consists of:

Booking agent.

Direction Manager.

Director/head of travel agency department.

Sales agent.

Reservations and Sales Manager.

Outbound tourism agent (marketing and sales).

Agent for inbound and domestic tourism.

Customer Service Manager (Tourism Products).

Public Relations Manager.

Assistant for the formation of tourist groups (working with clients).

HR Manager.

Referent.

Secretary.

Accountant, cashier.

Courier.

The main task of the tour bureau staff is to provide clients with the services of a tour guide (guide) throughout the city, region, and country. It is implemented by the following personnel:

Order taking agent.

Translator.

Head/head of department of excursion bureau.

Secretary.

Guide-translator/tour guide.

In the staffing schedules of most tourism organizations there is no division into managers and heads of departments. This is due to the fact that when assigning the title “manager” to a position, the organization’s management proceeds from the current job structure, according to which all managers, directors of enterprises and organizations, other line managers, and heads of structural divisions can be considered top and middle level managers.

If a manager is entrusted with managing subordinate employees in a certain area, then, as a rule, he is given the title “chief” or “leader”.

Sample job descriptions of managers can be transformed into job descriptions of heads of departments of tourism organizations by introducing into them clauses establishing responsibilities for managing subordinate employees, planning the activities of departments and other provisions established for employees of the third qualification level, qualification requirements (professional standards) for main positions tourism industry workers.

The activities of tourism organizations are based not only on managers at various levels, but also on other specialists. Thus, leaders of tourist groups, organizers of trips and excursions, and guides are the personnel of travel agencies who directly provide tourists with a package of services or coordinate its implementation by third-party organizations.

Depending on the nature of travel, there are two types of tour group leaders. The first is typical for outbound travel, which is based on all institutions of the tourism industry - hotels, health resorts. The task of tour group leaders when organizing such trips is to coordinate the work of carriers, hotels, excursion bureaus, etc.

The second type of tour group leader is necessary for trips carried out by active modes of transportation and aimed at active recreation, health improvement, training, and increasing physical fitness in nature. Specialist organizers are needed to conduct hiking and horseback treks, and explore mountaineering and ski routes. They are often called travel leaders and organizers. Their tasks include: providing tourists with information about routes, planning routes, direct participation in travel, providing travelers with housing or coordinating their actions to provide housing (setting up bivouacs, tents, etc.), resolving food issues, etc. Travel organizers or leaders of tour groups Those involved in active recreation must have sufficient experience, good knowledge of the area, master the basics of human life support in natural conditions, the language of the host country and other wisdom.

The introduction of the positions “tourism manager” and “tourism agent” into the staff is typical for small travel companies that are trying to minimize their staff and universalize the functional responsibilities of their staff.

Samples of job descriptions for tourism industry workers are given in the appendices of the work (Table 3.1).

Choosing a profession is like choosing destiny. It is important to weigh the pros and cons, as well as obtain as much information as possible regarding the area of ​​interest. The profession of a tourism manager seems romantic, filled with traveling around the world and meeting new interesting people. But is this really so? Let's try to understand all the nuances of this profession.

Description of the profession

Tourism manager is a generalized job title for an employee of a travel company. The list of tasks in the job description is not always the same in different agencies. The main task of the manager is to organize the client’s holiday at a high level, taking into account all the wishes. In some companies, the tourism manager is a generalist who organizes all aspects of the tour. This includes:

• conversation with the client;
• choice of direction;
• searching and booking tickets and hotels;
• registration of visas and insurance;
• signing contracts;
• accepting payments and much more.

In other companies, different stages are performed by different employees. In addition, responsibilities depend on the direction of the company. Thus, tour operators organize travel routes, and travel agencies sell ready-made tours.

Jobs in tourism

To get your bearings in positions in the field of tourism, we list what other vacancies exist:

1. A corporate client service agent organizes business trips or vacations for employees and executives of large companies. These could be off-site seminars, corporate events or tourism. The manager must have qualifications in business travel services and speak English at least at a conversational level.
2. An employee organizing individual tours serves VIP clients. His tasks include: development and organization of personal tours, reservation of hotel rooms, visa processing, search and rental of exclusive transport. This position requires a presentable appearance, diplomacy and a good level of English, especially business and written English.
3. The air transportation manager organizes intermediary services for booking and selling air tickets. You need to know booking systems, and some companies require a certificate.
4. The vacancy of a ticket booking agent is suitable for beginners without experience in the tourism industry.
5. An ecotourism manager is responsible for selecting tours to national natural parks and protected areas. This is a relatively new direction in the field of tourism, gaining popularity.

Is the profession in demand now?

How promising is the profession of tourism manager? Financial fluctuations and technological developments affect many areas of activity, and tourism is no exception. Increasingly, potential clients of travel agencies prefer to search and select tours on their own. This is due both to the desire to save money and to the fact that a large number of resources appear that allow you to organize your own trip. But not everyone does this, and many prefer to trust a specialist in this matter “the old fashioned way.”

Another important point is the abundance of candidates in the market who want to work in the field of tourism. With high competition, the requirements for applicants become quite high, and it is difficult for a tourism manager without work experience to find a place in a travel agency.

