ECTAA calls for competitive travel market offering high level of consumer protection in the upcoming revision of the European consumer legislation on package travel

2013-06-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — In view of the long awaited revision of the European consumer legislation on package travel, The European Travel Agents’ And Tour Operators’ Associations (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.

At its bi-annual meeting in Porto on 30/31 May, the member associations of ECTAA had a lively discussion on the imminent legislative proposal modernising the European package travel Directive.

Since 2009 the European Commission has been working on the revision of the package travel Directive, which is the main legislation for organisers offering travel packages. The Directive regulates the liability and minimum information requirements of organisers and retailers of travel packages. It also offers customers protection against the organiser’s insolvency.

During the meeting, ECTAA recalled that the Directive is in dire need of revision, since it is no longer adapted to the market of today. There is an increasing trend for consumers to put together their own holiday components from linked service providers, i.e. where the consumer is lead from one website to another for further travel purchase, instead of opting for packages pre-arranged by an organiser or a retailer. Consumers often are not aware that they do not benefit from the same level of consumer protection when buying such services. At the same time it affects competition between organisers complying with the European consumer legislation and all other service providers that offer linked travel arrangements.

Said ECTAA President, Boris Zgomba: “Whether you are selling travel arrangements in a brick and mortar travel agency or online as a package or through linked websites, the same rules must apply to avoid distortions of competition.”

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.

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