AFTA has released an Advisory Note to address agent concerns over the collapse of Tempo Holidays/Bentours in Australia.
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has provided steps for agents who have bookings via Tempo Holidays and Bentours.
In the Advisory Note, AFTA Chief Executive Jayson Westbury has addressed discussions within the industry that have called for the return for Travel Compensation Fund (TCF).
Westbury said the calls for the TCF are “under the false belief that it would provide some level of consumer protection.
“The simple fact is that no government, nor industry is prepared to cover the losses of illegal behavior by a wholesaler.
“Such a request is not reasonable, fair, equitable, or the way a robust, strong, honest, and trustworthy industry should operate.”
Westbury reinforced that it is unclear as to whether the former TCF would have protected consumers who paid cash at this point in time, as the fate of the company is yet to be determined by its administrator.
“In this case specifically, there is still the unknown fact that the parent company in India remains in operation, and has considerable assets at its disposal,” Westbury continued.
“To suggest a prior, flawed scheme would resolve matters, is simply not true.”
To read the advisory note, CLICK HERE.
More in tomorrow’s edition of Travel Daily.