Operators extend holiday ban to tsunami hit areas
Some tour operators have cancelled all charters to tsunami affected areas until the end of March.
Following a review of policies on bookings to flood hit Indian Ocean region countries, the Federation of Tour Operators said some holiday flights to affected areas of Sri Lanka had been cancelled for the remainder of the UK winter season, until March 31. Others have cancelled holidays until February 28 while keeping the situation under review.
“Customers whose holidays have been cancelled will be offered alternative holidays to unaffected areas to Sri Lanka, alternative holidays to other countries, or a full refund,” the FTO said. “Holidays to unaffected areas of Sri Lanka are continuing and normal booking conditions apply.”
Some operators are to re-commence holidays to Phuket next month but customers with holidays to the island with departures up to January 31 will be transferred to other destinations in Thailand, another country or offered a full refund. Again these dates will be kept under review by the FTO.
FTO members are not offering holidays to badly affected areas of Thailand, until Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice changes, and until operators consider it appropriate for their customers in terms of health, safety and local infrastructure.
“Individual operators will inform their customers when holidays to these areas will recommence,” the FTO said. “Until then, these customers will be offered alternative holidays to the many other areas of Thailand unaffected by the tsunami, to other countries, or full refunds.”
The FTO said: “Customers due to depart to the Maldives up until January 31 who do not wish to travel, may opt for alternative holidays or a full refund, but they are asked to inform their tour operator by January 15. From February 1 departures to unaffected areas will be subject to normal booking conditions.”
Holidays have already recommenced to areas in the Maldives largely unaffected by the tsunami and where hotels or accommodation and the infrastructure are operating normally, according to the organisation whose members account for more than 70% of package holiday sales from the UK.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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