TOUR operators have advised
travellers to postpone
travel plans to Nepal, after
the country was hit by an
earthquake last week, which
killed upwards of 5 000
people and left thousands of
tourists stranded. Also the
FCO has advised against all
but essential travel to the
country.
Gap Adventures, a tour
operator offering expeditions
to Everest, told TNW it had
cancelled all trips to Nepal
until May 10. At that time,
the operator said it would
reassess the situation and
decide whether or not it would
resume trips.
&Beyond has also cancelled
its upcoming trip to Nepal.
Suhail Gupta, md of &Beyond
South Asia, told TNW the
operator had a group of 12
people who were supposed
to travel to the country next
week. “We have advised them
to cancel their time in Nepal
and travel to the destination
later in the fall.”
Suhail says he recommends
travellers to postpone any
travel from now until October
or November. After that, he
says, it should be safe to
travel once again to Nepal,
especially if travellers are
planning to visit Chitawan
National Park and Annapurna
Circuit, as these two areas
have escaped any major
damage. “Nepal will need all
the support after this terrible
tragedy and one way to
support and assist will be to
continue planning your visit.”
Although most tour
operators will offer travellers
the option to change their
date of travel or receive
a refund, travel insurance
companies will not cover
cancellations in a case like
this. Simmy Micheli, manager
sales and marketing for Travel
Insurance Consultants, says
TIC will only cover cancellation
costs if the flight to get to
the destination has been
cancelled by the airline and
the traveller has incurred
costs as a result.
Simmy says cancellation
cover covers six perils – a
sudden illness or death;
theft of travel documents;
cancellation of your tickets by
the airline; retrenchment; loss
at your home of R100 000
or more; or a traumatic event
before departure. “Therefore,
not wanting to travel due to
the earthquake would not be
covered.”
She says TIC will help
travellers who are currently
in Nepal with full medical
cover as well as medical
repatriation costs after
hospitalisation. “If the
passenger is killed, the
accidental death benefit is
a lump sum compensation
that would be payable to the
family. Further costs for return
of mortal remains would be
included. Luggage losses
or damage would also be
covered.”
The Foreign and
Commonwealth Office has
advised against all but
essential travel to Nepal
while the international
rescue teams are flying into
Kathmandu.
“If you are in a safe place,
you should stay where you are
until it is safe to leave,” the
FCO said. “You should follow
any advice provided by the
local authorities. If you can
leave Nepal safely then we
advise that you should do so.”
It comes as tour operator,
Intrepid Travel, also cancelled
all trips to Nepal up to
and including May 11 and
is offering refunds or the
opportunity to postpone
travel. “We will be continuing
to monitor the situation and
will review our subsequent
trips as appropriate,” the
operator said.
