17 September 2009

Trade dismayed by delay to 12-day rule

The travel trade has expressed its dismay at the European UnionÃ¢â¬â¢s decision to delay the introduction of the 12-day Rule for coach operators.

The legislation will not come into effect before Easter 2010, four months later than expected, seemingly because of bureaucratic procedures within the EU linguistic services

ETOA, the European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Association (ECTAA) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) have issued a joint call for the European institutions to complete the decision-making process.

They say the hold-up in approving the final text is likely to increase the costs for travel businesses that had planned and contracted their services under the assumption that the 12-day Rule would be in effect by the start of 2010.

"Operators are paid to plan. Planning is impossible if the foundations of what you do shift. The ending in April 2007 of coach drivers' ability to work for 12 days was a major blow to the tourism industry: it increased prices and caused big logistical problems," said Tom Jenkins, ETOA executive director.

"We were led to believe that this was going to be lifted by 1st January 2010. People have planned tours and sold them throughout the world on this basis. Now we understand that this is stalled because of translation problems."

By Bev Fearis