15/08/2017
Enhanced regulations will better protect an extra 10m UK package holidays booked online in the event of the supplier going bust, under government proposals to bridge the gap in consumer rights created by changes in the way many of us book our holidays.
According to the Association of British Travel Agents, changes such as using online booking sites to build personalised packages have left 50% of holidays unprotected if a company ceases trading.
Proposals in ‘Updating consumer protection in the package travel sector’ aim to update the 1992 Package Travel Regulations to take account of new ways of buying and selling holidays and bring them in line with the EU’s 2015 Package Travel Directive.
In addition to extending the protections that currently cover packages booked through a traditional travel agent to on-line bookings, they includ
- a requirement for better information to be provided to travellers at the point of booking, making it clear what their rights to refund are
- provisions ensuring that the business putting the package together is responsible for the entire holiday – even if some elements will be fulfilled by third parties