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ECTAA welcomes revision of the Package Travel Directive

Since 2009 the European Commission has been working on the revision of the Package Travel Directive. This legislation is no longer adapted to the market of today and the wide-spread use of the Internet. There are now multiple distribution channels, proposing similar products to the package travel.

ECTAA welcomes Vice President Reding’s long awaited proposal for a revision of the Package Travel Directive. ECTAA is calling for the maintenance of a high level of consumer protection while ensuring a level-playing field among all actors in the travel market.

Since 2009 the European Commission has been working on the revision of the Package Travel Directive. This legislation is no longer adapted to the market of today and the wide-spread use of the Internet. There are now multiple distribution channels, proposing similar products to the package travel. However, 64% of the consumers are not aware that they do not benefit from the same level of consumer protection when buying such products. At the same time it affects competition between organisers complying with the European consumer legislation and all other service providers that offer combined travel arrangements.

ECTAA recalls the need for a balanced approach. The industry agrees with the need for a Directive which ensures that customers book and go on package holidays in confidence, knowing that they will be taken care of if there is a problem with the travel arrangements. However, the obligations entrusted to the organisers must be proportionate to allow them to compete with other market players not subject to the same stringent legal and financial obligations such as the insolvency protection.

ECTAA welcomes:

  • The extension of the scope of the Directive and the clarification of the grey zones regarding some combinations of travel services, whether the consumer buys online, offline, through a single point of sale or multiple linked websites;
  • The clear exclusion of managed business travel;
  • Better information to consumers about what they are buying (packages or assisted travel arrangements) and their rights when purchasing such products;
  • The mutual recognition of national insolvency protection schemes, facilitating cross-border sales.

ECTAA will now review in detail the proposal concerning the additional obligations for organisers and retailers, especially regarding the potential burden on SMEs selling assisted travel arrangements, such as in case of insolvency the obligations to provide a refund of pre-payment and, in case of passenger transport, repatriation.

Said ECTAA President, Boris Zgomba: “We advocated for many years for an even level playing field and this proposal goes in the right direction.”

News Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Posts

Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.

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