TOUR operators may be forced to renegotiate contracts
and slash prices to India if the standoff with Pakistan is not resolved before
August.
Operators are reviewing the situation on a
week-by-week basis following updated Foreign Office advice that Britons should
leave India while it remains indispute with its neighbour over Kashmir.
Specialist operator Cox and Kings had 10 people due to
travel who have been offered refunds or alternative holidays.
Product manager India Hugh Fraser said: “Autumn
bookings will be devastated by the escalation of tension. Forward sales for
autumn were already down 50% year-on-year.”
The operator’s 2003 India brochure, which was due out
in July, has been put on ice and printing will be delayed until the crisis is
over.
Fraser added: “We will be negotiating with suppliers
but at the moment we don’t know the full impact events will have.”
Somak managing director Stuart Britton stressed operators
will face difficulties promoting India even if the current situation eases.
Meanwhile, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are
continuing with their normal timetable although Virgin crews are not stopping
overnight in India. Monarch said it has no plans to change its six weekly
winter flights to Goa, due to start on October 12.