SGR — refund if your tour operator goes bankrupt

The Travel Funds Guarantee Foundation (SGR) is a collective insurance for package-tour consumers. Each member tour operator pays into a fund; on bankruptcy SGR takes over the obligations toward the consumer.

What SGR covers:

• Pre-payments: on bankruptcy before departure you get your paid trip amount refunded (above a €50 excess).
• Repatriation: at destination when the tour operator fails? SGR arranges and pays your return.
• Continuation: SGR often tries to keep the trip going equivalently (e.g. having another TO take over the booking).

What SGR does NOT cover:

• Standalone flights or standalone hotel bookings not part of a package tour;
• Tour operators NOT members (always check the SGR logo / ask for proof);
• Money paid to third parties (insurance, car rental) — only to the tour operator itself.

How to claim? SGR automatically opens a claim procedure after bankruptcy — usually within 4 weeks. Fill an online form, upload booking confirmation + proof of payment, and SGR pays out within 6-12 weeks.

Mandatory for package tours since 2018: per Directive (EU) 2015/2302 all European package-tour operators must offer comparable insolvency cover. SGR is the Dutch implementation. For German trips e.g. DTG, for UK: ATOL.

Check before booking: is the SGR logo on the website? Is the operator in the SGR member register? If not — don't book.