The travel industry is probably the closest occupation to making a vacation out of a job. Travel agents, flight attendants and hotel managers are exposed to a blend of cultures, languages and customs each day, and are tasked with imparting practical advice on a veritable world of travel possibilities.

A recent report by the U.S. Travel Industry Association (TIA) revealed that expected increases in business and international inbound travel in 2010 will create about 90,000 new jobs in the American travel industry.

On Thursday, the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported that about 500,000 more passengers flew on domestic or U.S.-bound international flights in September 2009 than one year earlier.

The data may represent a turning point in travel trends after the number of airline passengers declined by 6.8 percent over the first nine months of the year.

"Following a difficult 2009, businesses have a heightened focus on the value and bottom-line benefits of travel," said Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for TIA.

In September, BTS found that more domestic passengers boarded planes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport, while New York JFK drew the most international travelers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that many travel agencies prefer job applicants who have a college degree and business or travel experience.