Booked a holiday to Sri Lanka? Your rights after terror attacks - MSE News

Voyager2002

Malccornelius wrote: »

Due to travel to Sri Lanka and Nepal on 6/5 for three weeks.

Tour operator has cancelled the tour and is offering no alternative or refund.

Insurance say the TO should be refunding ....

Any thoughts on next steps ?

I hope you paid by card: under simple law of contract, if the tour operator fails to provide the holiday for which you have paid, they are obliged to provide a full refund.

eDicky

Certainly the Sri Lankan security services have been disgracefully negligent in allowing such attacks to happen despite warnings, and the ongoing operation, precautions and extra security measures will be causing discomfort for the 8,000 Brits who are (or were) currently there on holiday. So the FCO advisory is in place for the time being and Naomi's article is fairly clear about your options if you are booked to travel imminently.

However the situation over the next few weeks and months and later in the year remains to be seen, there's likely to be some resolution, probably with the help of foreign agencies with a bit more expertise. It's likely that after this Sri Lanka will become less vulnerable to such attacks, and perhaps safer for tourists than certain other places that have not yet experienced such organised terrorism and are less prepared.

It's also worth considering, if you have a future holiday in Sri Lanka booked and want to change to another destination - where will you choose that is safe from such outrages? It can happen literally anywhere - where It's least expected, in s country where there's not even a predominant or substantial Islamic presence, or even if you stay at home...

So before rushing to cancel or change a trip that is booked for the coming months or later (for which there will probably not be the same rights unless the FCO advisory continues for long, which is unlikely), why not wait and see if everything settles down in the meantime.

Most Sri Lankans have no option but to stay in their country, whose economy is largely reliant on the tourist trade. The aims of the terrorists include scaring away foreign tourists to harm the economy and the country in general - they will have succeeded if everyone cancels future trips now.

Whereas if nearer the time you feel confident enough to travel, and to show that your appreciation of their hospitality, cultural heritage, sites of interest and beaches etc, is stronger than the efforts by those despicable terrorists to scare you away, then the Sri Lankans will welcome you very warmly and really appreciate your demonstration of solidarity and confidence.

cazziebo

You're not wrong, eDicky and I do feel uncomfortable about cancelling. However, this was a once in a lifetime trip for us, and the longer I leave it, the fewer options I'll have in changing the holiday for one of the same standard. I'm conflicted. it is so much money. And I'm not sure that the situation will resolve soon.

Malccornelius

Westin wrote: »

Did you book through U.K. tour operator? - in which case you should now receive a refund.

- or do you mean an oversea tour organiser having DIY'ed the trip, perhaps a Sri Lankan based one, in which case hard as it seems no-automatic refund may be given.

Thanks for the replies and advice

They are a small UK based TO - Lumle Holidays

After reading up on our rights and an exchange of emails we have been offered deferment or an (unsuitable) alternative.

We have started a claim on our credit cards which were used for payment.

Westin

The Foreign & Commonwealth advisory that was issued mid week was the game changer when all but essential travel to Sri Lanka was announced. This at least placed grounding on the situation and would become helpful for those who had travel booked and no longer wished to travel as U.K. tour operators typically follow that Government lead and would now waive standard cancellation terms.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office

The advisory however would also mean an influx of additional work for travel businesses who have to look after their customers due to travel in the future, those with imminent travel, but perhaps more importantly those already in Sri Lanka who need to be contacted, put in a place of safety and then repatriated to the U.K. No easy task I am sure and activities would need to be prioritised.

I think what was being said in terms of cancellations and amendments at the start of last week will be different to now what is being said now post-FCO advisory.

Some understanding may however be necessary over coming days to allow for clear policy and for travel organisations to deal with the matter. Whilst frustrating if you have future travel further than say two/three weeks out, I can understand that first attention must be given to those holiday makers already in Sri Lanka and then those travellers with imminent planned departures.

Mark_jones

Thanks. I’ll try and speak to a supervisor when the office is next open and see whether the FCO advice of non essential travel is covered by this recommended insurance provider. If Coverwise maintain their initial stance and refuse to accept our claim, I would like any advice as to how I can request Money Saving Expert to reconsider their continuing recommendation of this company on their website who, in my humble opinion are not providing basic cover.

Malccornelius

We are still wrestling our operator who is telling us they won't provide the holiday we booked to SL as it would be against the law for them to take us.

They are telling us we have to cancel with them and are still refusing any refund under their Force Majure clause.

Any guidance appreciated but surely this doesn't abrogate their responsibilities under the Package Travel regulations ?

agrinnall

Malccornelius wrote: »

We are still wrestling our operator who is telling us they won't provide the holiday we booked to SL as it would be against the law for them to take us.

They are telling us we have to cancel with them and are still refusing any refund under their Force Majure clause.

Any guidance appreciated but surely this doesn't abrogate their responsibilities under the Package Travel regulations ?

Is your holiday covered by ATOL? If so I would get them involved. It's a pity they aren't members of ABTA, I see they are in ABTOT but I've no idea what their role is.

Jaysk

Hi that must be a relief-can I ask which travel agent you booked through? We are having a bit of a struggle with Virgin who aren’t being very helpful!

Mark_jones

Hi,
I don’t think that Coverwise insurance - as currently recommended by this site - deserves its privileged recommended status, due to its blanket refusal to consider any terrorist related claim. That the FCO advise against travel to Sri Lanka made no difference to Coverwise who refuse to consider any claims! Coverwise remains a recommended provider.
Does anyone know how I can flag this up to the relevant people so that their recommended status can be reviewed? I won’t be as trusting of recommendations on this site in the future, which is a real shame.