11/08/2019 16:07

Who Is To Be Blamed?

[IMG=21747-7594]Olga Sementsova, Director of Travel Company Kvadra (Vladimir), contacted BANKO in order to inform the market about the conflic situation with the tour operator Lanta - Tour Voyage. According to Olga Simentsova, at the end of October two Kvadra clients bought a tour to the UAE for $2800 but did not have time to apply for visa in Moscow owing Ramadan celebrations. However, representatives of Lanta-Tour Voyage did not consider the fact an obstacle for booking a tour and offered an alternative - to get visas at Dubai Airport. However, both women got visa cancellation on arrival to the UAE without explanations. The incoming company promised to resolve the problem with the immigration service and the tourists had to spend a night in the airport hotel on their own expenses. On the next day the problem was not solved and the women flied back to Moscow having paid for the flight. 'In total our clients spent around $4000. Who will compensate the losses? We acted upon all the agreements, made all payments in time, hoped for the competence of tour operators', said Olga Simentsova. In response to the compaint from the tourists and the travel agency, Tatiana Korshunova, Vice-President in Produc Promotion of Lanta-Tour Voyage, explained: 'yes, the situation is very unpleasent, but there is never a 100% per cent guarantee that a visa will be issued. Both travel agents and tourists are always warned about the cancellation possibility. We officialy replied to the complained to the travel agent. We are ready to be partly liable for the compensation'. Meanwhile, according to Olga Simentsova, the amount of compensation from Lanta-tour Voyage did not meet thei expectations. 'upon the calculations made by the tour operator they compensate only $651. Lanta-Tour considered their losses but who will compensate for the damage to our clients. Therefore, we are ready to appeal to the court'. Furthermore, lawyer Dmitry Cherepanov, do not seee any ground for a claim against the tour operator: 'visa cancellation is always possible, all sides risk! Moreover, it does not refer to the UAE only but to any country that follows its own laws. The tourists themselves can go to the court but there is a tiny chance of success'.