Then 50 percent tour for long periods with attendants (10)

I believe the answer is:

entourages

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'attendants' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'then 50 percent tour for long periods' is the wordplay.
'then 50 percent' becomes 'en' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'for' says to put letters next to each other.
'long periods' becomes 'ages' (I've seen this before).
'en'+'tour'+'ages'='ENTOURAGES'

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for entourages that I've seen is " Groups accompanying".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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