3 Routes into travel with ABTA

Careers guide

3 Pathways into travel with ABTA

Abta, The Travel Association, is a trade organisation supporting those working the travel industry, from travel agents to tour operators. It has more than 70 years’ experience helping members to develop successful businesses and is recognised as a leader in the industry, ensuring those booking holidays abroad are in safe hands. As one of the most trusted brands in travel, Abta is well-positioned to help future travel professionals through training, events, apprenticeship opportunities and more, and encourages its members and partners to offer internships, mentoring and work placement

1. Education and career development

Ensuring the travel industry has access to suitable skills and training is central to Abta’s strategic goals. It is also committed to promoting the wide range of dynamic careers in the industry. Since 2014, universities and colleges have been able to join as Abta Education Partners, linking with Abta members and helping students to better understand the issues affecting the industry and the opportunities provided by a travel career.

Abta has 15 Education Partners, and you can find a list of them online at the Abta Education Hub. Education Partners have access to a range of benefits, such as an annual guest lecture and access to all of Abta’s online training courses, to name but a few. Education Partners can take part in the Abta student representative programme, which matches one or two students from each of our Education Partners with an Abta member or partner for virtual mentoring sessions.

These sessions are invaluable for both students and mentors. Abta Education Partners help the industry contribute to the curriculum of future travel professionals and build links between industry and educators.

2. Abta Summer internship

In 2024, Abta reinstated its one-month summer internship, which is only open to students at Abta Education Partners offering degree programmes. This year, Abta extended its programme and offered two students a two-month internship, one in its communications team and one in its legal team.

The internship is a paid internship, for the months of July and August, where a student will work with one of the Abta teams on a live project, as well as conducting some research. Abta’s 2025 interns were Laura Fraile from Cardiff Metropolitan University and Holly Roser from the University of Bournemouth. Laura subsequently joined its legal team, while Holly joined its communications team.

3. Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a key way of attracting skills into the travel industry. While the aviation and travel consultant apprenticeships will always be extremely important for the travel industry, many of Abta’s members also offer an extremely wide range of apprenticeships covering a whole range of roles spanning IT, digital marketing, finance and HR.

Abta is a big supporter of apprenticeships in the travel industry, and along with its members, is very involved in the ongoing standards and development of sector-specific apprenticeships. Abta is also a member of the Aviation Industry Skills Board (AISB), which oversees aviation apprenticeships and skills.

ABTA Training

Abta has a popular programme of training and events providing expert‑led, up‑to‑date training for the industry. Its members and Education Partners can also complete Abta’s online training programmes at the Abta Knowledge Zone, which is free to Abta members and Education Partners.

Reports and Publications

Abta publishes a variety of reports and publications throughout the year which are valued by lecturers and students for their up‑to‑date data and analysis. Look out for these on abta.com and follow Abta on social media.

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Photo credits: Abta; Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com