Before sharing my blog about the Role of a Travel Agent, let me start with a brief summary of the history of this amazing industry.
The early beginnings of travel agents date way back to the ancient & Medieval times. While the concept of "travel agent" didn't really exist back then, there were guides and merchants who helped people with logistics for long-distance travel.
During the 17th & 18th century, wealthy Europeans, often hired guides and agents to help organize grand tours across Europe, marking the beginning of the evolution into today's travel agent industry.
in 1841, the concept of modern-day travel agencies was born. A British Entrepreneur by the name of Thomas Cook organized a successful trip for a temperance group in England, which launched Cook's expansion into a full-scale travel agency. By the late 19th century, Cook's travel agency had expanded internationally, with operations across Europe, America, and Asia.
In the early 20th century, travel agencies became more and more popular and available across Europe and North America, and the introduction of commercial air travel in the 1920s and 1930s marked another milestone in the travel agent industry.
After WW II, travel became more accessible to the middle class. Fueled by the rise of commercial aviation, Travel Agencies began to capitalize by offering organized, international vacation packages that included air travel, hotels, and tours. Since then, international travel has expanded with the development of global airline networks, and travel agents played a key role in advising travel clients on destinations, prices, and logistics.
In the late 20th century, the rise of the internet and era of technological transformation, launched the GDS (Global Distribution System), a game-changing, computerized network that allowed travel agents to book flights, hotels, and car rentals in real time, and the birth of travel booking platforms like Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz offering direct DIY booking services to online consumers.
This led to a decline in traditional travel agencies. Despite this, traditional travel agencies have adapted by offering professional specialized services, which require expert knowledge and personalized service, no DIY platform will ever give you.
And we are still here and here to stay.
Add comment
Comments