Agents warned of ‘very tight’ timescale for new consumer protection laws
ABTA is warning that agents will only have a short time to adjust to new travel protection laws confirmed by the Government today.
New measures will come into force in July that will mean more types of holidays will be protected by consumer protection rules.
This, says the Government, will provide holidaymakers with clearer and stronger protections.
New rules outlined today include:
– an extension to current protections to cover millions of extra holidays
– a requirement for better information to be provided to travellers at the point of booking, making it clear what their rights to refund are
– ensuring businesses that put together package holidays are responsible for the entire holiday – even if some elements will be fulfilled by other companies.
Consumer Minister Andrew Griffiths said: "These new rules mean that internet explorers can book their holidays online, secure in the knowledge they will be compensated in the same way as someone who booked their holidays through a travel agent if something does go wrong.
"The new rules will also provide clarity to businesses, increasing fairness in the travel industry by making online outlets as responsible for consumer protections as traditional travel agents.
"The government is working with travel industry leaders to develop guidance for businesses to help them comply with the new regulations."
Regulations will be introduced in Parliament in April, with protections coming into force from July 1.
But ABTA says this doesn’t leave much time for the industry to adapt.
"Once published, the timescale is very tight for UK businesses to understand these regulations and to make necessary changes by July 1," said chief executive Mark Tanzer.
"ABTA is helping its members to understand their legal responsibilities and support them in making any necessary changes."
ABTA will be issuing updated guidance for members on its website abta.com/ptdhub.
It is also running an event ‘the New Package Travel Regulations for Travel Agencies’ on May 1 to help agents understand what the regulations mean for their business, the steps they need to take and how their liabilities will change.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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