NEW research shows most people in the travel industry enjoy their jobs and are committed to the company they work for, despite an overwhelming majority feeling they are considerably underpaid.
In a survey of more than 2,000 leisure and business travel agents and tour operators, 73% said they enjoy their job. However, three quarters also believe that salary levels are poor.
The findings confirm what many already suspect – that people are prepared to forgo a high salary for a job in an industry that is deemed to be fun, lively and incredibly varied.
The average basic annual salary is ú19,200, which increases to ú21,600 with benefits, but this was due to the fact that many of the respondents were in managerial positions or higher.
The average salary for representatives/sales executives is ú13,000.
Holidays are the most common benefit cited, with 38% naming them as a perk, while profit-share schemes are enjoyed by around 20% of respondents.
The survey, conducted by NSM Research on behalf of Travel Weekly, also found that 77% believe their working conditions are good and, surprisingly in the current economic climate, two thirds of respondents said they are happy with the level of job security they are offered.
Indeed, security is an important factor in choosing a job for 62% of respondents, while 60% cite “feeling valued”.
However, the main concern for 83% of staff is that the job is interesting.
Meanwhile, employers come out badly where training is concerned. Although 92% of respondents said they are trained to do their jobs, only 17% are satisfied about the training they receive and over a third feel they are not offered the necessary training required for their careers to progress.
n For more information on the survey conducted by NSM Research on behalf of Travel Weekly, contact Ian Burke or Ailsa Marks on 0181-652 3810.