Refund if tour operator cancels

Clearing

Hello I booked a retreat to Italy for this year. I have been informed that the operator wants to move this to next year due to the coronavirus. This has not been cancelled by the FCO. But I can not go next year. I am being told I am not entitled to a refund. Could anybody advise? I am the only person that can not move to next year. The suppliers have agreed to move everything to the following year at no cost. I understand my flight may not be refunded, and I have agreed to take a refund minus the flight. I am unsure where I stand. If the FCO cancelled I would be able to claim back in insurance but as its the operator moving this I thought a refund was a fair option as I am sure my placed will be filled. 

[Deleted User]

 Your insurance should cover it if the tour operators cancelled 

Westin

Is this tour operator a UK based one? Did you buy as a package with flights?

Alan_Bowen

Westin, it rather looks as though the retreat was booked separately with an Italian business, and may, therefore, be subject to whatever conditions they have, and the flights separately. However accommodation and whatever else may come under the terms of a retreat are probably still a package within the law and if they cannot provide it, they have to offer a full refund, but getting it back, unless paid for by a credit card, may not be so easy. I have a lot of sympathy for Italian tourist businesses, many I suspect will go to the wall as business has collapsed through no fault of their own and I can understand why they would like the poster to wait until 2021 but I don't thibnk in law they should have to. 

Westin

Those had also been my thoughts and suspicion as well but just wanted to check if a U.K. bought package. Agree with your comments.  Not good for any of the parties.