site.btaBulgarian Tour Operator Partnering with Thomas Cook Goes Bankrupt

Sofia, October 7 (BTA) - Bulgarian tour operator Astral Holidays announced Monday that it ceases operation and files for bankruptcy after nearly 24 years on the Bulgarian tourist market. The company was the local agent of Thomas Cook and has handled thousands of foreign tourists that the British tour operator has brought to Bulgaria.

In an announcement on its website, Astral Holidays assures those of its clients who are still abroad on holiday that all their costs have been paid for and they will be able to stay where they are as planned, and come back. Clients who have paid for future vacation will be compensated according to the law.

Following the announcement of the Astral Holidays failure, Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova summoned a meeting with the company management and the Uniqa insurer later in the day. Every step is being undertaken so that no detriment is caused to any Astral Holidays customer, the participants in the meeting told a news conference.

Astral has a valid insurance with Uniqa for 700,000 leva until November 14, 2019.

Angelkova said there is no information whether other bankruptcies are expected. The Minister said that on Tuesday she is meeting with her German counterpart and with the managements of several tour operators working on the Bulgarian market for talks about the next summer season.

Astral Holidays Executive Director Hristo Gulbachev said that the amount the customers will claim is less than half of the insurance cover of the company which is a guarantee that all clients will get their money from the insurer. He said that at the moment there are 51 tourists abroad and in Bulgaria on Astral Holidays tours.

Unica CEO Nikolai Genchev said that the company will work to satisfy the claims of the affected Astral Holidays customers as quickly as possible.
DS/LN, ZH//