| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 11/09/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 3 |
| Copyright: Other |
Operators knock Government line
TOURoperators have criticised the Government for ignoring the call for Europe-wide safety regulations in the holiday market.
ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators have repeatedly asked the Department of Trade and Industry to push the European Union for fire, safety and hygiene standards but so far the only guidance in place for the holiday industry is a list of recommendations drawn up in the ’90s.
ABTA head of consumer affairs Keith Richards said: “We’ve got beach quality standards but we can put people in a hotel where they don’t have to check the water quality.
“What we need are standards across Europe. It needs a wholesale review. We are trying to get the DTI to talk to the EU.”
A DTIspokesman said the Government had written to Europe about fire safety in hotels asking for the introduction of universal standard.
But he added that nothing had been recommended on hygiene.
ABTAand the FTOdismissed a new campaign calling for an industry watchdog OFHOL and a 24-hour helpline funded by tour operators, which was launched by voluntary group Holiday TravelWatch last week, claiming it did “not tackle the root cause”.
The campaign was provoked by a number of complaints including the disease outbreak caused by Club Aguamar’s swimming pool in Majorca, affecting several JMC clients (Travel Weekly August 28).
But the trade argued that those on package holidays were already the most protected travellers, compared with the two-thirds who travel independently or on business.