Travel agents should be able to continue working as they do now under imminent changes to the European Package Travel Directive.
The plea to ‘let agents be agents’ was made by Abta in high-level meetings in Brussels ahead of publication of the new directive in spring 2013.
Making its case for maintaining the diversity of business models in the travel industry, the association said members who currently sell holidays as agents should be able to continue doing so.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer met the EU Commissioner responsible for package travel, vice-president Viviane Reding (pictured), who is responsible for the review of the directive.
He stressed that the agency model brings additional choice to consumers, and is a critical part of a free competitive market.
Tanzer also emphasised other concerns raised by members in its consultation on reforms of the package travel directive, such as the infeasibility of cooling off periods for the travel industry and the need to include click-through sales in order to create a level playing field and maximise consumer protection.
Tanzer said: “By meeting the commissioner and her advisors, Abta is taking our members’ views to the highest levels in Brussels.
“We will continue to press the case for reform whilst ensuring that the reforms avoid unnecessary red tape and that agents retain the ability to trade as agents.
“The issue of consumer protection is quite distinct from that of organisers’ business models, and that distinction must not be lost in the package travel review.”
He added: “It was a constructive meeting in which we shared our concerns and clearly explained the rationale behind them. We will continue to press our case to MEPs, the Commission and member states in the coming months.”
Abta is also in dialogue with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in the UK to argue that any changes to consumer protection, which may be required under any revised directive, will not be a determining factor in whether agents have additional tax liabilities.
This issue is subject to current case law passing through the Court of Appeal, and is being tracked closely by Abta.
The details of the proposed revisions to the PTD are expected next spring. These will be debated in the European Parliament and the European Council before the new directive is finalised for probable implementation in 2016.