David Urquhart Travel Ltd is to wind up its coach tour operation as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
A statement on the company’s website confirmed the decision and said it was “impossible to establish when coach tour and hotel operations will return to normal”.
The closure of the coach operator, which had been trading for 37 years, does not affect travel agency David Urquhart Sky Travel Ltd which sells package beach holidays, cruises and European city breaks, and will “continue as normal”.
The company said: “The ongoing coronavirus crisis has had a dramatic impact on all business sectors but especially within travel and tourism. At present it is impossible to establish when coach tour and hotel operations will return to normal operating capacity.
“The Directors of David Urquhart Travel Ltd have been carefully considering these matters and have made the decision, in the absence of acquisition from interested parties, to wind up the coach tour business in an orderly manner over the next few months.”
An application to the Court of Session to enter into a Company Voluntary Arrangement was made on May 4.
“This is not a decision which has been taken lightly,” the statement added. “The coach tour company has served loyal customers for more than 37 years throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and Ireland and has been a prominent figure within the leisure and hospitality industry.
“However, we have to be responsive to the significant challenges the company would face if we were not to take decisive action.”
It added that customers booked with the coach operator will receive full refunds for their deposits and balance payments, which have been held in an independent trustee account managed by a third party.
“All customer funds are entirely safe and it is our intention to begin the process of returning all customer monies as soon as possible,” the firm said, adding that the process could take “around two months” and would start on May 18 with customers contacted in date order.
