Travellers need expert advice; a great travel agent is knowledgeable about the region a traveller is interested in visiting and can make recommendations based on the interests of travellers. What’s more, they can book the best flights – both in terms of hours of transit and cost, and find the best accommodation and provide tailored itineraries with the local information. The travel agent shapes the trip, and their suggestions and decisions determine the outcome of the tourist experience to, at and from the destination.
Travel agents are here to stay. As the bridge between the traveller and the destination, the agent is able to navigate the various destination travel requirements and influence traveller perception of a destination even before the traveller has decided to travel.
For West African destinations, with the fragmented nature of the industry and its opaqueness, travel agents can design travel itineraries, recommending sites to visit and places to stay. With the travel restrictions, the agent keeps abreast of these requirements and provides an easier experience. Hence, clients of trusted agents can rest assured that their whole trip package – travel requirements, flight and hotel booking, car rentals, cruises, events and activities during the trip, etc. – has been well taken care of.
The agents also have strong relationships with destinations which is important for getting the best deal and access to key spots. What’s more, in the event that there need to be cancellations, these relationships can help in lowering the costs of cancelling or amending the trips. Online reviews provide useful feedback on destinations, but they cannot replace the tacit knowledge agents have on getting the best deal possible in a way that meets the travellers’ unique interests.
What we need in West Africa, is a catalogue of reputable travel agents, their area(s) of specialization, and the destination(s) they partner in promoting.