Package Holidays: The Need for Greater Legal Clarity
At the end of June, the European Parliament considered amendments to the Package Travel Directive, with the aim of simplifying and adapting it to current travel trends. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) adopted an improved draft proposal on this occasion, which will be put to a plenary vote in the next step – although the exact date is not yet known.
Travel expense exception
The European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Associations (ECTAA) reacted positively to the proposal, particularly due to the exemption of business travel from the scope of the directive. In ECTAA's opinion, this removes administrative burdens that are unnecessary for services intended for business clients.
End of the concept of „linked travel arrangements”
ECTAA also supports the abolition of the „Linked Travel Arrangements” (LTA) concept, which has proven to be confusing for consumers and difficult to implement for service providers in practice. However, the newly proposed solution – the application of new rules for package deals booked within 24 hours – raises concerns.
New rules – old uncertainty?
According to ECTAA, the new rules could reintroduce legal uncertainty as they erase the clear boundary between package travel and individual services. This could lead to misunderstandings between organisers and travellers, undesirable changes in contractual obligations, pricing issues, and misinterpretation of offers.
Call for caution to lawmakers
Therefore, ECTAA calls on European lawmakers to ensure that any replacement for the LTA concept provides greater legal clarity and practical enforceability, rather than reintroducing legal ambiguity under a new name.
Tragento will continue to monitor the development of the situation and provide timely information for all tourism professionals.
Source: Ectaa.org
