Package Travel: further regulatory burdens on the hotel industry, not welcome!

HOTREC Press release

HOTREC GA, Vilnius, 17 April 2013 – HOTREC, the business association representing the European hospitality industry, urges the European Commission not to rush with the revision of the Package Travel Directive, so as to ensure that the European hotel industry is not burdened further by unfair regulation.

"Many hospitality entrepreneurs across Europe are worried that the intention to further extend the scope of the Package Travel Directive and the obligations it contains will unfairly burden the EU hotel industry and reduce its business opportunities, something that would not be welcomed in times of economic crisis” commented Mr. Kent Nyström, President of HOTREC. "This would be the case, for instance, if the new scope includes some hotel services that were not covered so far; and/or if a right of withdrawal is inserted in a revised Directive” he further added.

The existing EU Package Travel Directive regulates the market of pre-arranged combined tourism services. After many years of preparation, the European Commission is expected to soon propose a revised Directive, according to its announcement, in order to adapt it to the new online developments in the holiday market.

HOTREC considers that if a new Directive is to be put in place, it should clearly state that:

·a transport element must be the constitutive element of a package travel; and

·there is no mandatory right of withdrawal for combined tourism services, as it is the case for stand-alone tourism services covered by the EU Consumer Rights Directive.

Quelle: HOTREC