A recent segment on Oprah revealed that travel agents are among the happiest workers in America, ASTA reported.
"Travel agents, clergy, special education teachers and firefighters were all named as being among the happiest jobs in the country, thanks in part to the amount of social interaction each profession offers," according to ASTA.
"Being a travel agent is one of the best jobs on the planet," said Chris Russo, president and chair of ASTA and the owner of Travel Partners. "Seeing the world and experiencing new cultures and cuisines are terrific benefits of being an agent. But we’re really jacks-of-all-trades. We have to be skilled in sales and marketing, public relations, technology and counseling, just to name a few. It’s a great feeling at the end of a day to know that you helped someone fulfill their dreams."
ASTA also noted that Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest, said those looking for career happiness should "go for bliss, not for bucks."
"A career in travel can make you rich in so many ways. Just as with any profession, success comes through hard-work and perseverance," Russo said. "But how many people can say that while they were working their way through management, they saw the sun set on the Bosporus or went on a safari in South Africa, all as part of their job?"
To learn more about becoming a travel agent, ASTA recommended its "Becoming a Travel Agent," a comprehensive, 25-page booklet meant to provide an overview of what it takes to begin a successful career as a travel agent.
Visit www.ASTA.org.