Dubai’s travel agencies are starting to feel impact of staff shortages

Dubai’s travel agencies are starting to feel impact of staff shortages

Dubai: Dubai’s travel agencies are facing staffing issues as travel demand heads back into full growth, according to a top official with an industry grouping. “During the pandemic, some staff went into other industries and that’s affecting the number of people available,” said Sumit Acharya, Vice-President of Dubai Travel and Tour Agents Group (DTTAG). Instead of hiring fresh recruits and training them, agencies are on the lookout for more experienced candidates, who can “hit the ground running” .They are also being offered significant pay hikes, Acharya added. This could lead to a sector-wide hike in salaries as employers look to lock down their best talent. An average travel agent in Dubai typically earns around Dh13,000 per month, with salaries ranging from Dh7,020-Dh19,600, according to Salaryexplorer. “When an agency wins a contract, they need to ramp up hiring and they would rather get someone from another company who is ready and trained,” said Acharya. Last week, Dubai issued a resolution cancelling fees levied on airline agents and offices operating in Dubai. Acharya said the decision is a positive step, but will only apply to General Sales Agencies (GSAs), who are airlines’ local sales representatives. Acharya explained that unlike normal travel agencies