{"id":16239,"date":"2021-09-09T11:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T10:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/?p=16239"},"modified":"2021-09-13T15:11:37","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T14:11:37","slug":"coronavirus-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/coronavirus-update\/","title":{"rendered":"ETG IN THE TIME OF COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Update (9th September 2021):<\/h3>\n

Is this the end, or a new beginning?<\/p>\n

We know how hard it\u2019s been to plan for a holiday during these last 18 months or so. Quite apart from the reality of the pandemic, the UK Government has confusing and often contradictory policies that are also constantly changing.<\/p>\n

Chris Haslem in The Times last week laid them out in his article \u2013 which is well worth a read<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here at ETG, we are moving on. We are looking to the future, as a business and as individuals. We owe it to ourselves, our friends and colleagues throughout Asia, struggling far more than us without any income, and we owe it to you, our staunch supporters, friends and customers.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been dancing around about what we can and can\u2019t do for a long time (what we could do was organise Maldives holidays, very briefly, last winter). We\u2019ve done our best to engage and entertain during that time while conserving cash and resources ready to come back as strong as ever.<\/p>\n

Now though, furlough is coming to an end, and there will be no further support for the travel sector. We intend to repay the enormous faith shown by all of you in us; postponing bookings over a year or even three, contacting us with supportive messages, making bookings for the future, talking to us, reading our emails, watching our videos and generally being amazing. We wouldn\u2019t be here now without you.<\/p>\n

We know only one thing for certain about this traffic light system: sooner or later, the government will lift the restrictions and bring us in line with countries including Canada and the EU. We will travel normally again, though perhaps with testing and rules stretching for some time into the future. We cannot control that, nor be bound to wait on it, so the time has come to start planning once more. So, we want to invite you to start organising trips for this winter and way beyond now \u2013 backed up, of course, by our promise to refund in full for any reason whatsoever, right up until the time your balance is due.<\/p>\n

We want to make our future again and help all of you do the same. We want to dream, plan, and anticipate the warm breath of an Asian breeze on our faces again.<\/p>\n

September always feels like a new beginning, and last week, just as I got back from a wonderful holiday in Greece with my family, we started the month with a veritable glut of magnificent bookings, encapsulating in their different ways what we do here at ETG. One was for a family gathering in Sri Lanka, with a luxurious villa as the centrepiece; the other was a holiday in Thailand, going all out to see and experience aspects of Thailand that most miss. Off-the-beaten-path trips like this will be even more exciting and important for economies like Thailand\u2019s so reliant on tourism income.\u202fOthers were for a winter holiday in Oman and a lovely combination of Sri Lanka and the Maldives next summer. Will yours be next?<\/p>\n

We released our latest \u2018State of Play<\/a>\u2019 episode, too, this time on the situation in Thailand and the \u2018Phuket Sandbox\u2019 experiment. We hope you agree that despite our positive stance, we\u2019re not blind to the realities on the ground, we call it like it is, and we will keep you informed as to the here and now, as well as changes as they happen both here in the UK, and on the ground throughout Asia.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re back; we\u2019re open for travel planning, anticipating, dreaming, exploring and any other way you can put it.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t wait to hear from you. We know you’ve got 100’s of questions, but that’s what we are here for. Ask away.<\/p>\n

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Update (15th September 2020):<\/h3>\n

This blog post was written in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are continuously updating our website with new developments as the situation evolves – for more, please see our ‘Book with Confidence<\/a>‘ guarantee and our continually updated post on where you can travel to in Asia<\/a>. [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In the current situation, we at ETG whole-heartedly support government advice to stay home and stay safe. However, we can’t deny that such restrictions put those of us in the travel industry in a tricky position.We are fortunate that all our immediate team are safe and well. Everyone has been set up to work from home and, despite the reduced number of travellers, we are able to continue operating the business.<\/h4>\n

To keep you up to date, we have tried to answer many frequently asked questions in the sections below. However, if you would like personal advice about current or future holiday plans, or would just like to have a chat about travel, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What next?<\/b><\/h2>\n

We will help travellers discover the world again as soon as it is safe to do so. Currently, we are still booking holidays, mostly for 2021. Some of our travellers are still looking to travel this year, and we are hopeful that they will be able to see those trips through. The situation is changing quickly, so if you are considering future travel, it’s best to give us a call and we’ll run through all the various scenarios – for example, we can offer low initial deposits, relaxed booking conditions and unlimited flexibility on dates if the situation were to change. In essence, we are taking each booking on a case by case basis, and ensuring each traveller gets the best possible outcome for them.<\/p>\n

For holiday inspiration, take a look at the Experience Travel Group website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Or if you are ready to chat on the phone, give us a call on 020 7924 7133<\/span>\r\n \t or click here to start your journey<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”16247″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

The latest advice<\/h2>\n

At present, it feels like countries across the world are updating their travel guidelines by the second. We are taking it day by day and staying up-to-date via the FCO and our partners on the ground. The information below should give you some guidance on the present situation. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch for any other questions you may have.<\/p>\n

