Is the Travel agent (TA) still relevant? Should travellers decide to still book their holidays through the TA or just book directly on the internet? -Here are top ten reasons why travel agents are still needed today
1. Travel Agents are really useful if things go wrong – Your travel agent helps to deal with the “if’s” that a typical traveller doesn’t have the expertise or time to deal with. Here is a list of what your travel agent is able to deal with:
- Travel Visa applications
- Organise Holiday Tour Packages /Itinerary planning for multiple destinations
- Pandemic Restrictions
- Drive positive policy changes in favour of their clients.
- Provide clear implementable guidelines on new travel policies or restrictions.
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2. Travel Agents Keep Up to date with Travel Restrictions – Travel restrictions are ever changing in these unpredictable times. If you are ready to travel, your TA can help you figure out what you need to do before, during, and after your trip. What kind of masks are acceptable? Do you need a pre-travel COVID-19 test? These are answers readily available from the TA and your TA can also tell you what kind and when.
3. Travel Agents Help Travelers Make Good Decisions – Some planning decisions aren’t as easy as we think they are. TAs understand the ever-changing airline policies and can help advise you on them. You’ve got questions, your agent usually has the answers. They help do the thinking
4. Travel Agents usually speak from Experience – TAs are usually invited to tour and experience resorts, flights and hotels before they are open to the public. Hence TAs are an excellent travel opinion sounding board. They have learnt in person and they share their learnings with their colleagues who haven’t been able to visit the resort or attractions yet.
5. Travel Agents have connections – TAs have built up relationships with vacation suppliers around the world. They know where to go and who to talk to, what not to do and when you need to get things done. There’s a reason that the suppliers are spending so much time training TAs right now. Remember it’s not just what you know, it’s who you know!
6. Travel Agents Offer a Personalized Service – With regular client patronage of any TA, they get to know you (their client) better and ask questions and help you make the best decision for you. They are with you from start to finish – Using a TA provides you with unparalleled peace of mind. At the end of the day, if something goes wrong with any aspect of your trip, your TA also welcomes any feedback you may have after when you return. Either way, future customers benefit from your experience. That’s the power of the personalized service.
7. Travel Agents Can Save You Time – These agents really give you the gift of time. No need to spend hours researching an attraction or destination, they have done it for you. Your TA does can save you invaluable time along with the headaches of scouring the Internet for travel deals. Plus, you’re more likely to look forward to your trip when you haven’t been left disenchanted with the planning process
8. Travel Agents are Passionate about Travel – An often-overlooked trait of TAs is that a good travel agent is passionate about travel and is able to inspire you to visit destinations you’ve never heard of or simply get you more excited about your next trip. Wouldn’t you want this goodness in your corner when planning a vacation?
9. Travel Agents are an easy way to support Small Businesses –There is probably a great agent near you if you are looking for a local agency or agent! TAs are real people so you can travel confidently knowing you won’t be relying on a hard-to-reach customer service centre or an irritating automated sequence in the event that you have questions or need assistance.
10. Travel Agents are Free in the Booking Schemes – Many travel agencies don’t charge you extra for their services. It’s the exact same price to book through them or book direct. When you book through them, the vacation supplier pays them out of their profits. Suppliers recognize the value TAs bring, and they are willing to do that. Hence, never think that using a TA will cost you more than if you booked your trip yourself. This is a common misconception. In addition to be being free – Travel Agents May Save You Money – they often have access to some deals that you can’t get when you’re booking direct. They sometimes have group rates for travel, and special offers that some suppliers only offer to TAs. When there are multiple specials out for a destination, the agent will check them all to see what’s best for you.