Protection is paramount
AT last we have a decision, but not yet a solution. The judgement by the Court of Appeal means travel professionals can continue to offer dynamically packaged holidays without the legal requirement to hold an ATOL.
The court has provided some much needed clarity on the issue. But what of your clients? This decision hardly helps them.
Those buying dynamic packages will not be covered if anything goes wrong, unless they make arrangements to cover themselves.
We are no closer to closing the growing loopholes in consumer liability. Looser regulations will not help. The trade must agree on an equitable, cross-industry protection scheme that will ensure consumers are covered when they book a holiday.
Trust will bring consumer confidence and more business.
The case will rumble on. The Civil Aviation Authority will submit a response and the court will issue a final order. Then we can look forward to fresh interpretations of the ruling if cases are brought following the collapse of a company lacking consumer protection.
The only group of people to benefit will be the lawyers. Consumers and the industry need a long-term solution, and it’s up to the Government to provide it as a matter of urgency.
Ringing in the changes
The industry is experiencing a period of unprecedented change with both business and consumers moving online.
What’s good to see is how travel professionals are embracing change. Take Haslemere Travel (page 18), which has decided to take down its racks and remove brochures altogether.
The upshot is a focus on agent knowledge. The radical move has resulted in one customer asking if he was in a travel agency, but so far business has been good. Haslemere is to be commended for putting confidence in its staff and their knowledge.
If you are innovating then Travel Weekly would like to hear from you. Please e-mail travelweekly@rbi.co.uk