Ilford travel firm collapses after 22 years serving faith-based pilgrims

A travel company that spent more than two decades organising pilgrimages for London’s Muslim communities has collapsed into liquidation. Yourtravelshop.com Ltd, based in Ilford, entered formal liquidation on 21 July, as confirmed by a notice in the Gazette five days later.

Donald Harper and Andrew Maak of The Insolvency Practice Limited were appointed joint liquidators. Neither has commented on the number of customers affected or whether refunds will be issued. The company’s website now returns a '404 Not Found' error when users attempt to access booking details or company information.

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A specialist operator with roots in Mumbai

Yourtravelshop.com Ltd was founded in 1995 by Haji Bashir Bhaie Chokhawala, who has since died, and Haji Yusef Bhai Kherada of Al Khalid Tours in Mumbai. The Ham & High reported that the business began as a service for family and friends before expanding to serve thousands of customers annually.

The company specialised in Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarat pilgrimages. Packages included two-week Ramadan Umrah trips starting at £1,200 and full-month options priced from £1,875. Marketing materials described the service as providing 'journeys of faith, planned with clarity, carried with care.'

Part of a wider industry contraction

The collapse follows a string of failures in the UK travel sector this year. Nine other travel companies have ceased trading in 2026, including Gold Crest Holidays and Salamander Voyages, as reported by the Times Series. Four airlines have also entered administration or liquidation, among them EcoJet Airlines and Zenith Aviation Limited.

The Insolvency Service has not released details on the reasons behind Yourtravelshop.com’s failure. Industry analysts cited by the Ham & High suggest rising operational costs and reduced consumer spending as contributing factors across the sector. No information is available on whether the company held an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL), which would provide financial protection for customers.

Redbridge Council said it had no record of complaints about the company but advised affected customers to contact the Citizens Advice consumer service. The council added that it would monitor developments as the liquidation proceeds.

What happens next

The joint liquidators will now assess the company’s assets and liabilities. Customers who booked through credit cards may be able to claim refunds under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Those who paid by other means have no automatic protection and will rank as unsecured creditors in the liquidation process.

The Insolvency Service has not set a timeline for the liquidation. Customers seeking updates are directed to the Gazette or the liquidators’ website, though neither has published further details at this stage.