Package Travel Directive consultation starts
Thursday, 27 Nov, 2009
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Europe’s biggest tour operator has welcomed the inclusion of scheduled and low cost airlines in long awaited consultation into reforming the outdated EU Package Travel Directive.
TUI Travel CEO Peter Long, responding after EU consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva confirmed the start of consultation into reforming the directive, said: “We are greatly encouraged by commissioner Kuneva’s confirmation that the inclusion of scheduled and low cost carriers within the revision will also be considered so that there is a level playing field and customers will not face the emotional stress and financial hardships that have resulted from recent airline failures.”
TUI said it was “encouraged that there is a realisation that since it was introduced nearly 20 years ago the way that customers book their holidays has been transformed and that a considerable percentage of those holiday bookings now fall outside the scope” of the directive.
Long said: “Today’s release of the consumer detriment study and consultation paper by Commissioner Kuneva is welcomed by us.
“We have been actively engaging with both the EU Commission and national governments for the Package Travel Directive and country regulations to be over-hauled.
“It needs to be fit for purpose not only today but to reflect possible future developments within the industry as well.”
The consultation will close in January and the Commission intends to publish its proposals for the revised directive in autumn 2010.
The proposals will then need to go through a co-decision procedure in the Council and the European Parliament.
The European Tour Operators Association aims to take a lead in lobbying for changes to the outdated EU Package Travel Directive.
ETOA has set up a dedicated email address [email protected] to receive views from the European tourism industry.
The directive no longer provides the complete consumer protection that it was originally designed for and has failed to keep up with the growth of low cost airlines and internet sales of holiday components, ETOA argues.
The directive no longer provides the complete consumer protection that it was originally designed for and has failed to keep up with the growth of low cost airlines and internet sales of holiday components, ETOA argues.
The directive covers package holidays combining at least two of the following: transport, accommodation or other tourist services such as car rental, sightseeing tours, and sold at an inclusive price.
It also covers the accuracy of information in the brochure, rights to cancel without penalty, liability for services such as substandard hotels, and protection in the case of an operator or airline going bust.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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