The European Parliament has adopted its position on reforming the Package Travel Directive, aiming to strengthen protections for travellers in cases of disruptions or tour operator insolvency. The decision, made on Thursday, sets the stage for negotiations with other EU institutions.
The proposed changes are based on experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent travel agency bankruptcies. They seek to clarify traveller rights regarding information, cancellations, refunds, and repatriation assistance if trips are affected by unforeseen events or if organisers go bankrupt. The update also aims to define what constitutes a travel package and establish consistent rules for voucher use across member states.
MEPs have called for clear rules regarding vouchers, which became a contentious issue during the pandemic. Under their position, consumers would be entitled to refuse vouchers and request a refund within 14 days. If an accepted voucher is not used before expiry, its value must be reimbursed to the traveller. Vouchers should be valid for up to 12 months and may be extended or transferred once. MEPs also want vouchers covered by insolvency guarantees and usable for any service offered by the organiser.
Regarding trip cancellations, the new rules would allow travellers to cancel without penalty and receive a full refund if unavoidable or extraordinary circumstances arise at their destination or departure point before travel begins. Official travel warnings issued up to 28 days prior to departure would become an important factor in determining whether cancellation is justified.
On pre-payments, MEPs diverged from the European Commission’s proposal that would limit advance payments to no more than 25% of the total cost when booking early, with final payment due less than a month before departure. Instead, they believe decisions about pre-payment limits should rest with individual member states.
Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, MT), author of the report, stated after the vote: “We aim to strengthen consumer rights, which is one of the best ways we can serve our citizens. When it comes to travel packages, extraordinary situations can cause a lot of stress if you are unable to travel. We are making it clear that in such cases, the consumer can cancel the package and receive a full refund within 14 days, allowing them to book another holiday. Consumer protection on paper is nice, but enforcement will be key. That is why we introduce mandatory complaints mechanism for travellers that will help ensure your rights are respected.”
The negotiating position was approved with 535 votes in favour, 36 against and 47 abstentions. Talks with other EU institutions on finalising the new rules are set to begin on September 24.
