Itaka has announced cancellations of flights and travel plans due to conflicts in destinations like Oman and has called for support for affected travelers.
The Polish travel operator, Itaka, has recently informed its customers about the cancellation of flights to regions affected by armed conflict, specifically highlighting issues related to returning travelers and the future trajectory of travel plans, such as trips to Oman. In light of these developments, Itaka is implementing an evacuation plan and has decided to suspend government-related flights.
In a related move, the Polish Chamber of Tourism has called for intervention from the Minister of Sport and Tourism, urging the activation of the Tourism Guarantee Fund. This fund is designed to provide financial assistance to customers whose purchased travels have been canceled, enabling refunds for unfulfilled services. The proposal indicates that the collected funds from the TGF could support travel agencies faced with the challenge of refunding deposits and full payments to thousands of clients following sudden cancellations.
According to the Polish Touristic Events Act, travel organizers are mandated to issue refunds within a 14-day period following the cancellation of a travel event. The activation of the TGF would offer a loan mechanism to tourism organizers, allowing them to finance extraordinary costs brought on by these cancellations, ensuring travelers receive the refunds they are entitled to while helping to stabilize local travel agencies in the face of such disruptions.
