ABTA has called for an overhaul of the much maligned Package Travel Directive labelling it “past its sell by date”.
Chief executive Mark Tanzer has called for the existing cover the Package Travel Directiveoffers to be extended to all holidaymakers and not just those on a package holiday.
In an ABTA submission to the European Commission for its review of consumer protection, it has called for non-package holiday makers to be covered in a number of areas including repatriation, the protection of pre-payments and deposits in the case of the travel provider failing.
“It’s illogical due to the changed market and leaves millions of consumers at risk of being stranded overseas”, he said of the current Package Travel Directive. “We need a bold approach to consumer protection, there are many travellers who mistakenly assume they and their travel arrangement are automatically protected when they are not.”
Tanzer added the changes could be achieved through changes to existing consumer protection legislation.