North Korea bans British tourists

THOMAS COOK: 'IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL’

Holidaymakers who have booked trips with Thomas Cook this summer have been told their plans are safe, despite its German owners filing for bankruptcy. “There is no impact whatsoever on our aircraft or hotel relationships, nor on the holidays that we provide to our customers,” said Thomas Cook boss Manny Fontenla-Novoa.

“It remains very much business as usual.”

NORTH KOREAN TOURS OFF

North Korea has suspended visas for tourists from Britain in response to tightened sanctions in the wake of the pariah state’s nuclear tests, conducted last month. “In connection with the recent measures taken by the UK government not to allow North Korean citizens to enter the UK, we also will not receive any UK citizens as tourists to North Korea for the time being,” said the state-run Korea International Travel Company.

BALI BOOZE SHORTAGE

Holidaymakers in Bali are going thirsty following the government’s seizure of tens of thousands of bottles of spirits from hotels, restaurants and bars as part of a customs crackdown on counterfeit tax labels. The raids came after at least 26 people, including two British tourists, were killed in Bali and nearby Lombok by drinking arak tainted with methanol. Now tourism chiefs are warning that the shortage of branded drinks could tempt more tourists to try the home-made spirit.

FLU SCARE SHIP SHUNNED

Cruise ship Adventure of the Seas has been turned away from St Lucia and Antigua after a passenger and two members of crew displayed flu-like symptoms. The ship, with 3,100 passengers on board, was next heading for the islands of St Maarten and St Croix, although it was uncertain whether passengers would be allowed to disembark at either port.