KUONI Travel Nederland BV has stepped forward to clarify that it did not acquire Best Tours France, adding that the French company is only acting as the sales and marketing outfit of Kuoni Best Tours Belgium.
After receiving many enquiries concerning the status of Best Tours France over the last week, operation director Jan Middelhoek said, in a letter to Thai hotels obtained by TTG Asia e-Daily: “Kuoni didn’t buy Best Tours France and this company is not bankrupt. Till today, Best Tours France is paying (its) own invoices.”
He said: “For departures from February 7 onwards, all payments to suppliers are now done by Kuoni Best Tours Belgium…all payments thus are guaranteed by Kuoni.
“The main advantage for suppliers will be that payments for French customers are also now guaranteed. It’s very important for us to have a smooth operation, with increased trust and confidence in the new Kuoni Best Tours Belgium.”
Despite unpaid debt left behind by the Belgian legal entity which Kuoni did not acquire, Dusit Thani Hua Hin general manager Victor Sukseree said the hotel continued to work with Kuoni Best Tours Belgium and had received bookings up to April.
By Sirima Eamtako
