Isle of Wight coach company IOW Tours has ceased trading as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has been announced today (Thursday) that the company wound up operations yesterday.
The pandemic has been squarely blamed for the failure of the Lake-based company after some 31 years of trading.
Reassurances are being given to customers who have paid monies to IOW Tours Limited.
In a statement, the team has said:
“We have tried so hard for you, our more than loyal customers, to keep our heads above water. We have worked hard to cancel/postpone/refund what is now nearly 30,000 customers but with over 90% of our trade for the year wiped out by Covid-19 and with cancellations now coming in for 2021, we find we are unable to continue.
“Please rest assured that we have financially protected our customers’ money. If you have booked a holiday by coach, or an ‘event style’ break including overnight accommodation, then you are entitled to a full refund of the monies paid for the holiday.
“We want to thank you for allowing us to have looked after you, some of our customer have been loyal to us for all 31 years we have been trading. We have laughed together, cried together and enjoyed each other’s company over the years, and we are really going to miss each and everyone one of you”.
Article continues below this advertisement
I.O.W Tours Limited are members of The Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) and held a bond under the Bonded Coach Holidays scheme (BCH) to protect customer prepayments. BCH have appointed Protect Claims to manage and process refund claims. Protect Claims will help customers claim back any monies owed, including those protected by Refund Credit Notes issued.
If you are booked as part of a group, only the Lead Booker (Group Organiser) can contact Protect Claims. They will be unable to assist individuals within a group as only the Group Organiser can make a claim.
Details of the claim process will be published on the BCH website from Tuesday 13th October at www.bch-uk.org.
If you do not have access to the internet, a copy of the claim form can be posted to you to complete and return. Write to: Protect Claims PO Box 6430, Basildon, SS14 0QT. Customers are encouraged to claim electronically.
Such a shame yet another Company bites the dust.
THE TORY GOVERNMENT ARE DESTROYING THE ECONOMY
Get a life and stop blaming the government you pleb
Who’s fault is it then? With proper support, things like these wouldn’t be happening
It’s plebs like you why the country is in a state, and life will never be the same for our children.
wake up and get a brain.
Most probably won’t be the same again but remember who are the ones taking no notice of self distancing and having raves and house parties. It’s the students and people between 17 and 30 that have the brains but don’t use them
So true, but you must realise there is more to all of this, too many things are happening.
Why can’t a loved one not visit their loved ones who are very poorly.
Years ago a loved one could put gowns etc on and still visit.
There is more to all of this.
When Sunak or Hancock speak they say normal will not be the same.
They, the Government know where this virus has originated, the damage it can do to the elderly and to people with respiratory conditions, it can have a fatal outcome. We are learning of younger people dying, others surviving but being left with conditions that have to be managed. Someone, a country has got to be made accountable for this virus and I don’t believe for 1 second the blame is to do with bats, that was a decoy to cover up the truth from something much more sinister.
As ALWAYS it is ‘they’ who can never be blamed for anything, who ARE one of the main reasons for the spread. Check out the demographics.
Classic case of ‘passenger shedding’ Steve.!!
Oh at last Mr Electricity Network BS returns don’t tell me you were a coach driver for 50 years
What’s wrong with being a coach driver ?
Who’s in charge of this mess you idiot
I don’t think it matters what Government is in, the bottom line is people don’t want to sit on a coach or any means of public transport unless they have no choice. Of course there are people that would travel by coach but not in the numbers that businesses need to survive. I doubt if they’ll be the last unfortunately.
It’s China that’s created covid, not our government you stupid man, you fare left communist are always a disaster.
Here we go again!! It’s the pandemic that’s doing the damage not the government.
Its the Tory Government ?? Thank god for that I thought it was a world wide pandemic. ;-(
I have been trying to get a refund from this company since March; every excuse was used not to pay me and they still haven’t. I am not surprised they have gone bust.
Your rude!! And that is absolute rubbish they have and are paying people back! Don’t worry about all the poor staff that have lost their jobs, and the owner who gave her everything to the business you just worry about yourself Louise.
That is a downright lie. They are paying everyone back. Have you actually read the statement? 25 people have lost their jobs and may very well struggle to keep roofs over their heads or food on their table, 25 families effeced. But you just worry about yourself there love. This company 2 years in a row has been nationally recognised as the best group tour operator in the whole of the U.K. You don’t win awards like that by being cowboys or cutting corners. They were an absolute asset to the Island and the U.K travel industry as a whole and its detriment to the islands economy. My thoughts are with all the staff.
So sad, if covid 19 ever passes do it again if that’s a possible, and send China the bill…
Such a shame for the company and there employees….brilliantly run until Covid bought it down ….
Hi All at IW Tours
So sorry to hear this news, best wishes to everyone and the best for your future.
I very much enjoyed running your petanque events both here and on the mainland.
Alan W
Just the start of it all. A long cold Winter will see many victims in both businesses failing and individuals going down with CV.
A grim Christmas this year
Are you always this miserable?
Sorry Steve, we appear to have been cut off.
Such a shame. They have been around since before I can remember.
I applied for a job with them when I was younger, and I didn’t get it as I didn’t have the right look for the company. I remember how excited I was because we always used them for trips and stuff. How many more people and Island business are going to suffer through this pandemic.
Yet Trump the dump says its nothing to be afraid of, an act of God. Try telling that to people who have lost their lives and jobs in this outbreak.
Obama did the same with swine flu (in between drone striking civilians in Yemen and Syrian). Morons like you just don’t remember.
Such a shame. This is very sad. What angers me, who is to blame for this virus, China? My thoughts are the bat story was a pile of lies to cover up something much more sinister. Look at all the devastation around the world COVID19 has caused….and no one country has been accountable and named and bought to justice and probably never will. So sorry to hear of the closure of IOW Tours.