ABTA members urged to take part in key questionnaire

ABTA is urging its members to take part in its questionnaire on revisions to the Package Travel Directive before this week’s deadline.

Members have until Friday (August 30) to make their views known on the EU’s proposed changes.

According to ABTA, one of the most common questions raised is the distinction between an Assisted Travel Arrangement (ATA) and a package holiday.

"While the proposals do provide broad definitions for each kind of arrangement, there are some areas that require further clarification from the EU, such as whether separate payments need to be taken for a booking to be classified as an ATA," it said.

Members have also asked for greater clarity on where their responsibility lies for looking after a client in the event of an exceptional circumstance, such as an ash cloud.

Currently the proposals give tour operators and airlines the same obligations, so it’s not clear who has ultimate responsibility.

"Members have already helped highlight some areas that require closer scrutiny and greater clarification," said ABTA CEO Mark Tanzer.

"These proposals will ultimately have a significant impact on the protection that applies to travel sold in the UK and we would encourage any members that have not yet completed ABTA’s questionnaire to make their views known by the end of this week.”