The owners of a travel agency based in Argentina have been sued after 50 South American tourists were left ‘stranded’ in Edinburgh.
A civil complaint filed at a courthouse in Río Negro, northern Patagonian Argentina, reveals the firm reportedly did not provide the group with bare necessities, such as food, accommodation, and even return flights home from their trip to the Scottish capital.
Members of the group claim to have forked out tens of thousands of dollars for the trip – with some, such as Carolina Apis, having paid the travel firm up to $44,460 (£32,000).
Ms Apis revealed she had paid for herself and five family members to join the trip, which included breaks in European destinations such as France, Greece, Spain and Portugal, along with Edinburgh.
As reported by the Herald, she said: ‘In Europe, none of the travel conditions were met, which meant I had to return to Argentina before the scheduled date.
‘I had to cover my own travel, lodging, and transportation expenses, as well as those of my family.’
Meanwhile, another member, who has not been named, alleges that he parted with $4,800 (£3,500) for a tour package that promised English language lessons in Edinburgh, as well as experiences in London, Paris and Naples.
He claimed he was also reportedly forced to cover the costs of his stay in Edinburgh, along with his plane ticket back home to Argentina.
The owners of a travel agency based in Argentina have been sued after 50 South American tourists were left ‘stranded’ without accommodation, food and return flights home during a trip to Edinburgh
The group attempted to seek support from the Argentine Consulate in Edinburgh, who told them they were unable to provide assistance due to a ‘conflict between private parties’
While in Edinburgh, the group attempted to seek support from the Argentine Consulate.
However, officials informed members that they were unable to provide assistance due to a ‘conflict between private parties,’ as reported by La Nacion.
The owners of the travel agency, siblings Liliana Beatriz Silva and Sergio Nibaldo Silva, are further accused of pocketing the funds to pay for a family holiday to Portugal, according to La Nacion.
In the court papers, seen by the Argentinian publication, the group highlighted shocking details of the scheme, which allegedly included the issuing of false receipts and links to a so-called Edinburgh-based partner that didn’t exist.
