A founding director of Ffestiniog Travel has reassured the trade and consumers that the rail specialist continues to plan for the future after refunding all cancelled trips.
Alan Heywood, who turned 80 this year, spoke on a video of his hope that customers who have been disappointed by not being able to travel this year will rebook for 2021. The operator was set up in 1974 and offers rail tours worldwide.
The company has cancelled 19 of this year’s 42 scheduled departures – with all those due to depart before July 31 now not going ahead. All bookings for April to July have already been refunded.
Heywood said: “People have had their money refunded. We hope that these people will want to come back and join us again when our tours are up and running and the world is once again open.”
The operator is also forging ahead with plans to put together its normal annual brochure, which comes out in August for 2021.
Heywood added: “We are a very small company. We have furloughed around half our staff and the remaining staff are very busy planning our 2021 programme. This will include most of the trips we have cancelled this year. We hope to run a full programme in 2021.”
He ended his video with a personal thank you to those who have supported the company, urging those watching to keep in touch. “I would like to thank you for the support since 1974. We hope you will stay in touch,” he said.