Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

The Work

Tour operators plan and put together complete holiday packages that they then sell to the public. They sell the holidays by displaying brochures in travel agents or by marketing them directly to the public. Many tour operators are closely linked to airline companies, shipping lines or coach operators.

Some tour operators provide specialist trips such as adventure trips, language courses, trekking holidays or trips to historical sites. Others may specialise in organising business conferences. Tour operators can focus on creating Irish based tours for foreign tourists, or they may create packages for Irish people looking to holiday abroad.

As a tour operator, you have to come up with appealing ideas for holidays and then research possible itineraries and content for the package. As part of the research, you may also have to visit destinations to check the facilities being offered and collect information to be used in advertising brochures and investigate possible new areas and local service providers that could be included in holiday packages.

You would also need to draw up contracts with the services to be included in the package, such as hotels, airlines, coach companies and tour guides. Part of this work involves making sure you get the best price for each service. As well as being a good negotiator, you may need to have additional language skills.

You then have to market and sell the package, by providing detailed information on tours and their availability to travel agents and the public.

Some tour operators also make sure that tours run smoothly and deal with any problems and emergencies as they arise. In large companies, these duties are often carried out by specialist departments; in small companies, one person might undertake most of the duties mentioned.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
• Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
• Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
• Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
• Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
• Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer or telephone.
• Print or request transportation carrier tickets, using computer printer system or system link to travel carrier.
• Provide customer with brochures and publications containing travel information, such as local customs, points of interest, or foreign country regulations.

Further Information

• Tour Operator - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

People develop towards this career from various qualifications, but previous experience in the travel industry, sales, marketing, and customer service are often required by employers.

Building up part-time or seasonal work in the Tourism & Hospitality sector, as well as developing foreign language skills will improve your chances of getting a job as a Tour Operator. The most relevant subjects to study include business and tourism.

If you want to develop your career further, you can aim to progress to a management role in a tour operating business, or even start up your own tour operation after several years’ experience in the sector. Studying business and tourism subjects at undergraduate or graduate level will also help you progress.

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Tour Guiding, Bus & Coach driving, Business & Office administration NFQ Level 5 Search our FET coursefinder

FET Centre PLC Courses: Tourism & Business, Languages & Business administration, event management, Travel & Tourism NFQ level 5-6 Search our FET PLC coursefinder

Apprenticeship Sales NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO entry: Tourism & Business, event management, Travel & Tourism,Languages & Business administration NFQ level 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder 

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €35k

Salaries vary based on employer, location. role, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although employment levels grew between 2021 and 2022 for this occupation, numbers employed remained below pre-COVID-19 levels. The numbers employed across the various roles in this occupation are too small in the Labour Force Survey for further analysis but the CSO Census data shows that approximately half of those in this occupation worked as air travel assistants or travel agents, with 2022 levels for these roles well below their 2016 levels.

Approximately a third of persons employed in this occupation work part-time, higher than the national average. The extent to which employment in these occupations will recover to their prepandemic levels is uncertain as affordability and attractiveness for air travel services in particular remains vulnerable to increased energy costs, and consumer demand and preferences given the green agenda and cost of living pressures.

• International Air Transport Association (IATA)

  • Click Here

• Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

  • Head Office, 44 Kildare St, Dublin 2
  • LoCall 0761 001 601 (+ 353 1 670 7444 outside Ireland)
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Tourism Industry Confederation

  • 353 (0) 1 2934950
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Incoming Tour Operators Association (ITOA)

  • +353 (0)1 286 1113
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Fáilte Ireland

  • Amiens Street, Dublin 1
  • (01) 884 7700
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here