Amid industry-wide concerns and price increases caused by the credit crisis and currency exchange, Australian pioneering travel company APT is increasing its AUD$5million protection plan to AUD$10million and maintaining its brochured price guarantees.

With its AUD$10 million trust account, the 81-year-old company can reimburse customers in the unlikely event of insolvency. Managing Director Gary Bartelings said that APT was a reputable, stable company and even in difficult times it could be relied upon.

In a flyer titled APT Peace of Mind Guarantee, APT is advising agents all APT prices are guaranteed once deposits are paid. Mr. Bartelings said these guarantees provided consumers and travel agents a �peace of mind� assurance that their money was safe and secure with APT at all times so they could make forward bookings with confidence.

For further information, please visit www.aptouring.co.uk or call 0845 603 6738 for consumer enquiries or 020 8879 7444 for trade enquiries

APT is a member of ABTA

APT is a tour operator specialising in escorted tours in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, now also offering tours to China and South America and European River Cruises. An Australian owned and operated company, who celebrated their 80th birthday last year, APT offers a wide range of touring styles from fully-inclusive tours to small group luxury and safari options; a range of tour lengths from one to 28 days; and tours to cater for every budget from top-of-the-range Premier Plus tours to Affordable Value options. They also offer a Freedom of Choice concept which allows clients booking most Premier Plus and Premier Escorted tours to tailor make their tour itinerary with: Freedom of Choice Touring (the option to choose from a number of different touring activities on offer); Dine Around Dinners (the option to choose from a selection of restaurants); Freedom of Choice Dining (the option to choose to dine early or late, with friends or alone); and Freedom of Flexible Touring (the option to tailor make the length of tour).

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For press information or images, please contact: Sarah Long / Anna Gouldman/ Katie Sargent McCluskey International Tel: 020 8237 7979 Email: apt@mccluskey.co.uk