After nearly 40 years in the travel industry, Jo Richards, owner of Tivoli Travel, argues that travel agents should be subject to a more regulated accreditation system. This, she believes, would help to prevent inexperienced agents and those chasing industry perks from undermining the profession’s credibility.
Richards started her career in the travel industry in 1986, completing a Youth Training Scheme apprenticeship with Woodrow Travel, which included exams and at least two years of experience with an agency before potential employment.
Regulation and Accreditation
A more regulated system of accreditation, according to Richards, would “wheedle out scammers” and individuals joining the industry solely for the perks. She feels that this is necessary to maintain the profession’s credibility and protect consumers from potential mistakes or oversights by inexperienced agents.
Richards’ experience in the industry has spanned various sectors, including business travel, where she completed her BA1 and BA2 training along with Galileo certification. She has also worked with Intasun and has been inspired by the industry’s potential.
Industry Challenges
Despite her love for the industry, Richards is concerned about the influx of untrained travel agents, which she believes detracts from the industry’s credibility. She cites stories of people booking holidays only to have their trips ruined by mistakes or oversights by inexperienced agents, giving the wider industry a bad name.
Related: Nepal braces for flash floods, dozens missing
Richards suggests that proper accreditation and standards for agents would help prevent such situations and give consumers greater confidence in who they are booking with. As a business owner, she typically requires two or more years of experience for anyone wishing to join Tivoli Travel.
The company has offered work experience to younger employees from college and local schools, who have then gone on to work with larger companies in the travel industry. Richards encourages people of any age to join the industry but emphasizes the need for more guidance when recruiting less experienced agents.
Consumer Trust and Professionalism
Richards stresses that members of the public are putting their trust, and sometimes life savings, in the hands of travel agents, and it is the industry’s responsibility to ensure that everything is done professionally. She believes that a more regulated accreditation system would help maintain this professionalism and protect consumers.
With nearly 40 years of experience in the travel industry, Richards’ concerns about the need for regulation and accreditation are rooted in her desire to see the industry maintain its credibility and professionalism. Her arguments highlight the importance of ensuring that travel agents are properly trained and qualified to provide the best possible service to consumers.