In October 2007, HolidayTravelWatch submitted its findings and recommendations to the EU Commission on the Package Travel Directive.  Following that report, the EU parliament adopted a resolution calling for a ‘renewed’ EU Tourism Policy.  This was followed by a report, commissioned by the EU Parliament, which recommended a strengthening of the Package Travel Directive. Read More

The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive came into force on 26 May 2008 in the UK as The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (referred from here on as the Unfair Trading Regulations).  They were introduced following a lengthy EU wide consultation on how the consumer was disadvantaged by the actions and behaviour of companies.  The Regulations can be found at this link – http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20081277_en_2#pt1-l1g1  The Regulations repealed vast areas of previous UK consumer laws. Read More

The threat to The Package Travel Regulations still remains.  The EU Commission have initially reported that they see a case for a renewal of the Directive, but because of forthcoming EU budgetary and parliamentary elections, such proposals have to remain on ‘ice’.  That means that the earliest we are likely to witness any draft documentation is likely to be from mid 2009 onwards.  In the meantime, as our lead article alludes, there appears to be a collapse in consumer confidence in travel companies.  This shortfall in confidence is not wrought from the current financial crisis, but from the complete failure to recognise and provide the consumer with access to the rights contained within the Package Travel Regulations.  Read More

2008 will go down as the year when Corporate Responsibility died.  Read More

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The inspirational  anti-pesticides campaigner, said of her recent High Court victory that, “The UK government’s relentless and extraordinary attempts to protect industry, as opposed to people’s health has been one of the most outrageous things to behold in the last seven years of my fight” (BBC News Online – 14/11/08). Read More

Holiday TravelWatch Clinic – Case Study (Significant Change Rights – Pre & Post Departure): Read More