Tourists are concerned. Due to the bankruptcy of a travel agency, their holidays may be at risk

The FTI Group tourism group, which was founded in 1983, went bankrupt after 41 years of operation. The information hit the media on June 3 and electrified the tourism industry. This happened just after the bankruptcy petition was filed with the court in Munich. For years, the German travel agency was one of the three largest tour operators in Europe – after TUI Group and Der Touristik.

The company's customers are in a difficult situation because some trips have been canceled and some have been shortened. It turns out that this applies, among others, to: trips to the world-famous Turkey and its resort of Antalya.

The office declared bankruptcy

The bankruptcy of the German tour operator FTI may hit Antalya's tourism sector. The tourism industry in a popular holiday destination faces a high risk of brand bankruptcy.

Earlier this week, FTI, the third largest tour operator in Europe, filed for bankruptcy in a German court. And now the consequences of this event are coming to light.

On June 3, it was announced that tours that had not yet started would be canceled or curtailed. Interestingly, up to 400,000 people were supposed to use the tour operator's services. people. According to industry representatives, so many reservations have been made here, but no payments have been made for them.

Trips to Turkey at risk?

FTI owns many accommodation facilities in the Mediterranean region and runs, among others: 12 hotels in Turkey. According to Recep Yavuz, chairman of the Tourism Working Group of the Antalya City Council, the city will certainly feel the effects of the organization's bankruptcy.

“FTI attracted over a million European tourists to Turkey every year. Currently, the operator has brought 25,000 guests here. These holidaymakers should be able to return to their home countries,” Yavuz said, adding that the bankruptcy of FTI could cause chaos in Mediterranean countries.

It is unclear what will happen next, said Kaan Kavaloğlu, president of the Mediterranean Association of Hoteliers and Tourism Investors (AKTOB).

“Our priority is that customers who have booked through FTI continue to come to Turkey for their holidays,” he added. Talks have already started with many tour operators to solve problems resulting from the company's bankruptcy. “The situation is not as serious as the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook, but it is still a cause for concern. FTI owes Turkish companies between 25 and 30 million euros,” he added.