Kuoni and FC still missing clients in Asia

The UK’s major tour operators have accounted for all but a handful of clients who were on holiday in areas of Asia affected by the Indian Ocean quake.

According to ABTA spokeswoman Frances Tuke, there are four Britons still unaccounted for who were travelling with AITO and FTO members to affected areas in Asia. She said that eight UK holidaymakers who were travelling with AITO and FTO members are known to have been killed in the disaster.

Kunoi, Thomson, First Choice, Thomas Cook and MyTravel were among operators with hundreds of holidaymakers in the area. Most survivors have been flown home although some have chosen to stay out to continue their holiday or help with the relief effort.

MyTravel had about 900 UK customers in the region, mainly in the Maldives, and has confirmed that seven of its customers travelling with operators across the group died in the tragedy. Most UK customers have now returned home according to a spokeswoman for MyTravel although some have chosen to stay and continue their holiday.

The company has cancelled all departures to affected areas with companies across the group until January 9 when the situation will be reviewed. Affected customers are being offered refunds or alternative holidays. MyTravel added that it did not expect the impact of the earthquake to have a “material effect” on the achievement of its business plan.

A spokesman for TUI UK said the operator has reported no casualties among its 589 clients holidaying in affected areas. It has cancelled holidays to Sri Lanka until January 31 and is offering affected clients a refund or alternative holiday. The same policy applies to customers with plans to travel to affected area of the Maldives, and in addition customers due to travel to unaffected areas of the Maldives can also take a refund or alternative holiday.

TUI UK holidays have also been cancelled to the Thai resorts of Phuket, Pi Pi island and Krabi until January 31 but all other areas of Thailand are operating as normal and customers with bookings are not being offered a refund or alternative holiday.

First Choice has reported one fatality in the Maldives and a spokeswoman has confirmed that it has two clients still unaccounted for in Thailand. Around 1,200 First Choice customers were holidaying in the affected areas when the disaster struck. The operator is offering refunds or alternative holidays to customers planning to travel to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, or affected areas of Malaysia up to January 31.

In its latest statement Kuoni says it still had one guest unaccounted for, who was staying in the Khao Lak region of Thailand, where it has already reported one fatality among its clients. The operator had 2,500 clients on holiday in the affected areas of Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, around 1,270 of whom have now returned.

The operator is offering customers due to travel to the affected areas up to January 31 (the Maldives, affected resorts of Sri Lanka and Thailand), the option of continuing their holiday, taking an alternative or getting a full refund. Customers should contact 01306 747 012 by January 15 to change their holiday arrangements.

Kuoni is helping with the relief effort by sending emergency supplies on flights to the Maldives and says it is working with local authorities, FTO and aid organisations.

Massive ‘tsunami’ waves hit the region on Boxing Day in the wake of an earthquake on the bed of the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka was worst hit and a national disaster has been declared with thousands dead and many more left homeless. Shortages of food, fresh water and medical supplies are the primary concern and local authorities and aid agencies are doing their best to restrict the spread of disease.