<\/h5>\n

Departures dates from July onwards<\/h3>\n

With the situation constantly evolving, it is unclear what the travelling landscape will look like from July onwards. We are therefore currently suggesting a wait-and-see approach until your next payment is due. Please note, for anyone wishing to cancel, our standard cancellation conditions do still apply, but we are able to postpone your trip now if you prefer. Please do get in touch to discuss the best solution possible.<\/p>\n

For those who wish to postpone their booking and have flights booked with ETG, any payments on the postponed booking will remain protected by the government-backed ATOL fund under the terms of our ATOL licence. If no flights are included, any monies paid will still be protected by our bonding scheme with ABTA.<\/p>\n

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Frequently asked questions for those due to travel<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/h5>\n
What is the current situation on-the-ground in ETG countries?<\/b><\/h5>\n

While the FCO advises against all but essential travel anywhere, ETG is unable to arrange travel. We advised all clients still in Asia, to return home as soon as possible and have facilitated those arrangements for our clients.<\/span><\/p>\n

What experience does ETG have in managing this situation?<\/b><\/h5>\n

Any responsible travel company like ETG will have had to deal with their share of situations all over the world \u2013 natural disasters, health scares, protests and terrorism, to name just a few. We have had previous experience with events such as the Asian Tsunami, SARS, the volcanic ash cloud and the Sri Lanka bombings. Our MD, Sam, wrote<\/span> this blog<\/span><\/a> about how ETG manages this sort of uncertainty for our clients.<\/span><\/p>\n

If I cancel my ETG holiday what are the costs?<\/b><\/h5>\n

For bookings departing from the 1st July onwards, our normal terms and conditions for cancellations apply. These can be found<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>. Please speak to us if you’d like to pursue this avenue and we will be as flexible as possible during these difficult times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If I postpone my ETG holiday what are the costs?<\/b><\/h5>\n

We will do everything possible to ensure you can move your booking without incurring additional costs (which we have done in many cases already). Importantly, please note we do not charge any amendment fees ourselves. We suggest that you speak to us about it as every situation is different.<\/span><\/p>\n

ETG will seek to minimise these costs which will mainly depend upon the airline and the dates that you wish to shift the booking. For example, moving to typically busy periods such as Christmas may mean you incur additional costs due to ‘peak season’ supplements, primarily from hotels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your money will continue to be 100% financially protected against supplier failure.<\/span><\/p>\n

ETG is a member of The Specialist Travel Association (AITO) and The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). ABTA\u2019s latest guidance for travellers can be found<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I want to postpone my booking but I am not yet sure of my dates and plans.<\/b><\/h5>\n

We can fix an identical holiday at the same price, pick an arbitrary date in the future and leave open the possibility of changing the date closer to the time without amendment fee (subject to the usual qualifications about peak season supplements). This will mean your booking will continue to be fully protected financially.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am due to travel this summer and want to wait and see what happens. Is this possible?\u00a0<\/b><\/h5>\n

Yes. You are welcome to wait until closer to the time to see how the situation unfolds. The outcomes are so uncertain we wouldn\u2019t like to make any predictions at this stage. Note that in this case, your holiday balance will be due on the normal due date.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your money would be protected under the terms of our ATOL or ABTA bond in the normal way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will my travel insurance cover me for cancellation?<\/b><\/h5>\n

It depends on the situation and your policy. If you are prevented from travelling because you are unable to obtain a visa, or because the Foreign Office advises against leaving the UK, your insurance policy may well cover you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Should I delay booking my ETG holiday?<\/b><\/h5>\n

The situation is fluid and nobody can predict the state of play in ETG\u2019s destinations (or anywhere else in the world) in the future. As mentioned in our personal message this applies to all kinds of events such as accidents & natural disasters, to protests and terrorist attacks. We are on hand to talk through any ideas, concerns, or various scenario’s that could play out. We have a Covid-19 response team on hand and we pride ourselves on our customer service.<\/span><\/p>\n

I postponed my holiday, but now it’s possible to travel. What can I do?<\/b><\/h5>\n

If this happens and you’d like to travel during your original dates, or close to these, then we will do everything possible to move the trip back without incurring any costs (as ever, there would be no amendment fees from our side). The key factors will be flight routes\/costs and availability to consider. <\/span><\/p>\n

Return to Experience Travel Group<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”19716″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/info.experiencetravelgroup.com\/raring-to-go-be-the-first-to-know”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

FIND OUT MORE:<\/h2>\n

Our ‘where can you travel in Asia<\/a>‘ page has the most up-to-date travel information for our destinations.<\/p>\n

We have introduced several measures to ensure your peace of mind when booking travel at this time. To find out more please visit our book with confidence<\/a> page. Don’t hesitate to check them out.<\/p>\n

If you have any further questions about travel to Asia, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on 020 7924 7133<\/span>\r\n \t<\/p>\n

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