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Best and worst salaries in Asia's travel industry
From US$1,200 to US$2 million; Asia's most and least rewarded travel workers
Hong Kong and Singapore travel workers can flash the cash. An account of Asian travel worker’s salaries over 2011 has been published, showing a huge spread in annual wages and massive differences between countries.
The highest paid responder to the TMS Asia-Pacific Travel and Hospitality Industry Salary Survey was the CEO of a Singaporean wholesaler, who recorded a US$2 million salary, while the lowest paid was an operations manager for an Indian hospitality company who recorded a US$1,200 salary.
The survey was conducted in September 2011 and had nearly 800 respondents.
The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions) was the best paid sector, with workers earning an average salary of US$84,612, while the wholesale sector, despite the inclusion of the well paid CEO, offered the lowest annual salary of US$43,677.
Hong Kong and Singapore offered the best salaries for travel employees, averaging US$92,445 and US$80,479 respectively. India and Indonesia offered the lowest, averaging US$29,460 and US$28,425 respectively.
Sample salaries by industry sector
Airlines/aviation
Highest salary: Vice president, sales -- US$240,000
Lowest salary: Travel consultant, senior -- US$2,400
GDS/technology
Highest salary: Global senior account manager -- US$203,125
Lowest salary: Marketing coordinator -- US$2,000
Hospitality
Highest salary: Vice president, sales & marketing -- US$244,000
Lowest salary: Operations manager -- US$1,200
MICE/events
Highest salary: Finance director -- US$270,777
Lowest salary: Event manager -- US$13,144
Tourism/NTO
Highest salary: SVP, non-air commercial -- US$248,092
Lowest salary: Travel consultant, senior -- US$7,891
Sample salaries by country
China
Highest salary: MD, CEO -- US$219,065
Lowest salary: Events and operations manager -- US$13,144
Hong Kong
Highest salary: Global senior account manager -- US$203,125
Lowest salary: Sales manager -- US$33,863
India
Highest salary: General manager -- US$98,000
Lowest salary: Operations manager -- US$1,500
Malaysia
Highest salary: Director of HR -- US$72,600
Lowest salary: Travel consultant -- US$4,063
Singapore
Highest salary: CEO -- US$2 million
Lowest salary: Revenue manager -- US$3,000
Thailand
Highest salary: Vice president sales -- US$150,000
Lowest salary: Vice president marketing -- US$12,000
