Travelers Stranded After Tour Company Thomas Cook Suddenly Shuts Down

Thomas Cook, a 178-year-old British tour operator, went into compulsory liquidation after failing to secure rescue funding. This led to the largest peacetime repatriation effort in UK history, aiming to bring over 150,000 British travelers home. The collapse affected about 600,000 travelers globally. Thomas Cook, which operated hotels, resorts, and airlines for 19 million people annually in 16 countries, was burdened by debt and faced challenges from online competition and a changing travel market.

How many countries did Thomas Cook operate in before its collapse?

What factors contributed to the decline of Thomas Cook?