Dromader and other travel agents suspended by Polish Chamber of Tourism

The Polish Chamber of Tourism (PIT) decided last week to suspend over ten members including Dromader, which is to file for bankruptcy in court in a few days. Dromader is one of the bigger tour-operators on the market and has a stable market position. "Dromader applied for admission to PIT in July as a different company and we refused", said PIT vice-president Jozef Ratajski. Over 4,000 travel agencies operate in Poland of which only around a third are associated with chambers of tourism. "PIT does not represent the i ndustry well, nor does it protect the consumer," stressed Maciej Kolod ziejczyk, president of Big Blue, one of the country's biggest tour-ope rators. During this year's difficult season, licenses have already been withdrawn for 73 enterprises, compared with only 65 in the whole of 2001. Many small companies specializing in only one destination such as Turkey, popular last year and out of fashion this, are facing bankruptcy. However, companies which have invested in youth travel are doing well. Insurance companies, such as Warta and PZU in the case of Dromader, take over the liabilities of bankrupt companies. (Puls Biznesu, p. 5) P.W.