Flying to Europe next year? Be ready to pay 20%-30% more
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:04.10.2019
Flying to Europe on a holiday in New Year or during one of those extended holidays next year may cost 20% to 30 % more as hundreds of travellers are forced to rebook after Cox & Kings cancelled its ‘enchanting Europe tour’ after the company has run into financial trouble.
Travel and tour operators said though Cox & Kings is offering refunds, it might be tough to rebook as flight tickets and hotels rooms would be expensive. Closer to the holiday season, international trips are often booked at least six months in advance. Hospitality sector is going through a crisis in major tourist destinations abroad after Thomas Cook hit a crisis abroad.
Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said air fare was already high on most of the routes. “It will be tough to rebook. But many people are looking to rebook because they want to go on vacations. But several people may not travel this time.”
In a letter to customers, Cox & Kings says “unavoidable banking constraints” as the reason for cancellation of enchanting Europe tour.
The firm’s offices in Chennai have already stopped taking bookings. Inquiries with its main office and franchise offices in the city revealed that they were not taking bookings for international tours for about a month. “We are told by Cox and Kings that booking amount would be refunded to customers in 90 days. No more bookings are entertained for any trip,” a company franchise representative said. While Cox and Kings city office on Spur Tank Road in Chetpet remained open, bookings were not taken.
Meanwhile, the crisis in Cox and Kings has opened a window of opportunity for local tour operators.
Sriharan Balan, chairman, tourism sub-committee of Travel Agents Association of India, southern region, said trusted neighbourhood tour operators, who have sustained in the business for more than two decades, are witnessing conversions from multinational operators. “For instance, we have operated premium group tour for 300 passengers to Hong Kong recently. This group was traditional customers of leading international tour operators including Cox and Kings,” he said. According to him, protection for money has become a vital issue for travellers after international tour operators went bankrupt. “Trust has become a selling point in the tourism sector during such crisis. Local operators are all set for windfall gains as people have started approaching us for long destinations such as Australia, New Zealand and US,” he added.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:04.10.2019
Flying to Europe on a holiday in New Year or during one of those extended holidays next year may cost 20% to 30 % more as hundreds of travellers are forced to rebook after Cox & Kings cancelled its ‘enchanting Europe tour’ after the company has run into financial trouble.
Travel and tour operators said though Cox & Kings is offering refunds, it might be tough to rebook as flight tickets and hotels rooms would be expensive. Closer to the holiday season, international trips are often booked at least six months in advance. Hospitality sector is going through a crisis in major tourist destinations abroad after Thomas Cook hit a crisis abroad.
Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said air fare was already high on most of the routes. “It will be tough to rebook. But many people are looking to rebook because they want to go on vacations. But several people may not travel this time.”
In a letter to customers, Cox & Kings says “unavoidable banking constraints” as the reason for cancellation of enchanting Europe tour.
The firm’s offices in Chennai have already stopped taking bookings. Inquiries with its main office and franchise offices in the city revealed that they were not taking bookings for international tours for about a month. “We are told by Cox and Kings that booking amount would be refunded to customers in 90 days. No more bookings are entertained for any trip,” a company franchise representative said. While Cox and Kings city office on Spur Tank Road in Chetpet remained open, bookings were not taken.
Meanwhile, the crisis in Cox and Kings has opened a window of opportunity for local tour operators.
Sriharan Balan, chairman, tourism sub-committee of Travel Agents Association of India, southern region, said trusted neighbourhood tour operators, who have sustained in the business for more than two decades, are witnessing conversions from multinational operators. “For instance, we have operated premium group tour for 300 passengers to Hong Kong recently. This group was traditional customers of leading international tour operators including Cox and Kings,” he said. According to him, protection for money has become a vital issue for travellers after international tour operators went bankrupt. “Trust has become a selling point in the tourism sector during such crisis. Local operators are all set for windfall gains as people have started approaching us for long destinations such as Australia, New Zealand and US,” he added.
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