I wonder if some businesses are playing the waiting game, Birdy. I don't know what the legal position is regarding refunds, but perhaps they hope that if the customer makes the decision to cancel they, the company, won't have to pay out. Birdquest, the company I went to Costa Rica with, at first refused to cancel the tour, even though people were looking for early flights home. It was only when they felt they had no option, presumably because some of our forthcoming accommodations were closing, that they finally cancelled it.
Apparently the rules are being changed to help prevent tour companies from going out of business. Birdquest seemed to be quite fair about calculating the amount of the refund but seized on the opportunity afforded them by the new rules to say that instead of returning the money they would keep it in lieu of (part) payment for any future tour with them, and if no tour is booked they would keep it for two years. The refund amount is $4700. They'd found and paid for my flight home and they at least agreed to deduct the cost of that from what they owe me, but refused to repay me the balance. It may be that I could pursue it through the courts but that would cost me even more. On top of that, should I be fortunate enough to get a refund for the return portion of my original flight it will also be in the form of a voucher. I believe you're within your rights to demand a cash refund but if you've booked through Opodo - forget it!
And needless to say, my holiday insurance, no doubt in line with all others, has a general exclusion for anything to do with a pandemic. Having said all that I do understand that compared with those poor souls who've temporarily lost their income or even lost loved ones to the virus I have nothing to complain about.