First of all, a manager needs the ability to work with large amounts of information. You need to remember the dates and times of flights, tourist areas of many countries, what kind of vacation is available in a particular resort location. Since one of the responsibilities of a tourism manager is to promote tours, knowledge of sales technology will not hurt. In addition, you need to be sociable and diplomatic, be able to “talk” to the client in order to offer a suitable tour. Basic knowledge of psychology will not hurt here.

Employers often require knowledge of foreign languages, with preference given to English. If geography was your favorite subject at school, consider yourself lucky. This knowledge will be very useful in your work. If you are a beginner tourism manager without experience in this field, then a higher education in this specialty will not hurt.

The profession is considered quite stressful. You will have to simultaneously control several processes, while always being polite and attentive to clients. You need to be prepared for long working hours and business trips.

Manager Responsibilities

As already mentioned, tourism in different companies may be different. Let's list the main functions:

• communication with clients, providing information about services;
• searching for clients and selling company services;
• formation of routes;
• hotel reservations and ticket purchases;
• organization of charter flights;
• registration of visas and insurance;
• cooperation with the host party;
• selection of excursions and entertainment;
• preparation of contracts;
• resolving conflict situations.

If you apply for the position of assistant tourism manager, then your tasks will be routine tasks that do not require high qualifications. Good computer skills and the ability to use office equipment will help here.

Place of work and salary

Jobs are provided by travel agencies and tour operators. There are vacancies for an assistant tourism manager and a ready-made specialist. Depending on the tasks, the salary will be different. As a rule, the payment consists of the basic rate and a percentage of the sales of vouchers. The average salary in Russia is 34 thousand rubles. The work of a tourism manager in Moscow pays the highest - 49 thousand rubles.

Work specifics

A career in the tourism industry begins as an assistant or account manager. Having proven yourself well here, you can apply for the vacancy of a tourism manager. In a company that organizes tours, and not just sells ready-made tours, the manager will gain more experience in the field of tourism. Having mastered the intricacies of the work, you can later open your own business.

Advantages of the profession

When choosing a particular profession, we want to realize our creative and business potential. If you love communicating with people and traveling, then working in the tourism industry will appeal to you. To successfully sell the services of a travel agency, you will need to personally visit the countries to which future clients will go. Forward-thinking executives arrange study tours for managers to hotels and resorts at the company's expense.

If a modern office, equipped with everything necessary, is important to you, then, as a rule, travel agencies do not skimp on equipping the manager’s workplace, because the overall impression of the client and whether he wants to book a trip with this particular company depends on this. Often travel agencies send tourism managers for training and education. Constantly growing and developing in the profession is another undeniable plus.

Cons of the profession

You need to know and be prepared for some negative aspects in the profession:

1. Greater degree of responsibility. All stages of the client’s travel and vacation depend on the manager. You need to keep a lot under control and be prepared for factors beyond your control and force majeure. Flight delays, mistakes by hotel staff or an unscrupulous host - the manager will be responsible for all this to the client.
2. Irregular working hours. The working day will last as long as necessary to complete paperwork, send important letters, and negotiate with the embassy.
3. Impossibility of vacation during the “hot” season. Working in the tourism industry, you can forget about summer vacation, as well as vacations in May and September. This is the time of greatest activity in the tourism sector.

Where to get training?

Of course, a specialized higher education will be a plus when applying for a job, but even without it you can get a job in a travel agency. Training to become a tourism manager can be completed through courses. They last from 1 to 3 months and provide a condensed program, paying attention to important aspects of the specialty. In order not to make a mistake when choosing courses and not to waste time and money, study reviews about the educational institution that interests you on forums on the Internet. If it is not possible to pay for training, then look for free courses and webinars on the Internet. Now they are widespread and are a good help in mastering new skills.

Educational institutions in Russia

If you have seriously decided to study this specialty, there are many higher educational institutions to choose from that train future tourism workers. There are both universities and colleges. The passing score in the specialty "Tourism" ranges from 72 to 86. The average cost of training is 187 thousand rubles per year.

You can combine training to become a tourism manager with employment in a travel company while in your last year of university. In this case, you can get a job as an assistant manager or courier.

How to become a tourism worker?

To become a good specialist in the tourism field, you need to master many skills. Here's what a beginner needs to know and be able to do:

1. Understand the difference between tour operators and travel agents and have a clear understanding of what they do.
2. Own search and booking programs.
3. Know sales technology and be able to sell.
4. Be able to draw up contracts.
5. Know the geography of countries, the location of hotels and resorts, a list of attractions, and the features of entry into a particular country.
6. Know the rules of insurance and visas.
7. Be a confident user of PCs and office programs.

You need to understand that you will need to learn constantly, because changes in the tourism industry occur frequently. You will have to read and study a lot on your own, attend specialized trainings and seminars. If a travel company requires a specialist with work experience, then the candidate must have knowledge of booking programs.

Before applying to a travel agency, even for a position that does not require work experience, research information about popular tourist destinations. Here are some of them:

• Türkiye (Antalya).
• Greece (Crete).
• Egypt.
• Thailand.
• Spain.
• Italy.
• Bulgaria.
• Croatia.

Recently, tourist routes around Russia have become popular.