ZAGREB, September 23, 2019 – The bankruptcy of the British leisure company Thomas Cook Group is bad for global tourism and it is a big loss for the British economy, however, some other British travel agencies are likely to take over Thomas Cook’s share on the Croatian market next year, Tomislav Fain, the president the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies (UHPA), told Hina on Monday.
The Thomas Cook Group and its associated UK companies filed for compulsory liquidation after failed negotiations on recapitalisation. The collapse of the 178-year-old group has left thousands of guests stuck worldwide. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also stepped in to conduct return flights between 23 September and 6 October, either with CAA-operated flights or existing flights with other carriers depending on location, foreign media outlets have reported.
“A certain number of guests, who have arrived here via Thomas Cook, are still staying in Croatia, mostly in central and southern Dalmatia. Although insurance companies are also expected to step in, it is still uncertain how the hotels that have provided accommodation for those guests will cover their costs,” Fain said adding that in any case, hotels in Croatia will not follow the example of those in Tunisia that have kept those guests detained over unpaid bills.
Fain explained that many other British tour operators do business in Croatia and they are likely to take over Thomas Cook’s share on the Croatian market soon.
Fain also called on the tourism ministry and the HTZ board to contact those operators and conduct negotiations in a bid to deter a reduction of the number of tourists arriving here from the U.K.
He commented that the developments surrounding Brexit probably contributed to the collapse of Thomas Cook, however, bankruptcies were not big news on the world market where the competition was tougher and tougher and changes on the market were constantly occurring.
Atlas is Thomas Cook’s main strategic partner as the destination management company for Croatia and currently Atlas executives are conducting meetings to discuss the latest developments.
There are currently 190 guests in Dubrovnik, who arrived in that Adriatic resort from Manchester via Thomas Cook on Sunday. They are now waiting for CAA personnel to come to Dubrovnik and assist them with their return flight.
UHPA is a voluntary national trade association of Croatian travel agencies, registered also as an employer’s association.
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