This week, the European Commission presented a proposal to revise the Directive on package travel. This step has long been overdue as the existing Directive is already over 23 years old, originating from a period when internet bookings were still a long way off. The revised Directive shall now cover package holidays booked online in the same way as individually arranged holidays. The Commission also promises better protection in case of travel agents becoming insolvent.

Consumer protection organisations, such as the European Consumers' Organisation BEUC as well as the Chamber of Labour have been requesting a revision of this legal act for many years. Compared to 1990, when booking classic package holidays was still the norm, the global availability of the internet has fundamentally changed how consumers organise their holidays. Today, many holiday makers put their own individual travel arrangements together, where flight, accommodation and hire cars come from different providers. The authors of the existing Directive did not anticipate this development in the tourism sector. Hence, if problems with such arrangements occur, in many cases neither side, whether holiday maker or travel agent, is sure whether and how this Directive has to be applied.

However, based on the new proposal, tailor-made individual holiday packages shall definitely fall within the scope of the Directive. The new legal text shall also provide travellers with better protection in case a service provider becomes insolvent. Clear provisions will now also cover cancelled journeys, liability issues, compensation and possible refunding of travel expenses.  

However, the publication of the Commission proposal only signals the start of the negotiations. Council and European Parliament must first discuss the legal text. It will probably take some years until the new Directive comes into effect and until it becomes clear what holiday makers can expect from the new legal text.

 

Further information:

Press release on the Commission proposal to revise the Package Travel Directive