'Travel Buddy' Scheme Launched

• News
• Published: 07 Oct 2009 in Travel and Travel Insurance

Crisis-hit holidaymakers seeking to make an insurance claim could have their lives made easier with the launch of text and email advice service.

'Travel Buddy', funded by the Foreign Office and developed by the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), monitors a wide range of destinations and forwards any important information to those who have subscribed to the scheme. It will also allow the Foreign Office to send texts to tourists in emergency situations.

Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "This will provide our members with exemplary customer service, particularly at times of emergencies when fast and effective information is needed. Mobile phones are now used by nearly everyone when they travel."

The product, which is free to Abta members and holidaymakers, was launched at the company's annual conference in Barcelona.