Consumer Protection

Booking a package travel via a travel agent or a tour operator provides extra protection for consumers when travelling. Packages are easier to cancel should something go wrong. Travel organisers have to arrange alternative services if the package is not perfomed properly, assist the travellers in need and compensate them in certain cases.  

If the organiser goes bankrupt, the package travel directive also provides a unique protection that ensures that stranded travellers are repatriated, can continue their vacation or get refunded of all sums prepaid for the booking of their holiday.  

All this extra protection comes at a cost and, in a competitive environment such as the tourim sector, it is therefore crucial to ensure a level playing field. This can be achieved by ensuring that every actor in the travel value chain complies with the existing rules and that loopholes such as the lack of legislation on airline insolvency are addressed. It is also our role to inform EU institutions about the trade and travel distribution in general, so that upcoming legislations remain reasonable and fit for purpose.