Tourism chiefs step in for Goldtrail

THE COLLAPSE of Turkey and Greece holiday firm

Kategori	: English
Yorum Sayısı	: 0
Okunma	: 122
Tarih	: 22 Temmuz 2010 15:38

THE COLLAPSE of Turkey and Greece holiday firm Goldtrail last week-end left thousands of UK passengers without holidays and many out of pocket.

Thousands of tourists were stranded abroad after the Surrey based company, owned by 34 year-old businessman Abdulkadir Aydin, failed last Saturday. Reports suggest that Aydin has fled to Turkey.

It is thought some 16,000 holidaymakers were left stranded after the tour operator ceased trading.

Stories began to appear in the UK media about hotels charging tourists twice, due to uncertainty over when or if hotels would get the money owed to them.

However London Turkish Gazette spoke to head of the South Mediterranean Hoteliers and Tourism Board, who said they were doing all they could to ensure UK tourists could return home without having to pay extra.

Ilhan Acikgoz said a crisis centre had been set up to deal with those affected.

“We heard that just three hotels had tried to claim more money from tourists but we stepped in to prevent this and the Tourism Board is also taking steps to protect tourists.”

The Turkish UK Tourism Board issued a statement saying “The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working hard to assist affected customers in Turkey. 

“To this effect, the Governorship of Mugla in Turkey has formed a crisis centre to ensure holidaymakers can continue their holidays in Turkey and return home at the end of their stay. 

“The crisis centre is formed from all related associations and institutions in the region: BODER, the Bodrum Hoteliers Association; The Bodrum Municipality; Bodrum Airport; Bodrum Police Department;  Bodrum Local Authority; Marmaris GETOB, the South Aegean Tourist Hotels Association; Fethiye and Dalaman Airports and FETOB, the Fethiye Hoteliers Association; whom are working hard in cooperation to ensure holidaymakers do not experience undue grievance as a result of the collapse of Goldtrail Travel Ltd.”

They add that the crisis centre has the latest information relating to all the hotels and apartment hotels that have been booked by Goldtrail customers and can therefore advise travellers accordingly. 

Information desks have also been set up at all airports in the affected region to advise and inform passengers regarding their return home.  The statement says there are no more outbound Goldtrail flights and those who were due to travel on a Goldtrail flight, should check with their travel organiser.

The Civil Aviation Authority, under its ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing) scheme, is also making arrangements for customers abroad to travel home at the end of their holidays. The majority of flights from Turkey are expected to operate as planned.

 For more information contact Mugla Governorship on +90 (0)252 214 1234 or from Turkey, the Mugla Call and Information Centre by dialling 179 from any landline.

54321

© 2005-2010 Tüm Hakları Saklıdır
RSS Kaynağı | Yazar Girişi