Golf operators accuse ABTA of ignoring ‘ticking time bomb’

A consortium of golf operators has accused ABTA of sticking its head in the sand and failing to ensure that all its members have the required level of bonding.

It claims that at least two ABTA-bonded golf operators have been selling certain types of golf holidays without any form of financial protection for several years, with the full knowledge of ABTA, even though it is against the Association’s rules.

The operators in question have ATOL and ABTA bonding, but they don’t provide any financial protection for sales of accommodation at hotels that include on site, pre-arranged and pre-paid rounds of golf.

They state in its terms and conditions on their website that these are ‘accommodation only, or ‘resort’ bookings that don’t require financial protection,as they are not packages.

GTOC, which represents specialist UK golf tour operators, insists that ABTA has issued a guidance note which stated that where pre-arranged and pre-paid golf is sold that utilises the golf facilities at a hotel and therefore is an integral part of the holiday, the booking should be considered a package irrespective of the fact that the golf takes place on site.

However, it says ABTA has failed to act against these companies and force them to provide a bond for all of their non-licensed turnover, even though the matter was brought to the Association’s attention years ago.

"They display the ABTA logo so their clients will assume that everything is covered by ABTA protection, which it clearly isn’t," said ABTA and GTOC member Jon Ruben of Golf Escapes. "These companies have a combined annual turnover of approx £100million, a large proportion of which will be classified as ‘non-package’ holidays. 

"This could be a ticking time-bomb and needs to be explained to the travel industry and golfing public.  ABTA are sticking their heads in the sand."

Paul Cowgill of Driveline Golf said he had asked ABTA as long ago as 2011 why some operators were forced to provide a bond to cover turnover, including bookings for hotel with golf courses, but others were not.

He said ABTA’s head of financial protection Jon de Vial replied in 2012 that the ‘inconsistency’ had been ‘resolved’.

However, three years later, the golf operators in question continue to state on their websites that ‘resort bookings’ are not covered by any form of financial protection.

"Myself and a number of other golf tour operators do not understand why ABTA is presiding over a situation whereby ABTA bonded members are being allowed not to protect significant amounts of turnover thus devaluing the ABTA symbol and placing ABTA under the spotlight in the event that one of these companies fails," said Cowgill.

"[ABTA president] Noel Josephides has gone on record to express ‘grave concern about competition that specialist operators face from unlicensed operators selling packages in the UK without financial protection’. Yet no action is seemingly taken when his words are ignored, bizarrely, by ABTA bonded members."

A spokesman for ABTA said: "ABTA is in discussion with Members regarding the sale of arrangements that include accommodation and golf course fees and whether they constitute a package or an accommodation only booking.

"ABTA will continue to work with the Members involved to come to a resolution on this issue. ABTA Members are not required to offer financial protection for accommodation only bookings, however many do choose to do so."