The term "travel agent" refers to a company (business) that essentially sells flight tickets, book accommodation or sell packaged tours. The distinction between a travel agent and a tour operator regarding tours is that agents mostly re-sell tours which have been compiled and are operated by tour operators/ brokers. While travel agents are able to compile tours for clients from scratch they very rarely do so. Travel agents mostly work on a commission basis (±10%) while operators negotiate much more favourable reduced-rate contracts with hotel groups and other suppliers. By doing this (wholesale) operators are able to forfeit a commission to the travel agent that re-sells its tour to the end-user/ client without inflating the public rates of hotels and other suppliers.

At Africa Deluxe Tours we mostly sell direct to the end users because we are able to reach them, and communicate with them effectively, through the internet. This leads to great cost and price reductions as well as enhanced personalised service levels. We do however believe that it is in our clients' interest to book their international flight tickets through their local travel agent as flight tickets are normally cheaper when purchased from the country of departure.