Tour agencies suspend balloon trips after Luxor tragedy
Companies operating in tourist destinations across the world cancel or review sightseeing rides while cause of tragedy remains unknown
Some Hong Kong tour agencies have suspended hot-air balloon trips in Egypt and elsewhere after yesterday's fatal accident in Luxor, while others are reviewing their activities.
Besides Kuoni, which organised the tour on which the nine Hongkongers died, EGL Tours has suspended balloon trips in destinations including Turkey and Australia. But EGL said it could not prevent individual holidaymakers from taking part in such activities at their own risk.
Hong Thai, which currently has one tour group in Egypt, also cancelled balloon rides in Luxor and is reviewing hot-air balloon activities in other international destinations.
Other agencies say they do not know when and under what conditions balloon trips at destinations around the world will resume. All eight balloon operators in Luxor are understood to have suspended activities.
Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, who operates EGL, said the company cancelled balloon trips in Egypt five years ago as the operator it worked with had no insurance. "At that time, the operator failed to secure insurance coverage," Huen said. "An insurance policy is a proof that it has met safety standards."
He said, however, that trips with the operator resumed three years ago when it secured insurance for its operations.