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5 Great Jobs for the 50 Travel Lover

Work in the travel industry as a tour guide. Istock Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Some 70,000 additional — in places such as hotels, travel agencies, airports and museums — were created in the U.S. in 2016, according to Skift, a travel industry research firm. Federal projections show the leisure and hospitality sector continuing to expand modestly in the years ahead. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > Here are five great travel opportunities to consider.

1 Travel agent

The nitty-gritty: If you think that travel agents are passé, you're mistaken. Even with the proliferation of online booking sites, growing numbers of travelers want the human touch. The result is an uptick in agents setting up their own , says Erika Richter, spokeswoman for the . You'll spend a fair amount of time on the phone and doing online research, so this job requires patience, an unflappable demeanor and attention to detail. It helps to have your own lust for travel, which allows you to add the secret ingredients of insider knowledge and enthusiasm. A possible perk: Gratis trips of your own to evaluate hotels, resorts and restaurants for potential clients. Pay range: Annual salaries range from $25,484 to $55,364, according to , a compensation information company. Hourly wages range from $10.70 to $22.34. Qualifications: In general, no agent license is required. That said, community colleges often offer technical training and classes for agents. Coursework covers the ins and outs of computer reservations systems, marketing and regulations for international travel. A few colleges offer full degrees in travel and tourism. offers training and professional certifications. The has a program for "travel and tourism professional," as well as "consultant." Meanwhile, the offers its own certifications.

2 Event planner

AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. . Online job boards let you shop for real-world openings. and , for instance, currently list hundreds of openings in this category. Pay range: From $11.31 to $36.50 per hour, according to . Annual pay salary ranges from $28,993 to $73,488. Qualifications: There's no must-have degree or certification for this position. Some universities and community colleges, however, offer degree and certificate programs in event management. George Washington University in Washington, D.C., for example, offers an . You might also consider the . If weddings are your thing, check out the websites of the and the .

3 Campground worker

The nitty-gritty: If you're spending time on the road with your RV, this is a great way to earn money along the way. At campgrounds, parks, marinas and resorts, you may be able to take on flexible work in exchange for a free or discounted campsite, vehicle hookup and perhaps a paycheck. Jobs run the gamut from guest check-in and rental management to handyman fix-its and retail sales. Pay range: There are a variety of arrangements in this semi-barter prospect. Pay is typically $7 to $12 an hour, but compensation is usually a combo of such things as campsite access, wages, store discounts and laundry allowance. One option is an unusual program from the giant retailer Amazon that recruits workers to help handle seasonal peaks in fulfillment center demand from nearby camp grounds. pays up to $11.50 an hour, with time and a half for overtime. Benefits include paid campsite fees and a completion bonus. Be aware that working in an Amazon fulfillment facility can be noisy, difficult work. Expect a lot of lifting and time on your feet. Qualifications: Past experience in this type of work helps. Expect on-the-job training if necessary. Go to the to track down jobs on its bulletin board. Many campgrounds post jobs on their own sites; have a look, too, at .

4 Tour guide

AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. . Qualifications: The most in-demand skill is a knack for captivating an audience. Employers might require you to pass a written exam of knowledge of specific locations and city history. Some community colleges offer short-term courses in tour- and travel-related occupations. The certified tour professional certification is offered through the . Think, too, about the not-for-profit , which offers 5,500 "learning adventures" in 150 countries and all 50 states. If you become an "ambassador" for the program, you promote it through speaking engagements. Your compensation is credits toward participation in those adventures.

5 Peace Corps

The nitty-gritty: This is not your usual travel industry job, but consider the experience of San Francisco resident Barbara Jue, 68, who served in the former Soviet republic of Moldova for two years. As a small-enterprise development adviser, she lent her know-how to a nongovernmental agency that focused on developing small businesses in the country. "Peace Corps was an aspiration since I was a teenager in the '60s when I was drawn to JFK's vision," Jue says. After she retired as director of global compensation at the Clorox Company, the time seemed right. "If you can help make a difference, you have a more fulfilling life, right?" She cautions that the Peace Corps is not for everyone: "Because Moldova is a developing country, health, sanitation and language, for me, were challenging, but you learn to be adaptable and flexible," Jue says. The bottom line is that the Peace Corps wants to enlist older volunteers like Jue. At present, nearly 500 volunteers older than 50 are serving in countries around the world. A few are in their 80s. The current push for older volunteers dates to 2011, when the Peace Corps began working with to connect with older volunteers for its , which sends experienced professionals abroad. The program may have special appeal to older people because it requires a shorter time commitment: three months to a year instead of the traditional 27 months. Married couples may serve together, but each person must apply and qualify as a volunteer separately. Pay range: There is no salary per se, but all volunteers receive comprehensive medical and dental benefits during service. Financial benefits include paid travel to and from the country of service, housing and living expenses, vacation days and a readjustment allowance upon completion of service that can amount to thousands of dollars. Qualifications: For Peace Corps Response, you must be a U.S. citizen and one of the following: an experienced professional, a returned volunteer, or a licensed physician or nurse. Kerry Hannon is a career transition expert and an award-winning author. Her latest book is . She has also written and . Find more from her at . More on work AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS