Travel Operators

This year has been catastrophic for travel companies with turnover down to 20 percent compared to 2019, ECTAA, the European Travel Agent and Tour Operator Association, said in a review …

A 74.9 percent drop was recorded in the turnover of Greek travel agencies in the third quarter of 2020, normally considered high season for Greek tourism.

Aviation and tourism bodies are disappointed with the EU’s guidance to member states on better coordinating Covid-19 travel measures.

Greek tourism professional Marios Kammenos has been re-elected treasurer of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA).

Renowned brand Thomas Cook is relaunching as an online-only travel business, initially selling holidays to destinations on the UK government’s safe travel corridor list.

Passengers on board a TUI flight from Zakynthos to Cardiff were advised to self-isolate after seven people tested positive for Covid-19.

Specialist tour operators working out of the UK are calling on Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis to support their efforts to rekindle travel to Greece.

Greece is among the countries that is intensively preparing for the return of tourists, following the Covid-19 pandemic, according to travel giant TUI.

The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA) is asking for concrete actions so that the tourism value chain can continue to operate after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

The European Commission is not against vouchers as an alternative to cash refunds for canceled travel bookings due to Covid-19, but only if they are voluntary and secured against insolvency …

TUI AG has signed a state-aid bridging loan for 1.8 billion euros with the KfW, Germany’s state-owned development bank, to cushion the unprecedented effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

IATA’s CEO explains to travel agents the association’s “flexible approach” to BSP payments, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and informs that it considers travel vouchers as “the best answer” instead …

Travel sector bodies have requested for IATA to extend the deadline of BSP payments due to decreases in the cash flows of travel agencies.

As Covid-19 has brought tourism to a standstill, European travel agents and tour operators are calling for a more flexible application of refund rules for package travel.

Travel giant TUI is suspending the vast majority of all travel operations until further notice – including package travel, cruises and hotel operations – due to the coronavirus outbreak.

ECTAA has applauded the European Commission’s acknowledgement of the immense damages the coronavirus outbreak has caused to the travel and tourism industry.

Greek travel agents are calling on tourism stakeholders and authorities to jointly formulate a clear action plan in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

An increase of 13.5 percent was recorded in the turnover of Greek travel agencies in the third quarter of 2019 compared to 2018, according to ELSTAT.

Norwegian investor Petter Stordalen and private equity firms Altor and TDR Capital have signed an agreement to acquire the Nordic unit of collapsed UK tour operator Thomas Cook.

Stronger and better consumer and employee protection in cases of corporate failure is the focus of a resolution which was recently adopted by the European Parliament.