The Fallout of the Thomas Cook Collapse

U.S. travel agents, like many in the travel industry, expressed sadness and some surprise following Sunday's collapse of Thomas Cook, Britain's oldest travel agency and travel services firm.

The massive UK travel company's failure raises a multitude of practical issues. The shutdown stranded tens of thousands of Thomas Cook customers whose flights and holidays were scuttled. The UK Civil Aviation Authority tweeted Sunday that all Thomas Cook bookings had been canceled.

British government officials vow that no travelers will be left stranded; UKCAA is reportedly organizing repatriation flights. But for travelers, resort properties and destinations, flying people home is just one element of the Cook collapse.

Thousands of would-be vacationers with deposits on Thomas Cook travel bookings must also determine their next move. And the shutdown will likely have implications for visitor arrivals in destinations including the Caribbean.

Agents say Caribbean destinations and resorts, always popular among UK travelers, will feel the impact of the Thomas Cook shutdown.

Sandals officials declined to comment on the shutdown, as did representatives of the Barbados Tourism Marketing. Agents said the situation is also a cautionary tale for travel companies in the U.S. and beyond.

Source: Aiken Standard