Travel Counsellors

(NOC 6521)

in All Sales and Service

Travel counsellors advise clients on travel options and tour packages, make bookings and reservations, prepare tickets, and receive payment. They work for travel agencies, transportation and tourism firms, and hotel chains.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate Decline employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate -10 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Sales and Service

  • Estimate 10325 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 17495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$19.45

Median

$25.64

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,179

Minimum

$29,087

Median

$49,455

Maximum

Compared to: All Sales and Service

Hourly Pay

$12.95

Minimum

$15.00

Median

$25.60

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,949

Minimum

$16,629

Median

$45,086

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Travel counsellors advise clients on travel options and tour packages, make bookings and reservations, prepare tickets, and receive payment. They work for travel agencies, transportation and tourism firms, and hotel chains.

Job duties

Travel counsellors:

  • Provide travel information to clients regarding destinations, transportation and accommodation options and travel costs, and recommend suitable products.
  • Plan and organize vacation travel for individuals or groups.
  • Make transportation and accommodation reservations using computerized reservation and ticketing system.
  • Sell single fare tickets and package tours to clients.
  • Promote destinations, tour packages, and other travel services.
  • Investigate new travel destinations, hotels and other facilities and attractions.
  • Provide travel tips regarding tourist attractions, foreign currency, customs, languages, and travel safety.

Sample job titles

  • booking agent - travel agency
  • reservation agent - travel agency
  • reservation sales agent - travel agency
  • tourist information counsellor
  • travel agent
  • travel centre counsellor
  • travel consultant
  • travel counsellor
  • travel specialist
  • visitor information counsellor

Skills

  • You should be poised, organized, tactful, and patient. Interpersonal skills and the ability to deal comfortably with strangers are important. You should be resourceful and able to handle the unexpected. Knowledge of the travel business will be required. Good communication skills are also necessary. Knowledge of both official languages and an additional language may be required for some positions.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • A college diploma or vocational training in travel or tourism is usually required.
  • Certification with the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC) may be required. This certification is granted after completion of a 60 credit requirement obtained through any combination of work experience, training and education, and successful completion of the advanced exam.

Other considerations

  • General economic conditions will have an effect on the level of business and pleasure travel undertaken by Nova Scotians. Therefore, employment levels may vary from year to year. Progression to managerial positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

550

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

15.3%

self employed

88.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
11.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
49

median age

Compared to: All Sales and Service

102,605

employed in 2016

56.4%

employed full-time

5.8%

self employed

60.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
39.9%
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37

median age

Where will I likely work?

60.4%

Halifax

$34,359 median annual income
11.7%

Annapolis Valley

$11,227 median annual income
11.7%

Southern

$12,899 median annual income
9.0%

North Shore

$27,842 median annual income
7.2%

Cape Breton

$21,662 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

92.9%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

4.7%

Public administration

2.4%

Construction

What is the age of Employment?

28.0%

45-54

24.0%

55-64

21.0%

35-44

14.0%

25-34

9.0%

65+

5.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Sales and Service

30.0%

15-24

17.2%

45-54

17.2%

25-34

16.1%

55-64

13.8%

35-44

Top levels of education

48.2%

College Diploma

$34,179 median annual income
18.2%

Bachelor

$18,239 median annual income
16.4%

High school

$17,912 median annual income
8.2%

Less than high school

$25,291 median annual income
5.5%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Sales and Service

39.8%

High school

$15,705 median annual income
19.7%

Less than high school

$9,866 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$20,644 median annual income
9.9%

Bachelor

$21,262 median annual income
8.0%

Trade Certification

$21,234 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Tourism and Travel Services Management

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to manage travel-related enterprises and related convention and/or tour services. They include courses in travel agency management, tour arranging and planning, convention and event planning, travel industry operations and procedures, tourism marketing and promotion strategies, travel counselling, travel industry law, international and domestic operations, and travel and tourism policy.

Institutions providing this program

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Tourism Talent
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Sector Council
Halifax, NS

Additional resources