Travel agents were among the first jobs hit by the internet, when people started booking flights and hotels themselves. Now AI tools can plan an itinerary in seconds. The agents who remain sell something different: judgment, contacts and someone to call when a trip goes wrong.
The short answer: AI is a real pressure on travel agents, but the role is holding steady rather than disappearing. The ILO's 2025 index puts travel consultants and clerks in gradient 3, at 0.56, one of the more exposed groups. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects little or no change from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed travel agents are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Consultants and Clerks | Gradient 3 | 0.56 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Travel agents | Little or no change (0%) | About 5,900 |
The BLS says travelers' ability to use online resources, including AI tools, to research and book their own trips may limit demand for travel agents, and that AI may also help agents handle administrative and marketing tasks more efficiently.
What AI is taking on
- Drafting itineraries and comparing flights, hotels and prices.
- Answering routine questions about visas, baggage and timing.
- Marketing emails, trip descriptions and social posts.
- Booking changes and reminders.
What stays with the travel agent
- Needs: working out what a client actually wants, from budget and schedule to what they will enjoy.
- Complex trips: tour packages, group travel, special events and multi-stop journeys.
- Local knowledge: advising on customs and attractions, and suppliers the agent trusts.
- Problems: rebooking when flights are canceled or plans fall apart.
- Checking AI help: AI itineraries can include closed venues, wrong times or rules that do not apply, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Agents increasingly specialize, in luxury, adventure, group or business travel, and use AI to handle research and admin faster. Simple bookings have largely moved online.
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Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for travel agents at $50,160 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace travel agents?
Not fully on current evidence. The ILO puts travel consultants in gradient 3 (0.56), and the BLS projects little or no change from 2025 to 2035, partly because travelers book with online and AI tools.
Does the BLS mention AI for travel agents?
Yes. It says AI tools may limit demand as travelers book their own trips, and may help agents work more efficiently.
How many travel agent openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 5,900 openings a year.
What travel agent work stays human?
Understanding client needs, complex and group trips, local knowledge, fixing problems and checking AI itineraries.