ECTAA, which regroups 29 national associations of travel agents’ and tour operators’ associations in Europe, has elected Mr. Akis Kelepeshis as President of the European association. Mr. Kelepeshis will chair the association for the period 2008-2010.

Mr. Kelepeshis is Managing Director of one of the largest tour operators in Cyprus. In 1996 he was elected Secretary General of ACTA, the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents, and subsequently served in ACTA as Vice-President. Since 2005 he is acting as President of the ACTA Board of Directors.

As President of ECTAA, Mr. Kelepeshis takes over from Mr. Jan Van Steen, Member of the Board of the Belgian Federation of Tourism Industry, FIT, and Managing Director of a travel agency. In his term as President of ECTAA he has been closely involved in many legislative measures with direct impact on travel agents, notably the ongoing revision of the CRS Code of Conduct as well as issues of access to air fares and transparency in air fares in the frame of the third package on air transport liberalisation.

All these issues will remain on the work programme of the incoming President. His main attention will be directed towards the revision of the EU consumer protection legislations, which includes the package travel Directive. This is the most important legislation for tour operators.

Said new ECTAA President, Mr. Kelepeshis: “The next two years will be very challenging for the industry with the revision of the consumer protection legislations. ECTAA will work closely with the European Commission to ensure that the legislative environment is adapted to the current and future market of package travel. Our priority is to ensure a level-playing field for all businesses operating in the sale of travel services and to ensure that our customers benefit from a high level of protection and quality. ”