Were you aware that the travel industry is growing at an approximate rate of 20 plus percent more than the global economy? This is a huge industry of almost 7-8 trillion dollars worldwide and expected to keep right on growing.

So why is this industry such a mammoth one? Baby boomers are retiring at a rate of one every 10 seconds on average and research shows a large percentage of these people either travel or intends to travel.

What the statistics have revealed is the huge demand for travel agents and if you are looking for a ‘work from home’ business, it would be well worth your while to become a home based travel agent. Though travel suffered initially with the economic downswing, it has bounced back stronger than ever, giving impetus to the demand for qualified travel agents.

If you decide to become a home based travel agent you will need to get certified and then set up shop online to begin in earnest. Once you are certified, you can find numerous travel agencies who are in need of reliable and efficient travel agents based at home to work on attractive packages and schemes.

Working as an independent online home based travel agent comes with its own share of positives and negatives. As a travel agent you will get plenty of airline, car rental and hotel discounts that you can pass on to clients as well. If you sign up with a travel agency, you are in effect signing on as an employee. These companies usually provide training and very good income opportunities. However, if you set up on your own it will be an independent operation worked from of the comfort of home.

You have another option; find a company that will offer you the chance to operate as an independent travel agent; you get to set your own hours and work independently. This type of operation may require an investment from your end and how much money you make will depend on how much effort you put into being a successful travel agent.

Before you decide to become a home based travel agent you need to first find out whether you will be a good fit for the travel industry. The theory behind this advice is simple; if you cannot draw you are not going to make a good artist, you can learn but that’s a separate issue altogether. Let us take a quick look at the basic requirements necessary to become a good travel agent operating from home.

- Do you have a basic high school diploma?

- Do you enjoy interacting with people?

You need good organizational skills, be able to multi-task, have high levels of commitment and dedication, a willingness to work hard and go the extra mile for clients and stay focused for the long haul.

The travel industry is an intensely challenging yet rewarding one and the revenue opportunities are out there; you need to invest time and effort to tap into the huge online customer base that is available and start building your business.