p6 news July3 1/7/09 20:39 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
FCO defends ‘late’ lifting
of its Mexico flu advice
Lee Hayhurst.
essential travel, and Ward said it
THE FOREIGN and Commonwealth had a huge impact on operations.
Office has defended itself against Writing on ttglive.com, she said:
accusations by Tui and other firms “We were surprised that it didn’t
that it should have lifted its swine lift its advisory notice sooner. The
flu travel advice on Mexico earlier. WHO was not advising against
Steve Chandler (pictured), travelling, yet the FCO chose to. TTG On the Road winner: Jenna Robinson,
deputy head of the consular crisis This contradictory advice was from The Co-operative Travel, won an all-
group which spearheaded the confusing to customers and made inclusive holiday for two in Cancun, including
FCO’s response, told TTG it had to it harder for us to justify our flights, from Luis Rendon, spokesman for the
put aside commercial considera- position.” Mexico Tourism Board, during a TTG roadshow
tions in making its decision. Chandler said the FCO was in Newcastle this week.
He was speaking after Tui retail director “acutely aware” of the impact of warning against The tourist board has started a multimillion-
Kathryn Ward said contradictory advice from the all but essential travel and it was in nobody’s pound campaign aimed at the late-booking
FCO and World Health Organisation (WHO) made interest to keep the advice longer than necessary. market in the UK. It will advertise in London,
it hard for the company to justify its decision to “We have an open dialogue with travel Manchester and Dublin to convince people
suspend operations when swine flu broke out. industry colleagues, but ultimately trade consid- there are no specific health concerns in Mexico
Tui had 258 customers due to travel the day erations cannot be allowed to influence advice. as swine flu is a global phenomenum.
after the FCO introduced its advice against all but The safety of British nationals is paramount.”
Operators bank Crystal Ski puts
on French tax cut capacity on ice
OPERATORS are hoping the French government’s TUI-OWNED Crystal Ski will wait until the last
decision to slash VAT on meals will help moment to decide on final capacity for this
compensate for the strong euro and lure British winter’s ski season.
visitors across the Channel. Managing director Mathew Prior said the
The tax on meals in restaurants and cafes in company was trying to be flexible with its flying
France has been cut from 19.6% to 5.5%. It does schedule for winter 2009-10 because the market
not legally have to be passed to customers, but was so uncertain.
the Association of British Travel Organisers to The UK ski market was down 13% last year to
France said most restaurants were doing so. 1,064,000 compared with the previous season.
Abtof chief executive Martyn Sumners said the The financial crisis in September and October
70% VAT cut would knock 25% off the value 2008 has been partly blamed for this slump as it
of the average meal and, combined with recent coincided with the peak ski booking season.
strengthening of the pound against the euro, Prior, speaking at the launch of Crystal Ski’s
would make France more affordable. annual Industry Report, said the operator was
Mathew Prior, Crystal Ski managing director, holding a lot of flights on standby and would
also welcomed the cut, while French accommo- defer its decision on capacity as it was crucial
dation specialist P&V said the move coincided that demand and supply were aligned this winter.
well with new discounts for peak periods. The operator has also launched a new brand,
UK sales and marketing manager Cathy Rankin Crystal Ski Plus, which is targeting experienced
said: “We are trying to offset the effects of the skiers with lower prices. A seven-night trip to Les
weak pound by introducing offers of up to CO-OP X FACTOR: Agency managers from Arcs or La Plagne in France is priced from £479 –
45% off all our properties in the summer break. 103 Midlands Co-op Travel shops attended a saving of £184, or 28%, on last year’s price.
“The VAT cut complements this as many of our a series of two-day learning and develop- Tui Ski, which also includes Thomson Ski, First
customers rely on good-value local restaurant ment workshops aimed at helping them Choice Ski and Flexiski, has reduced its chalets
food during their stay.” develop their “professional X-factor”. capacity by around 40% for winter 2009-10.
06 03.07.2009
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