Tour operators packaging sub-Saharan Africa are entitled to enforce full cancellation charges should clients cancel travel on the basis of Ebola, the African Travel and Tourism Association’s (Atta's) legal adviser, Alan Bowen has said.
Bowen said confidence in African tourism was being hit badly, adding that there was a lack of understanding of the geography of the continent. As a result, both operators and suppliers were reporting cancellations and deferments, both for holiday and business travel.
“At present there is no UK FCO or US State Department advice against travelling to the vast majority of destinations and whilst that remains the case, any customers who wish to cancel should be reminded that full cancellation charges will apply and no insurer will refund lost payments simply on the basis of a disinclination to travel,” Bowen said.
However, Bowen also pointed out that while suppliers and operators were within their rights to stick to their usual cancellation charges, they might choose to defer arrangements to a later date, holding on to existing payments, as an alternative. According to Bowen, while there was there is no legal obligation to do so, it would show goodwill.
“Until there is some evidence that the outbreak is beginning to be controlled, and we seem to be a long way from that position today, the likelihood of falling future bookings and a demand to cancel existing bookings will almost certainly continue,” said Bowen.
Atta CEO, Nigel Vere Nicoll, highlighted that there was not a travel warning in place outside the countries affected in West Africa, while not one tourist had contracted Ebola. 
Like Bowen, Vere Nicoll, points out operators and suppliers can charge cancellation fees.
“However as usual it is all about relationships, be it buyer, supplier or client relationship so a bit of give and take will be required across the board,” he said. “Members are coming up with all sorts of formulas to keep the ball rolling, such as an Ebola re-booking policy. Should there be an outbreak in their country they will allow clients to re-book their trip for a later time and receive a credit on a future safari.”