TUI cancels packages holidays, hotel stays and cruises - these are your rights

TUI has announced that it will be suspending most of its operations until further notice. The German-based tour company will no longer be providing cruises, flights, hotel stays or package holidays, and will be applying to the government for aid. With France, Italy and Spain all on lockdown, and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advising against all but essential travel, the travel industry has been hit hard by coronavirus. Here’s everything you need to know. How long will the suspension last? The suspension comes into effect immediately and will primarily affect holidays booked between 16 March and 16 April. However, later bookings may also be affected depending on how circumstances develop. Full details on how travel to each country has been affected can be found on the TUI website. What have TUI said? A statement on the TUI website said: "Due to the ongoing situation regarding COVID-19, the Foreign Commonwealth Office have advised against all but essential travel. We will therefore no longer be offering TUI holidays departing between 17 March and 16 April 2020." What should customers with bookings do? TUI said: ""We will proactively contact all customers due to travel up to and including 16 April 2020 to offer a range of flexible options, including moving their holiday to a later date. "For customers currently in, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritius and Spain, due to local restrictions you will be returning home earlier than planned, and we will proactively contact you with details of your new airport transfer and flight times. "All customers overseas are being looked after by our resort and customer service teams, with customers in many of our destinations able to return home on their original scheduled return flight. "The health and safety of our customers and crew remains of primary importance and we look forward to taking people on holiday again. "We would like to give those due to travel after the 16 April the additional freedom and peace of mind when it comes to travelling in the future, which is why from today we will be offering our travel promise. "From 17 March 2020 if you have an existing TUI, Marella Cruises, First Choice or TUI River Cruise package holiday booking travelling on or before 30 June 2020 you can amend for free to any holiday on sale. You can do this up to seven days before your original departure date. Please refer to booking terms and conditions for more information. "This policy is in place until 31 May 2020. Therefore, customers travelling from 8 June-20 June 2020 should make any amends before 30 May 2020." All Crystal Ski holidays for the rest of the season have also been cancelled, and all of those with bookings have been contacted. For the latest updates for Marella Cruises customers, please visit the website. You can also get more information from First Choice on its website. This article originally appeared on our sister site, The Scotsman.