13 January 2005
FTO members, who are also ABTA members, have reviewed their booking policies to areas affected by tsunami.
They will continue to keep the situation under review as they receive further reports from the resort areas, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and others. The position as of 13 January 2005 is as follows:
The Maldives: Holidays have already recommenced to areas in the Maldives largely unaffected by the tsunami and where the hotels/accommodation and the infrastructure are operating normally. Customers due to depart up until the 31st January 2005 however 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 15th January. As of 1 February departures to unaffected areas will be subject to normal booking conditions
Sri Lanka: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is still advising against all but essential travel to affected areas along Sri Lanka's eastern and southern coasts, and to the south-western coast south of Kalutara. FTO members are not offering holidays to the affected areas of Sri Lanka and are cancelling holidays to these areas for all departures until the 28th February 2005. Some holiday charter services to these affected areas have been cancelled for the remainder of the UK winter season until 31st March
2005. 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. Holidays to unaffected areas of Sri Lanka are continuing and normal booking conditions apply.
Thailand: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel to the badly affected areas of Thailand including Khao Lak and the Phi Phi islands: in other places including Phuket island, it reports that some hotels and other facilities remain in good order. FTO members are not offering holidays to badly affected areas of Thailand, until FCO 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. 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. Customers with holidays to Phuket with departures up to 31st January 2005 will be transferred to other destinations within Thailand, another country or offered a full refund. During February, some tour operators will re-commence holidays to parts of Phuket and normal booking conditions will apply. These dates will be kept under review.
FTO members are making every effort to contact customers due to travel to the affected destinations to reassure, and where appropriate amend their holiday reservation, and this is being done in order of departure date priority.
Individual tour operators request that customers with specific concerns or requests in connection with the above advice contact them.
For those who need to make an insurance claim due to the tsunami, the Association of British Insurers has issued some useful advice which can be found at http://www.abi.org.uk/ (Current Issues)
Updates for hotels and resorts in the affected destinations can be found on the following websites: http://www.contactsrilanka.org, http://www.visitmaldives.com.mv/mu/latest/update_situation_assessment.php ,and www.tourismthailand.org/.
Affected destinations, that rely on the tourism industry, have told ABTA that one of the best ways that holidaymakers can support local people and communities is by continuing to travel to the region, while staying away - for the time being - from the worst hit areas.
Holidaymakers planning to travel to any Asian destination are reminded that they should contact their GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic at least six weeks before travel to ensure that they take all the up-to-date health advice relevant to the region.
Donations to The UK Disasters Emergency Committee can be made on their website at http://www.dec.org.uk/ or by calling 0870 60 60 900.
