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While most people only dream of a romantic cruise around the Bahamas or a trip around the beautiful Scandinavian fjords, some people make a living out of sending people there.

And travel agency franchises, in particular cruise franchises, are proving increasingly popular as greater numbers of people than ever need someone to organise their trip of a lifetime.

Cruising has become the fastest growing segment of the travel industry in the last 20 years and is continuing to blossom, with huge numbers of cruise ships traversing the globe everywhere from the Antarctic to the Mediterranean. And, as a result, cruise planners are more in demand than ever.

Of course, anybody looking to step into the cruise planning business could consider cruise franchising. Many firms now offer entrepreneurs the chance to start up their own franchise with around $250,000, which allows franchisees to get into the luxury world of selling holidays onboard the world's top cruise liners.

But big outlays often incur big returns, and anyone able to help motivate some of the 11 million customers who went cruising in 2005 into purchasing another vacation will do well in the industry.

But entrepreneurs should remember the risks involved in franchising, including the necessity for high-level input from the franchisee, especially in the early stages.

Most franchisees often have little experience in the industry they are entering, which is why support from the franchiser is vital. Marni Pietrzak, director of franchise development for Cruise Holidays, explained to Bison.com: "I'd estimate that 97 per cent of our current franchisees do not have travel industry experience but they do have a passion for travel.

"What's more important to their success is that they are outgoing people who are comfortable networking in their communities and that they have good sales and marketing skills."

The reason for this is that people go to cruise organisers instead of doing the work themselves on the internet because they want that personal touch. Cruise purchasing can also be complex and finding the correct ship, itinerary and package for the customer is the name of the game.

Successful franchisees in this sector therefore need to be financially and business-minded, but also have the selling, planning and interpersonal skills to help develop their franchise through sales and return sales.

And while cruise stores are generally located in shopping malls and built up areas, choosing your location is equally vital in ensuring the maximum potential of a cruise planning franchise is achieved.

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