European Commissioner responsible for consumer protection, Mrs. Meglena Kuneva, will open the 97th bi-annual meeting of ECTAA held in Sofia and organised by its Bulgarian Member, ABTTA, on 27-28 May. Mrs. Kuneva will present her views on the upcoming revision of the EU consumer protection legislations.

Over the last 20 years, various European Directives on consumer protection, usually referred to as the EU consumer acquis, have granted specific rights to consumers concerning among others distance selling, doorstep selling, unfair contract terms, timeshare and package travel.

The Package Travel Directive, which is part of the EU acquis, is of major importance for the Members of ECTAA and their customers. The Directive aims at protecting consumers who purchase travel packages by ensuring that they get proper information before and after their purchase, that the services included in the package will be performed according to the contract and if not, that appropriate remedies are provided. But most importantly, consumers benefit from a financial guarantee against the bankruptcy of their package travel provider. 

ECTAA welcomes the review of the acquis that is currently undertaken because it is essential that EU legislation is adapted to current and foreseeable market developments in order to ensure effective protection of consumers as well as fair competition within the EU. In particular it is important that the obligations resulting from the consumer protection legislation is extended to all providers who sell in their own name any form of combination of travel services.

Said ECTAA President, Jan Van Steen: “In recent years there has been a shift in consumers’ buying habits. Many continue to buy their package holidays, but an increasing number of them buy separate travel services from various providers. It is therefore essential that all consumers benefit from the same protection whatever their booking channel and that all providers operate on a level playing field.”