← UK Occupations
🇬🇧 UKSOC 6212· Leisure, Travel and Related Personal Service Occupations

Travel agents

Travel agents advise travellers upon travel arrangements, make bookings and receive payment for travel arrangements made.

Reservations agentSales consultant (travel agents)Travel adviserTravel agentTravel consultant
£26,426
median salary
£21,802 – £32,566
28,600
currently employed
41,352
projected 2035
Growing
6 tasks scored2 AI Automates3 AI Assists1 Human-Led

Task Bundle Breakdown

How AI interacts with this occupation's task bundle

33%
50%
17%
33%
AI automates
50%
AI assists
17%
Human-led

Task-by-Task Breakdown

Every task scored individually — sorted highest to lowest AI exposure

89

consults travel time-tables, books travel tickets and accommodation

AI Automates

AI-powered booking engines and tools like Google Flights, Booking.com APIs, and automated GDS queries can consult timetables, compare options, and complete ticket and accommodation bookings with little human involvement.

78

establishes availability with tour operators and makes bookings

AI Automates

GDS platforms like Amadeus and Sabre already automate availability checks and bookings, and AI layers such as Copilot for travel systems can further streamline this with minimal human input.

67

informs client of any changes in travel arrangements

AI Assists

AI tools can monitor booking changes and auto-generate client notifications via email or SMS, but human agents are still needed to manage distressed travellers and negotiate solutions with operators.

67

advises on issues of currency, passports, visa requirements, insurance, car hire, vaccinations and other health precautions

AI Assists

AI tools like ChatGPT or specialised travel advisory platforms can rapidly compile up-to-date visa, vaccination, and insurance requirements, but agents add value by tailoring advice to individual client circumstances and liability.

56

discusses client requirements and shows brochures containing suitable packages

AI Assists

AI chatbots like ChatGPT can surface package options and preferences, but human agents add value through empathy, nuanced understanding of client needs, and trust-building in complex or high-value bookings.

33

handles cash, debit and credit card payment

Human-Led

Payment processing requires physical or verified digital interaction; AI can assist with fraud detection and reconciliation but cannot replace the human handling of cash or card terminals.

ROI Calculator

Travel agents

17.8hrs
saved per week
855hrs
per year ≈ 22.8 weeks
£12,552
salary-equivalent capacity freed per year

This is not a pay rise — it's 855 hours of productive capacity that AI could return to you, valued at your current rate.

£22,022
value at risk — 83% of role exposed to AI

The portion of your current salary tied to tasks AI can automate or augment. Not a prediction of job loss — a signal of where your role is changing fastest.

How is this calculated?▾

Task weights — each task is weighted by its O*NET frequency rating. Where frequency data is absent, equal weighting is applied.

AI time reduction — tasks scored as "AI Automates" assume 80% time saving; "AI Assists" assumes 40%; "Human-Led" assumes 5%.

Salary equivalent — annual hours saved × (salary ÷ 1,800 working hours/year).

Value at risk — salary × share of role time in AI-automate or AI-assist tasks.

Figures are indicative estimates for planning purposes, not guarantees of productivity gain or job loss risk.