Photo source: European Parliament
The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA) has voiced strong objections to the European Parliament’s draft report on the revision of the Package Travel Directive (PTD), calling it a “missed opportunity” to deliver balanced and effective reform for the travel industry.
The Package Travel Directive is the EU’s legal framework that protects consumers who book package holidays combining at least two travel services, such as flights and accommodation. The current revision process, triggered by lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to update these rules.
However, ECTAA says the European Parliament’s proposed changes, released on February 26, ignore repeated warnings from industry stakeholders and could “destabilize” the sector instead of strengthening it.
Concerns over process and content
In an announcement, ECTAA Secretary General Eric Drésin expressed frustration with the lack of meaningful consultation during the legislative process.
“We participated in good faith, hoping to contribute to a constructive reform. Unfortunately, our concerns were completely ignored,” Drésin said, criticizing the extremely limited time given to industry representatives during official hearings.
ECTAA Secretary General Eric Drésin
Legal uncertainty around ‘package’ definition
A key point of contention is the expanded definition of “package travel”. Under the draft, if a consumer books two separate services from the same website within 72 hours, this would automatically be considered a package — even if the services are unrelated or sold by different providers.
This rule creates significant uncertainty for both businesses and consumers, ECTAA argues. Travel agents and operators may not know whether a booking falls under package travel rules until after the 72-hour window closes, making it difficult to manage obligations, costs, and liabilities. Travelers, meanwhile, would lack clarity about their rights and protections at the time of purchase.
Financial impact of prepayment restrictions
Another major concern is the proposed cap on prepayments, limiting deposits for package holidays to 25 percent of the total price, with only narrow exceptions. While the rule is intended to protect consumers, ECTAA warns it could harm operators’ cash flow, particularly during off-peak seasons when liquidity is already strained.
Drésin questioned the logic of singling out tour operators for prepayment restrictions when other travel services are not subject to the same rules.
“If the goal is truly to protect consumers, why not ensure all travel services have proper insolvency protection?” he asked.
Call for balance
With package holidays now representing less than 15 percent of EU travel sales — down from 40 percent in 2013 — ECTAA warns that “overregulation” risks driving consumers away from packages altogether. The association calls for a more balanced approach that protects consumers while keeping package travel competitive.
ECTAA urges lawmakers to revisit the draft report, listen to industry feedback, and focus on building a practical, future-proof framework that supports both consumer rights and business viability.
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