The number of travel agents as recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau jumped nearly 20% to 118,974, the most recent government statistics. For the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), a trade group that like its members once had a doubtful future, the change has meant switching gears and being able to look into the future a bit instead of hunkering down in a survival mode. “We’ve done a lot of work to try and help consumers understand that the travel agency community is still out there and a service to those people who want to travel,” he said. A turnaround in media coverage has helped with more and more positive coverage on the benefits of using travel agents. Kerby said, in the case of Logan, he was driven to ASTA’s website by an article that advised, “Use an ASTA agent.”

Source: Forbes September 09, 2017 18:47 UTC