One of the key issues likely to be raised at this week’s debate in Brussels on the draft Package Travel Directive will be over calls for a “cooling off period” after holidays are booked.
A top level delegation from Abta is to host this Wednesday’s (December 4) meeting with MEPs on the two European Parliament committees in charge of reviewing the legislation in a bid to fend off concerns or potential changes to the draft PTD.
Fifty leading stakeholders from across the European travel industry and European policymakers will discuss how holiday-based consumer protection can be modernised with the right balance between business competitiveness and consumer rights.
Speaking ahead of the event, Abta’s head of financial protection John de Vial (pictured) said one of the major issues of concern is that MEPs will seek to introduce a “cooling off period” into the legislation.
If introduced, this would effectively allow consumers to cancel their holiday within a certain timescale after they had booked in the same way as, for example, pension companies allow consumers to opt out of an agreement within a short timeframe after signing up to a scheme.
“We have been successful at keeping this out of the draft directive but it is essential we maintain that position.
We do not think a “cooling off period” is needed in travel, but it could be that some MEPs propose amendments,” said de Vial, who added some consumer groups and parliamentarians have argued for this to be introduced. “This is an opportunity for us to influence the key MEPs.”
De Vial said there was no evidence consumers wanted this and argued it would have a negative effect on the industry and that it would be unrealistic to expect tour operators to ask hotels or airlines to wait a further period after customers booked in case they then decided to cancel.
“You would end up with a less reliable business and the risk of hotels overbooking for example,” warned de Vial.
The new Package Travel Directive is likely to come into force by 2017.