Travel Updates
Travel Update – The APT Travel Group Coronavirus Update
The APT Travel Group thanks all our travellers for their patience and support during this very difficult time. The safety and wellbeing of our guests and employees continues to be our highest concern and we are working hard to ensure the best outcomes for all.
The following information explains the current status of 2021 tours and cruises and provides details for those impacted.
2021 Tours and Cruises
- All International touring and cruising (excluding New Zealand) suspended up to and including 31 December 2021
Future Holiday Credit
A future holiday credit equal to the full amount paid on the booking, is being offered to all our suspended tours and cruises, this includes us absorbing any applicable third-party fees (some airline fees may apply). This is valid for travel with any of our brands up to the end of 2022. This credit can be used for multiple bookings and can be transferred to another person, however it is not redeemable for cash.
APT Travel Group’s Security & Protection Promise
The ATG Security and Protection Promise now includes temporary COVID Flexible Booking Cover for both rebooking and new bookings to provide additional assurance. Details of our policies can be found here.
To offer further protection during this time we wish to advise that the funds paid to us, either by you directly or from your travel agent, are secure in a separate bank account that ensures our supplier payments are paid directly from that account. That means that your funds that you are leaving with us for future travel are safe and used only for payments related to your holiday.
Unprecedented Times & Force Majeure
Due to the exceptional and substantial impact that COVID-19 is having on our industry and our guests, we are conferring this additional benefit of a Future Holiday Credit, and our COVID Flexible Booking Cover over and above our usual terms and conditions. This is a situation that is classified as a Force Majeure event. Meaning it is beyond all reasonable control and not reasonably preventable by our business. As such any refunds requested will be less irrecoverable third party costs and fixed administration fees. View our full Terms and Conditions here, these remain unchanged and are as per our standard conditions across all our programs.
Airlines, other tour operator partners & border protection
As you know, airlines around the world have announced a significant reduction in their service levels and activity, you may have been contacted directly by an airline at this stage. Similarly other tour operators we partner with, including land and cruise partners of ours, are also making rolling announcements about their services. We are in constant contact with our partners and will work hard to deliver you the most relevant information as and when we can.
Border protection and changes to worldwide policy on travel restrictions, are of course a substantial consideration for future travel. We continue to monitor these restrictions and the changing situation to have the most up to date information.
Bookings beyond the suspension dates listed above
While we have announced the suspension of touring and cruising across our products as listed above, we are continuing to review future departures and will continue to make announcements on a rolling basis until such a time that borders reopen and we can travel again. Customers wishing to explore their travel options have access to our policies due to COVID, found here.
Helpful links
• What is ATG doing? Our increased health and safety protocols in place
• Frequently Asked Questions
Latest formal advice can be found:
The Smartraveller website provides the latest travel safety information for Australian travellers heading overseas from the Department of Foreign Affairs: www.smartraveller.gov.au
United Nations World Health Organisation: www.who.int