Evolution of the Travel Agent

Years ago, when you wanted to go on vacation, there was only one option. You had to walk to your local travel agency and spend some travel brochures. So when you have made your selection, you'd be sitting at the table of your travel agent (in a very uncomfortable chair) when they entered all the information about your green monochrome screen. Travel agencies were the guardians of all the travel information. His life was the stuff of dreams. Imagine you have been everywhere and knew everything about the world of travel. They were the rock stars of the distribution world.

Then it happened a couple of things. First, the airlines decided they do not need to travel agents and pulled the plug on brokerage commissions. That did not work so well for airlines, as evidenced by the number of those who quietly sunk. Many agencies have refused to sell tickets without receiving a commission. Why should they work for free? Then things began to change from what had been a very structured models agency governed by ARC (Airlines Reporting Committee) in an industry that was becoming something new.

Then the second thing that happened. The advent of the Internet has changed the face of travel forever. The information is readily available 24 hours day trip in every way imaginable - luxury yacht trips in the South Pacific to stay in a hostel in Europe. Whatever your budget or interest, the Internet can open a new world of possibilities for the course.