The EU beginning final negotiations on the revision of the Package Travel Directive (PTD) BT4Europe to warn of over-regulation, which could harm both passengers and the many small businesses that form Europe's tourism sector.
BT4Europe is calling for a clear and functional definition of travel packages, so that business trips are strictly separated from holiday trips. Intermediaries must be able to continue to arrange multiple individual services at the traveller's request without being automatically classified as tour operators and taking on full responsibility. In BT4Europe's view, the Council of Ministers' proposal to re-establish a clear distinction between travel packages and individual travel services is the correct and necessary solution.
Exclusion of business travel
BT4Europe welcomes the Council of Ministers” decision to abandon the unworkable ”24-hour rule” which would have created legal uncertainty and confusion for both passengers and operators. BT4Europe Chairman Patrick Diemer: ”Business travel must clearly be excluded from the directive. The PTD is designed to protect consumers, not businesses – and applying it to business travel would impose unnecessary burdens on small travel agents while giving larger players an unfair advantage.”
The BT4Europe press release can be read in full here.