The parent company of adventure specialist operator Encounters Travel has announced the relaunch of Oasis Overland, which went into administration in February as a result of Covid-19.
Oasis Overland’s brand, website and customer database was acquired last month for an undisclosed sum, and Uncover the World Travel Ltd said it will resume “as many of Oasis’s previous tours as we can”.
It said it will contract the same ground suppliers, trucks, crew, and tour leaders “wherever possible”.
All tours will be available through for sales via travel agents with commission up to 15%, the company confirmed. A spokesman added: “The original Oasis Overland company had a few selected agents they worked with, but we’re keen to expand that.”
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Ralph Foulds, managing director of Encounters Travel, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the Oasis Overland name, tours and operations back online and make their great selection of overland expeditions and adventures available again.
“The situation is far from ideal, and we feel for everyone at Oasis, their great crews and UK team, and their customers who had their future travel plans disrupted.”
He added: “It’s our strong feeling that Oasis and their multi-country expeditions were hit especially hard by the Coronavirus pandemic and without it, would still be going strong.”
Chris Wrede, founder of Oasis Overland, will remain involved as the operations manager, looking after the trucks, servicing, insurance, routes and driver selection. He is currently in Zimbabwe attending to some of the vehicles.
Wrede added: “I’ve known the guys at Encounters Travel for nearly 20 years and feel confident Oasis is in safe hands.
“I’m sure that the high level of personal customer service we always focussed on will continue, and I’m excited to be able to look forward with some positivity now to getting our trucks back on the road again, as soon as Covid-19 will allow anyway.”
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Agency owners vow to bring furloughed staff back
Industry professionals recall ‘unbearable’ uncertainty at pandemic’s peak