Operator penalised for tour delay

A trip to Bangkok to attend the Lions International Convention turned out to be a nightmare for 72-year-old Koshy Philips and 10 others. They were supposed to go on an 11 day package tour to China and to Bangkok but landed in Bangkok three days after the convention.The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ernakulam, has asked Intersight Toursand Travels to pay Rs15,000 each to all the complainants and a cost of Rs1,000. The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has also upheld the order of the forum and dismissed the appeal of the tour operator.

Philips said he is happy that the court has found out that there was a deficiency in service. He said, “I feel that even the compensation provided is little compared to the mental agony and stress that we had to undergo in another country.’’Philips, a resident of Chengannur, said, “We were supposed to attend the convention in Bang-kok on June 24 and 25, 2008. There were 31 delegates and we approached the tour operator and paid Rs52,000 per head.”

The departure from Kochi to Beijing was scheduled for June 17 and arrival in Bangkok on 22. On June 16 the group was informed that there was an earthquake warning in China and it was not possible to go. The tour operator assured them that the trip could be worked in such a way that they would go to Bangkok directly. Only 11 persons were ready to take this alternate package.