A Career in the Sky!

By Sanday Chongo Kabange

Working as a Travel Agency Intermediary offers exciting career opportunities for the young and adventurous. It entails that one is responsible for booking and arranging flights, hotel transfers, car rentals and accommodation requirements for clients, as well as recommending venues, outings and activities for travelling clients.

Qualifying for the job

This industry requires high grade minimum qualifications. Depending on the employer, a candidate in this industry is supposed to have at least a Grade 12 Certificate with passes in Mathematics, English and Geography. On top of that, candidates must possess an International Air Transport Travel Association (IATA) approved Diploma in Travel and Tourism. This can be obtained from any recognised learning institution in Zambia or abroad. The ideal candidate should be well-travelled, patient, charming and a very good communicator. Computer literacy is a must and proficiency in other languages besides English is an added advantage for someone interested in starting up a career as a Travel Agency Intermediary.

Pre-employment training 

Before a travel agency engages its intermediaries, most of them offer their recruits in-house training, just to acquaint them with their working system. These sessions might last between five days and two weeks. Humphrey Mwendapole, a careers guide in Lusaka says, “everyday, there are new innovations in the hotel, travel and tourism industry. Therefore, agents need to be kept abreast with these developments as soon as they happen. You remember the EU ban on Zambian-registered aircrafts flying into the Euro-zone? That issue was communicated to all agents across Europe, so they did not make bookings on Zambian carriers. That is why we emphasise training agents to cope with any new developments.”

Cash Flow and Working Conditions

As demanding as it maybe, working as a Travel Agency Intermediary can be highly rewarding and fulfilling at the same time.  Although no standard salaries are in place, Intermediaries in tourism can earn salaries ranging from K1, 980, 000 to K4, 500, 000 per month. Because of the strenuous work that is involved, Travel Agency Intermediaries are entitled to Medical Aid, Annual Leave and an all-paid for trip to a destination of their choice once a year. Travel Agency Intermediaries generally work a normal eight hours, although they might sometimes work over-time or on shift basis. Allowances and commissions for such extra work are often rewarded depending on the employer.

Career Enhancement Prospects 

Depending on how long one works as a Travel Agency Intermediary, there are opportunities for career growth. Some travel agencies take their employees to United Kingdom, South Africa and Kenya for advanced training. The cost of this training can vary from about US$ 2, 100 to US$ 5, 000 per course. These fees are usually paid by the employer, on condition that the employee returns to the travel agency and works for a specified period. From a Travel Agency Intermediary, one can also become an airline cabin crew member (flight attendant). This however, must be supplemented with a wealth of experience and training. Ignatius Chibanga worked as a Travel Agent in 1999, then joined a well-established European airline in 2003 where he worked as a Senior Reservation Officer, after which he joined a local airline where he is employed as Head of Ground Cargo Handling. 

Chibanga says working in the travel and tourism industry brings with it a lot of opportunities, especially for the youth. “You have to make a decisive decision and get what you want in life. I am here because I decided on what I wanted in life,” says Chibanga with a smile on his face.

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