The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a new scheme to drive improved compliance with the Atol regulations.
As the first step in the long-term project, the CAA has partnered with Leicester City Council’s trading standards team to launch a campaign to make sure businesses are fully compliant.
The CAA will be looking at rolling the project out to other areas of the UK, based on information it receives regarding businesses that may be trading illegally.
The campaign also aims to increase awareness of the scheme among local residents and remind them to check they receive an Atol certificate with their booking before handing over their money.
Local businesses will be offered advice so they can understand how they should be protecting customers and are taking the right steps to comply.
Travel companies will be visited to check they are providing the correct level of protection, with the potential for action against businesses who are putting customers at risk.
David Clover, head of crisis management at the CAA, said: “This project is all about taking a targeted approach to make sure businesses understand their legal obligations and are providing their customers with the right level of protection.
“It’s the start of a wider programme that involves us working with local trading standards teams to give businesses the help they need to fully comply with the scheme. However, where businesses do not comply and continue to put their customers at risk, we will act to protect the public.”