Probe into Manos’s fall
The Development Ministry, which is in charge of tourism, yesterday referred the case of Manos Travel’s bankruptcy to the prosecutor to see if consumers’ rights had been violated. The company, once one of Greece’s largest tourism companies, declared on Christmas Eve that it could not honor its obligations. This left about 1,000 people unable to leave on their prepaid package tours and another 200 abroad having to pay for their lodgings and return fares. Manos Travel’s collapse was attributed to the woes of the travel sector in general but also to misguided expansion that had left it with over 14 million euros in debt. Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos said customers could seek compensation from the insurance company which, by law, had to cover package tours. Greek National Tourist Organization offices abroad have been instructed to help travelers, he said.
