THE Office of Fair Trading has been attacked for dragging its feet over ownerships links in the industry as negotiations with the top four operators enters its second year.
Association of Independent Tour Operators chairman Paul Chandler, speaking at the launch of the association’s directory, described the delay in drawing up transparency rules as “ridiculous”.
The association will write to the FTO again next week urging it to take immediate action.
“We are most frustrated the OFT has failed to agree any means of improving transparency. It is just not good enough,” said Chandler. “We want all brochures and shop windows to make it clear who owns what. The customer has a right to know. Why can’t the OFT come up with a formula?”
An OFT spokeswoman would only say that negotiations are continuing and would be concluded “shortly”.
Chandler said pressure was building to have the industry reinvestigated.
“Unless this transparency issue is sorted and independent operators are given guaranteed seats on charters, we will start lobbying the Government again,” he said.