Namibia is safe from the travel company Thomas Cook’s collapse since the only connection was through the cheques that have since been phased out.
Thomas Cook, most probably the oldest travel agency with 178 years in business, went bust around 02h15 Monday after the company failed to raise more than 200 million pounds.
More than 9 000 staff across the world has been laid off.
Speaking to Eagle FM Monday afternoon, an official from the Namibia Bureau de Change, who did not want to be named, said Thomas Cook had no business in the country.
The only link to Thomas Cook, the official said, was when travel cheques were still being issued in Namibia.
According to the official, after the phasing out of the travel cheques, they kept the name, Thomas Cook.
“We do not do any bookings from here. We are not in the travel business,” the official said.
Unlike Namibia, South Africa has a direct link to Thomas Cook since the company had direct flights from London to Cape Town during the summer season.
In addition, South Africa has Thomas Cook call centres as well as operational offices apart from several training programmes.
Several media reports said that Thomas Cook could have collapsed after amassing a huge debt arising from the multi-million-pound bonuses given to the bosses as well as lack of innovation in a fast-changing tourism landscape.
