Can I cancel my vacation free of charge during an epidemic? A question posed by many travelers to the tourism mediator, who says he is overwhelmed by the demands faced with the progression of the coronavirus. But "fear can not be enough" to succeed, he tempers.
Since Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates on its site that "taking into account the evolution of the epidemic of Covid-19, it is preferable to postpone the trips abroad, as much as possible". “This announcement was an accelerator. We have an explosion of consumer demands, incommensurate with the numbers we are used to. And what is surprising is that we also receive requests from professionals who are questioning the situation, ”Khalid El Wardi, secretary general of Tourism and Travel Mediation, told AFP.
An influx of requests because of the Covid-19
This independent service can be used by any consumer having a dispute concerning a tourist service or package with a tour operator or an airline. It had received more than 10,000 requests in 2018. "Faced with an influx of consumer requests on the consequences of a trip cancellation on their initiative", the Mediation recalls that "if in accordance with the Tourism Code, the traveler has the right to terminate the contract free of charge before the start of the trip in the event of "exceptional and unavoidable circumstances", this possibility is subject to specific conditions ”.
Because "a subjective feeling of fear, even if it is justified, cannot be sufficient", warns the service. The Mediation specifies in a press release that the event - attack, or other - must in fact "occur at the place of destination or in" immediate vicinity ", which currently still excludes many places in the world".
Conditions subject to interpretation
In addition, "the event must have significant consequences for the performance of the contract, which means that one of the essential services - transport and accommodation in particular - cannot be provided or is seriously limited". But in the case of an epidemic like an attack, the conditions set out in the Tourism Code generate "interpretation difficulties", stresses Mediation.
"When we talk about" immediate proximity ", what does that mean? Someone who wants to cancel because he is going to stay 200 km from a given place, is he allowed to, but not someone who is 300 km away? It's really case by case, ”says Khalid El Wardi.
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