Direct Travel Insurance explains what protection is available if a tour operator goes bust

When tour operators are in trouble customers naturally fear the worst for their holidays – there’s the grim prospect of losing their trip altogether, being stranded abroad or racking up extra costs.

Holidaymakers who have taken out travel insurance and have booked with a company offering ATOL protection, on the hand, have the peace of mind of knowing they should be able to obtain compensation.

In a tough economic climate there is an even greater risk that a holiday company may fail, be they famous-name brands or smaller outfits.

Political unrest in previously popular destinations Egypt and Tunisia, along with floods in Thailand, have been blamed for fewer bookings and tour operators’ troubles.

So what can holidaymakers do to protect themselves, whether they’re heading for a weekend in Paris or three weeks in Australia? According to the experts at Direct Travel Insurance, they should:

• Make sure they are booked with a company covered by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) scheme. It provides refunds if a tour operator folds and travel home for tourists stuck overseas.
• Take out travel insurance which includes cover for Scheduled Airline Failure or End Supplier Failure Cover when they book their holiday – this is essential because not all costs of every trip will be covered by ATOL. Accommodation or flights booked separately (seats direct from an airline or a hotel booked on its own website, for example) may not be protected. Holiday insurance can step into the breach, where these additional covers have been included. Direct Travel Insurance offers Scheduled Airline Failure cover as standard on all Standard, Premier and Premier Plus policies and End Supplier Failure cover on all Backpacker policies.
• Remember to update their travel insurance if they need to rebook and rearrange their holiday dates.

Direct Travel Insurance offers cheap travel insurance including Single Trip travel insurance, Annual Multi-trip travel insurance, Ski insurance and Backpacker travel insurance. Cover can be purchased online at http://www.direct-travel.co.uk/travel-insurance or by calling 0845 605 2700.

Notes for Editors

Established in late 1992 and commenced trading in 1993, Direct Travel Insurance specialises in travel insurance for individual travellers, couples and families up to the age of 75. Direct Travel Insurance offers a range of cover options and added benefits including cover for over 100 sports and activities enabling customers to tailor their policies for single trip, annual multi trip, backpacking and winter sports.

All travel insurance policies are underwritten by Chartis Europe Limited. Direct Travel Insurance is a trading name of UNAT Direct Insurance Management Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA Number 312350). Chartis Europe Limited is also authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA Number 202628).