The issue of Holiday Financial Protection through the ATOL scheme has attracted intense scrutiny since the collapse of the XL Group and Freedom Direct.  We have been guiding Mr & Mrs A - consider this quote from Mrs A - “the more this is highlighted the better - various people who I have spoken to - are under the impression that if a Tour Operator has an ABTA/ATOL No, they are covered - how wrong they are!!”  Mr & Mrs A booked a holiday through the collapsed travel provider, Freedom Direct.  They purchased a flight, hotel and transfers, all stated as one inclusive price.  They have advised that it was their intention to purchase a package holiday and that there was nothing that they could see or hear, which put them on notice that it was anything other than a package holiday! Read More

HolidayTravelWatch publishes its latest report commenting on the operation of The Package Travel Directive (incorporated into UK law in 1992 as The Package Travel Regulations). Read More

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Regulations can be found at this link - http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20081277_en_2#pt1-l1g1  The Regulations repealed vast areas of previous UK consumer laws.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

In this latest edition we examine the effect of the fall of corporate responsibility in holiday contracts.  We suggest that new criminal offiences be created within the new Package Travel Regulations/Directive of failing to report or respond to a Bio-Hazard incident and where holidaymakers are exposed to sickness, for companies to be made responsible under a new offence of a Bio-Crime.  We also look at the continuing issue of Sick Aircraft Syndrome and the inspiration of Ms Downs who fought the UK Government on the issue of pesticides.  We look at EU Directive 2111/2005 and ask how this could be applied to aircraft fume incidents and enquiries.  Our guest article comes from Stephanie Trotter who heads Co Gas Safety.  She charts the issue of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and questions the impotency of action for the benefit of the consumer and citizen.  Our Case Study examines the appalling experience of one couple and how their substantial rights under the Package Travel Regulations where trampled upon.  Our final article provides a brief commentary on your right to have information provided to you on time whenever you book a Package Holiday. 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

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