The bankruptcy of travel group FTI has left many holidaymakers in an uncertain situation just before the summer holidays. Now travelers, including the elderly and families with children, are stranded in various countries and the return journey is uncertain. Hotels are reacting strongly, as illustrated by the case of a woman in the Caribbean.
Travel organization FTI is bankrupt, which is a disaster for many people during the holiday period. The German Travel Insurance Fund (DRSF) intervenes in package holidays. If necessary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put together a crisis team together with the German Travel Association (DRV) and the DRSF to “make it easier for holidaymakers to travel home”. Holidaymakers who are already traveling should be supported by measures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Travel Association and the DFRS to ensure that no one is stranded . But the plan doesn’t seem to work for everyone.
FTI holidaymaker in the Caribbean is being blackmailed
Heidemarie S. currently lives in the Dominican Republic in Cabarete and is stuck due to the consequences of the FTI bankruptcy. The events she describes are dramatic: “As a result of the insolvency of the FTI, we holidaymakers are forced to pay our hotel costs of more than a thousand dollars twice,” writes Heidemarie S, FOCUS online.
It is unclear whether she has booked a package holiday. But even if it is, the hotel doesn’t seem to care. They are threatened with eviction from the hotel if they do not pay. They are not allowed to leave the country if they do not pay, writes holidaymaker S. “The hotel guests also include the elderly, women traveling alone and families with children,” S. explains. “We are afraid of having to leave the hotel if we don’t pay. In a country that is not safe.”
The additional costs and impending consequences place a heavy burden on those affected and emphasize the problems that bankruptcy entails for many travelers. Some of the guests have already paid to avoid ending up on the street. “The tour guides say they have no information and refer to the FTI website,” S. continues.
Travel turns into a horror trip: the hotel locks out holidaymakers
They also experience difficulties in their attempts to obtain support. “The German consulate in Santo Domingo, which I called, refers to its website and that of the Foreign Office,” continued Heidemarie S. “It says that insolvency losses on package holidays are covered by the security fund. So that holidaymakers do not have to pay twice.”
Despite this information, uncertainty remains as local hotels and guides appear to be uninformed or not implementing official guidelines. This morning, FOCUS received an update online from Mrs. S.: “In the morning at 11:00 am we met with our tour guide at the hotel. Then all the rooms were locked.”
Guests could not reach their suitcases and use the bathrooms, their beds or the air conditioning. The guide advised that “you should not question the double payment that the hotel wrongly requested, but simply pay it.”
Tips from the travel experts at Holidaycheck
This recommendation, which clearly contradicts the original commitments of the safety fund and the tour operators, leaves holidaymakers in a hopeless situation. Many feel compelled to comply so as not to lose their personal belongings and the possibility of a safe return journey. In this precarious situation, there are clear instructions for affected holidaymakers.
Nina Hammer, press spokesperson for Holidaycheck (a subsidiary of Hubert Burda Media), spoke to FOCUS online and emphasized that “legally the hotel cannot demand the money from holidaymakers. Unfortunately, some hotels do just that.” Instead, holidaymakers must provide the hotel with the official cost declaration from the German Travel Insurance Fund (DRSF). Hammer urgently warns: “If you are asked to pay any amount of money by hotel staff on site, we can only strongly advise against this.”
If the hotel does not accept the form, perseverance is required. Hammer advises: “No matter how difficult it is, you must remain calm, do not allow yourself to be pressured and insist on clarification from management.” Only if there is no other choice, holidaymakers must pay the costs on site, but certainly one must request an invoice. Holidaymaker S. says: “Anyone who doesn’t have enough money is simply out of luck.