Travel leaders push for Europe-wide hotel safety standards

ABTA and representatives from Thomas Cook and TUI called on European policy makers to introduce a new directive on tourist accommodation safety at a European Parliament dinner on November 18.

ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) launched reports into three areas of tourist accommodation safety affecting UK holidaymakers: gas, fire, and public health and infections.

According to the reports, safety standards are not being implemented in the same way across the EU. There is also a need to use better data collection techniques to ensure the number of tourist accommodation incidents across Europe are properly recorded.

The new directive would ensure that the same gas and fire safety, and public health co-operation standards are applied across Europe.

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “This project was initiated to demonstrate that tour operators are working in a very ‘uneven’ European safety market.

“For too long, the uneven application of safety laws across Europe has been accepted by the European Union. Our message in Brussels is that we need all tourist accommodation in Europe to hit minimum safety levels, and we will continue to push for a new directive that brings standards up to a common, acceptable level.”

The delegation also met with Arlene McCarthy UK MEP, the former chairwoman of the Internal Market and Consumer Affairs Committee in the European Parliament; senior figures from the European Commission; and representatives of the travel industry in Brussels.

Commenting on the launch, UK MEP Linda Cavan said: “I am pleased to support the ABTA/FTO initiative to improve tourist accommodation safety.

“Introducing new common standards is a long process that could take a decade. This means it is vital that legislation is started as soon as possible.

“I will continue to support ABTA and the FTO in their lobbying efforts, and am calling on other MEPs from across Europe to back the campaign that Arlene McCarthy and myself have been leading in the European Parliament for a new directive on tourist accommodation safety.”

The Brussels visit follows the launch of the gas safety and public health reports in the Houses of Parliament last month.