Better regulation for tour operators

Here’s a scenario you may be familiar with. You scrimp and save all year round. You deny yourself and your kids many luxuries and you stay in when you should be going out on an exploratory trip.

However, it’s all worthwhile. As a reward for your prudence you get to book that holiday in the sun.

After what seems like an age, the day finally arrives and you board the plane and embark on your excursion.

Soon you and your family are having a whale of a time. A week, then two, flies by – you are all having fun. Then some dreaded news reaches you.
Your tour operator has gone bust!

You panic and try to limit damage but the truth is you are stranded. You are thousands of miles from home and as each minute passes you can’t wait to get back there.

You’ve just become another victim of an industry which is poorly regulated and treats customers despicably. You worry and consequently, feel the drip of sweat and money simultaneously.

Tour operator goes bust

Tour operator Holidays 4 UK, planned to take about 50,000 British holiday-makers to Turkey this summer but has gone bust.

About 12,000 tourists will be returned home after the Brighton-based firm offering holidays mainly to Turkish resorts goes into administration

The company which trades as Holidays 4U and Aegean Flights specialises in providing budget holidays in Turkish holiday resorts.
Their customers abroad can expect safe passage home by the Civil Aviation Authority under the Atol consumer protection scheme.

Travellers yet to embark on their holiday will also be entitled to compensation under the Atol scheme. The rescue will cost the CAA about £9.5m, of which about £4.5m will be covered by Atol bonds and other security lodged by Holidays 4 UK.