Tour company Tempo Holidays and Bentours goes into voluntary administration

A devastated Preston couple who spent years saving up to see the Northern Lights are now grappling with reality their once-in-a-lifetime holiday may never happen after the tour company they booked with suddenly collapsed.

Hundreds of Melburnians are scrambling for answers after the Australian tour company they booked with suddenly announced they have been placed into voluntary administration.

A devastated Preston couple who saved for two years for their wedding anniversary trip to see the Northern Lights are among the customers who have been impacted.

Tempo Holidays and Bentours announced last Thursday they were unable to continue operating in Australia after more than 30 years in business and would appoint an official administrator.

The company, which has offices in South Melbourne, promotes itself as “with a reputation as Australia’s preferred Scandinavian travel specialists.”

Leigh and Joanne Austin have paid more than $16,000 upfront for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Norway and Finland which is due to depart on October 9 but have doubts if their trip will go ahead.

Leigh Austin holding some of his Bentours travel documents after learning the tour company had been placed into voluntary administration. Picture: Ian Currie

“We are stressed, anxious, nervous, disappointed,” Mr Austin said.

“We have been saving for a long time, up to three years, it is heartbreaking.

“It is a major let down for something like this to happen.”

Mr Austin said he contacted the hotels the couple were meant to be staying at and were told there were no bookings and their travel insurance won’t cover the voluntary administration.

A statement issued by Tempo Holidays and Bentours said they have been advised by India-based owners Cox and Kings the company was seeking investors but this has not materialised.

The couple has saved for years to fulfil their dream of seeing the northern lights. Picture: Istock

“Staff will be working with respective agents and suppliers and clients to assist in next steps once confirmed,” a statement said.

“It is understandably a sad day for all staff concerned along with trade.”

It came as British travel company Thomas Cook collapsed on Monday, leaving more than 150,000 holiday makers standard across the globe.

The downfall of the 178-year-old travel company has triggered the biggest-ever peacetime repatriation in the UK.

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Thomas Cook owned and operated hotels, resorts and aircraft, providing holidays for 19 million people are year.

It has struggled with the rise of cheap airlines and changing holiday preferences.

More recently it had called out a summer heatwave which prompted Brits to holiday at home and economic uncertainty unleashed by Brexit.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said any Australians impacted by the collapse should visit thomascook.caa.co.uk

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