A coach tour operator that collapsed last Friday had left ABTA in December 2020, the Association has revealed.

It said only holidays booked with Cardiff-based Leisure Time (Wales) up to 11 December 2020 will be protected by ABTA.

An ABTA spokesperson said: “Any financial protection arrangements after 11.12.20 would need to be confirmed by the company rather than ABTA.”

Leisure Time (Wales) ceased trading last Friday, blaming lockdown restrictions during the pandemic for its demise.

The company also traded as Leisuretime, The Coach Holidays Shop and The Short Break Shop.

ABTA said the majority of Leisure Time (Wales) bookings were non-flight packages.

Packages booked before 11 December 2020 might be protected by ABTA or via the debit or credit card issuer. 

However, bookings made from 12 December 2020 won’t be protected by ABTA and bookings made more than 120 days ago might not be covered by debit card providers either.

It is not clear what alternative form of financial protection Leisure Time had in place, a message on its website simply directs customers to ABTA and suppliers and creditors to insolvency practitioners Doyle Davies.

ABTA is advising customers that booked packages through a travel agent to contact their agent in the first instance for further advice and assistance ‘as they may have made alternative arrangements for you’.

A recorded message on Leisure Time (Wales) phone lines directs customers looking to book holidays to Toureasy.co.uk