DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2009/169)
issued by COI News Distribution Service on 20 May 2009
Consumer Affairs
Minister Gareth Thomas today reminded British pilgrims to know
their rights and be wary of dodgy tour operators when booking for
Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
In previous years many pilgrims have been left disappointed and
angry by tour operators offering a bad service. With the average
cost of a round-trip at £2,500 the Minister has written to Mosques
and community groups to highlight the risk of scam artists and
urge them to be vigilant.
Gareth Thomas said:
"People are entitled to get what they are paying for and
this is even more important in the current economic climate.
"Tour operators should have an Air Travel Organiser's
licence (ATOL) which means they are covered by industry-wide
regulations which will ensure that pre-payments are protected and,
in the event of a tour operator going bust, flights home are guaranteed."
Since meeting with tour operators and pilgrims' groups last
year applications to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) from Hajj
tour operators seeking an Air Travel Organiser's Licence
(ATOL) have doubled.
The CAA's Deputy Director of Consumer Protection, David
Moesli, said:
"Every year tens of thousands of British Muslims travel to
Saudi Arabia for Hajj. If you are one of these it is important to
ensure your arrangements are ATOL protected so that you don't
lose out if the company you've booked with goes bust. On the
CAA website you can use the Check an ATOL facility to check that
your Hajj tour operator is ATOL protected."
Notes for Editors
1. Pilgrims can check whether their operator has an ATOL on the
Civil Aviation Authority's website at http://www.atol.org.uk or by
calling 020 7453 6424.
2. Any firm arranging flights as part of a package must have an
ATOL, which ensures that payments are protected if the company
goes bust. Travellers will be refunded, or can finish their trip
and be flown home if they are already abroad when the company collapses.
3. After the collapse of Luton-based tour operator Go4 Hajj last
year, pilgrims were refunded £270,000 from the firm's ATOL protection.
4. It is important that pilgrims who find fault with aspects of
their Hajj travel arrangements, contact their local Trading
Standards Department for advice when they return home.
5. Contact details for trading standards offices are available
from Consumer Direct on 08454 04056, at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
or from local town halls.
6. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provide helpful
information on how to prepare for and what to expect from Hajj and
Umrah pilgrimages on their website http://www.fco.gov.uk/hajj.
7. More information for pilgrims on consumer rights can be found
at http://www.berr.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page38205.html.
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
7th Floor, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET
Public enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215
6740 (for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.berr.gov.uk