Abta has vowed to redouble its efforts to fight proposed changes to the draft Package Travel Directive after MEPs again called for the addition of a “cooling off” period for holiday buyers, and for agents to take on tour operator liability.
Chairman Noel Josephides told attendees at the Aito Agents domestic conference that the two issues had returned “with a vengeance”.
Abta last month sought to fend off these potential additions by hosting a meeting in Brussels with the two European Parliament committees in charge of the legislation. Josephides said both committees had since called for the issues to be included.
“It seems the [proposal for a] cooling off period has come back with a vengeance; both committees have asked for a 24-hour cooling off period,” he said.
“But it wouldn’t work, and we are fighting it again.”
The proposal would allow holidaymakers to cancel their holiday within 24 hours of booking. Abta argues this is unrealistic.
The second proposal is for agents to take on liability in addition to operators when something goes wrong on a holiday. In France, agents already take responsibility.
Josephides said: “This would mean agents would be jointly responsible. This could happen because other countries have it; this will take a lot of fighting.”
Last July, the publication of the proposed EU reforms for the directive made it clear agents would not have to take on extra operator liabilities, nor would there be a cooling off period.
Victoria Bacon, Abta’s head of communications, said: “These are just proposals at this stage. There is a long way to go, but we have to keep the pressure on. It’s definitely not a time to be complacent.”
The directive is not likely to come into force until 2017, while MEP elections take place this May.