Operators follow FCO advice

Monday, 14 Oct, 2002 0

Holidaymakers are being offered early flights out of Indonesia after a car bomb exploded outside a Bali nightclub on Saturday.

Reuters has reported that a car bomb exploded outside the Sari nightclub in Kuta Beach on Saturday night at about 0200, killing 138 people, mostly Western travellers. There are fears that the bomb was the action of a militant Islamic group, but authorities have not confirmed the details of any suspects.

Tour operators are following the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which advises against non-essential travel to Indonesia.

ABTA is recommending that agents also follow FCO advice. It says agents should first offer an alternative holiday destination, then offer to postpone the holiday, or finally a full refund. ABTA is advising agents to tell clients will Indonesian holidays booked in a few week’s time, to wait and see how the situation develops.

First Choice is flying holidaymakers in Indonesia home early if they wish to cut their holiday short. Clients that have bookings with its specialist operators, Hayes and Jarvis, Sovereign and Eclipse, until 1 November, are being offered a full refund.

MyTravel operators Trade Winds and Cresta have about 200 customers in Bali at present, who are being given the opportunity to fly home early. Anyone with bookings in Indonesia in the next week will receive a full refund if they wish to cancel.

A spokesperson for TUI said it currently has 141 clients in Bali, and was doing what it could to get them home if they wish to return early. It has cancelled holidays departing for Indonesia in the coming week, and Holidaymakers booked with Tropical Places, Thomson Worldwide, and Travel House will receive a full refund.

Kuoni Travel UK has reported that it has 371 clients in Bali, who were not affected by the bomb explosion. A statement from the operator said: “All clients are currently being contacted and updated with the latest information. Anyone wishing to return to the UK will be given every assistance to do so”.

All Kuoni clients who are due to travel to Indonesia within the next seven days are being contacted and advised that holidays to Bali have been suspended, and they will receive a full refund.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) said it was recommending its members follow FCO advice. An AITO spokesperson added that one of its operators, Explore Worldwide had a group in Indonesia last week, which was not affected by the bomb explosion, and flew back as planned at the weekend. AITO is advising operators to give clients a full refund or exchange on holidays booked to Indonesia.

Read our previous stories:
14-Oct-2002 Airlines offering full refunds for Bali bookings