At the height of the Industrial Revolution, machines began replacing workers in almost every aspect of the ordinary workday – everything that could be automated, was. Now, more than a century later, history seems to be repeating itself and the everyday workforce is once again being steadily replaced by technology.

Australian job recruitment website Staff.com believes that by the year 2025, travel agents – along with other positions within the travel industry – will be fully replaced by various forms of technology. Five years ago we would have scoffed at this notion, but with smart phones and the apps that go with them becoming more and more advanced, this now seems a very plausible reality.

Smart phones and tablets today offer users such variety in travel options that they can not only book flights and accommodation, but also carry everything on their phones. Apps like Apple’s Passbook take all the paperwork out of travelling, and it doesn’t just stop there. Travellers can check themselves in to their flights before they’ve even arrived at the airport. They can be their own tour guides, and even arrange travel insurance at the touch of a button – all with mobile technology.

So what is there still to do for a travel agent?

Emily M. Dominguez, the founder at Dominican DR Tours, explains how she has innovated everything a travel agent does:

"In the first place, I thought the travel agent has to stop being someone who just sits on his ass and works the computer to find and book you a cheap flight. This is something that nowadays can be done by your client himself, if he wants to. What the client really needs is on spot, relyable support, and that is what we are doing. We are not only your personal travel agent, we are your personal assistant as well as your translator for your entire stay or as long as you wish."
Agents also educate new clients on information in regards to customs policies, us passports, visas, immunization that may be required, and foreign currency exchange rates.  They will provide helpful tips about weather conditions, pricing, things to pack and / or purchase, and tourist attractions worth seeing.  Some agents will keep up to date on new vacation spots by either vacationing to them or by browsing vacation magazines, and going to travel industry workshops and trade events. Some Travel agents will concentrate on one particular area (for example Dominican Republic, like Dominguez DR Tours) or maybe in one particular method of transportation.