TORONTO — A growing number of tour operators are temporarily suspending operations, with Intrepid, G Adventures and Tauck being the latest to make the move in light of the evolving COVID-19 global pandemic.

The updates come on the heels of last week’s announcement that Globus family of brands is voluntarily suspending travel to all destinations departing until April 30.

INTREPID
Intrepid Group has announced the suspension of global operations, cancelling all future Intrepid Travel and Peregrine Adventures tours scheduled from March 16, 2020 until April 30, 2020.

The only exceptions are Intrepid’s Australia tours, which will go ahead as planned.

Customers booked to travel on all other Intrepid Travel or Peregrine Adventures tours during this time will receive a credit valued at 110%, which will be valid for two years.

Intrepid Travel and Peregrine Adventures tours that are currently operating will continue until April 3, 2020. Any customers that opt to leave their tour early will receive a credit for the remainder of their itinerary.

CEO James Thornton says that the decision to suspend Intrepid Group’s global operations comes as a result of the increasing number of national and international travel restrictions that have been announced by governments in the past 48 hours.

G ADVENTURES
G Adventures has halted all tours departing between March 16, 2020 and April 30, 2020, explaining that the temporary suspension of services comes as a precautionary measure to protect its travellers and staff.

Any traveller booked on a tour departing during the suspension period will be eligible for a 110% travel credit on all land services, including pre- or post-tour night accommodations and transfers. The credits can be used on any tour departing within the next two years.

G Adventures says it will be proactively notifying all affected travellers of tour suspensions.

Any tours already in operation or due to depart before March 16, 2020 will run as scheduled. For select itineraries that will be disrupted, G Adventures will notify these travellers to offer a pro-rata travel credit for the remainder of their tour experience.

In addition, any traveller wishing to return home early will have the option to either continue with their tour as planned or leave the tour early with a pro-rata travel credit for the remaining days of the land portion of their trip.

North American agents with questions are asked to contact the company’s sales team by telephone at 1-877-277-9854 or by email at experience@gadventures.com.

TAUCK
Tauck has announced it will pause and forgo all scheduled tours from March 17, 2020 through April 14, 2020.

The company says it will be contacting all affected travellers in the coming days.

Tauck has also adjusted its cancellation policies for guests scheduled to travel between April 14, 2020 and June 30, 2020.

Customers who have paid in full will have all cancellation fees, including Guest or Cruise Protection Product premiums, returned in the form of a travel credit to be used on any 2020-2021 Tauck journey. Airline change fees will not be covered for guests who voluntarily cancel.

For bookings not paid in full, final payment for guests booked on these tours will be due 30 days prior to departure. Any guest who cancels after making final payment will have all cancellation fees (including Guest or Cruise Protection Product premiums) issued back to them in the form of a travel credit to be used on any 2020-2021 Tauck journey, with the exception of airline change fees.

In the event that Tauck cancels a guest’s journey, the company will have all tour or cruise costs returned in the original form of payment. Any Guest Protection Product/Cruise Protection Product premiums will be kept on account by Tauck for future use. For guests with Tauck-booked air, Tauck will cover all airline change fees. For guests with non-Tauck-booked air, Tauck will cover airline change fees up to US$250 per person.

Guests scheduled to travel beyond June 30 will be subject to Tauck’s standard policies.