German tour operator Dertour has announced it is pulling out of the UK outbound market.
In a statement just released it said it will not be publishing a 2013 brochure.
Michael Frese, chief executive of Dertour GmbH, said: “It is with great regret that we have taken this decision and we would like to thank the many UK agents who have continued to support our outbound programme over the years.
“Unfortunately, in this fiercely competitive and discount-driven FIT market, our highly service-oriented approach simply isn’t profitable enough to continue as before.”
The specialist operator, which has been operating in the UK for 51 years, said it will work with its partners and suppliers to ensure all existing bookings for 2013 continue as planned.
Bookings for its Christmas Markets and Winter Breaks 2012 programme will continue to be taken and operate as normal.
Dertour is writing to all agents confirming that all forward bookings will be honoured and continue to be covered under their ATOL 1839. It is understood this provided cover for around 10,000 passengers.
Julie Craig, managing director of Dertour UK, said, “The team here in London has been brilliant, providing great personalised service combined with the friendly professionalism that many agents tell us they love and it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to them.”
Dertour is part of REWE group, Germany’s second largest tourism and travel company.
It is one of the leading tour operators and number one for city breaks, with an extensive programme to London, Great Britain and Ireland, holidays to the US, Far East and Australia.
The operator is expanding in other European countries and has sales offices in Austria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.