FACUA to help Orizonia customers

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MADRID, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A consumer advocacy group said it was coordinating efforts to help travelers affected by Spanish tour giant Orizonia going into receivership.

ThinkSpain reported Wednesday that thousands of tourists have been left to fend for themselves, some of them having to pay hotel bills before checking out, even though they had already paid for the room through their travel package.

On the Riviera Maya in eastern Mexico, 30 college students from Madrid were forced to pay $1,300 each before their hotel would allow them to leave, as the hotel's management feared the tour company would not pay their bill.

The consumer support group FACUA said it had set up an association to deal with complaints generated by the tour company's financial woes.

Orizonia is likely to close 950 travel agency offices that operate under the brand name Vibo Viajes.

The company also operates other travel companies, including Iberojet, Solplan, Viva Tours, Kirunna, Condor and Orizonia Life, the hotel chain Luabay and the airline Orbest.