14 May 2013

Tour operator makes no promise of Gallipoli places

9:34 am on 14 May 2013

An Australian tour operator organising tours for the Gallipoli centenary in 2015 says it has been clear with customers over how places at the Anzac Day commemorations are allocated.

Places at the Anzac Day dawn service on 25 April, as well as the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair and the Australian one at Lone Pine that follow, are limited to 10,5000 and are being allocated by by ballot.

Eight thousand will be Australians and 2000 New Zealanders, with another 500 places allocated to Turkey and other countries.

The Australian government has warned operators not to advertise guaranteed attendance at the Anzac service.

Australian Veterans' Affairs minister Warren Snowdon says the ballot will not be decided until next year, and any firm advertising assured attendance should give people their money back.

Australian company Military History Tours has sold tours for Gallipoli centenary period.

Director Paul Murphy told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme the company has made it very clear that tickets to the dawn service at Anzac Cove are not guaranteed.

He said every person who has booked, whether Australian or New Zealander, has been advised it is not certain who will be allocated tickets in the ballot.