58.1% of consumer damages related to overseas trip 
is triggered by travel agency’s fault

 With overseas trip becoming more common (as seen in 13 million outbound tourists a year), consumers are advised to use more caution to reduce chances of being damaged when contracting overseas trip products.

 Busan Regional Office of the Korea Consumer Agency (www.kca.go.kr) made an analysis on 129 consumer damage cases related to overseas trips in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do area, reported to the KCA from 2010 to 2012. According to the analysis, the no. of cases continued to rise as seen in 31 cases, 40, 58 in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. 

 Looking at reasons for requesting consumer redress, cases due to the faults of travel agencies (including change of travel schedule and accommodation at random) topped the list with 75 cases (58.1%), followed by ‘contract cancellation due to simple change of mind, disease, or pregnancy of tourist’ and ‘natural disasters including typhoon’ at 36 cases (27.9%) and 5 (3.9%), respectively.

 Based on these findings, Busan Regional Office of the KCA asked consumers to confirm whether there are special contractual terms and make a contract with caution and also advised consumers to call the 1372 Consumer Call Center for a consult, if affected by damages.