Earthquake chaos: Holidaymakers fight for cancellation rights in Greece

Earthquake chaos: Holidaymakers fight for cancellation rights in Greece

The recent earthquakes on the Greek island of Santorini and Crete have shocked the travel world and raise numerous questions about the rights of holidaymakers. While many popular destinations in Greece, Italy, Turkey and Thailand are affected by these natural events, the situation often remains unclear for travelers. Mercury reports that the legal framework for those affected is complex.

Tour operators are not obliged to inform holidaymakers about potential earthquake risks in their information. Fears of earthquakes alone do not justify canceling your trip free of charge. This poses challenges for many travelers, especially if they are unsure whether or not to go on their trip.

Cancellation of travel in the event of natural disasters

Travelers already in affected areas should pay particular attention. Loud ADAC Holidaymakers can cancel a package holiday free of charge if there are exceptional circumstances at the holiday destination. This includes massive destruction that significantly affects the journey or the execution of the trip.

However, the circumstances must be directly related to the trip. An example of this would be if a volcano erupts in the south of the country while the airport in the north remains operational. In such cases, no free withdrawal is possible.

Be careful when traveling individually

The following applies to individual travelers: If you book accommodation yourself, you are responsible for your own return flights and accommodation and are not allowed to simply cancel free of charge if the accommodation is still accessible and habitable. Only if the trip is significantly affected can vacationers consider canceling the trip. Direct communication with each contractual partner is essential here.

In addition, travelers should keep a close eye on the official travel warnings from the Foreign Office. These may indicate exceptional circumstances that justify a free withdrawal.

Tour operator responsible

For trips organized by a tour operator, they are obliged to inform travelers on site about the current situation and, if necessary, to provide alternative accommodation. If an early return trip is necessary, the days already spent must be paid for, while money for the remaining time will be refunded.

Furthermore, the organizer is responsible for organizing the return journey and will bear the additional costs if this is not possible. The legal framework is clear: cancellations due to exceptional circumstances, such as earthquakes, lead to specific rights for travelers that they should definitely be aware of.

The situation for the affected holidaymakers remains tense, and it is essential to find out about their rights and options before traveling in order to be prepared if the worst comes to the worst.