Lanta Tur clients get temporary relief

Panaji, Jan 30 (IBNS) Some of India's prominent travel companies have lent assistance to clients of bankrupt Lanta Tur Voyage by sponsoring their stay and supposedly air-travel as well.

Officials Monday asserted that country's best companies are willing to send "letters of guarantee" to hotels where Lanta tourists are lodged at the request of the Russian Consulate General in Mumbai.

Giving an update on the present status, Counsel for the Russia Consulate in Goa Vikram Varma told IBNS that a couple of hundred Russians are lodged in different hotels as Indian tour operators are offering financial aid.

"Those who could afford to pay for their travel tickets have flown back to their country," he said.

The crisis-stricken company, this past weekend, had announced an unexpected halt to its operations after it suffered worst financial crisis.

Over 500 Lanta Tur Voyage customers were stranded at Dabolim international airport as the charter flights refusing carrying them to Moscow.

The authorities are concerned about those Russian holidayers whose visas are due to expire soon and might face detention.

(Reporting by John Edwards)