The new European Package Travel Directive (PTD) now also explicitly deals with online travel service providers and enters into force as of 1 July 2018.
Under the PTD (EU Directive of 25 November 2015 to be implemented by Member States by 1 July 2018) consumers of Packages have specific rights (a.o. information, substitution, price protection, guarantees for repatriation and against insolvency). A Package is a combination of at least two different types of travel services for a trip or holiday. Travel services are: carriage of passengers, accommodation which is not for residential purposes, rental of cars and other motor vehicles, and any other tourist service.
Under the old PTD the Package had to be a pre-arranged combination, now it can also be custom made. The new PTD also introduces a regime for so-called ‘linked travel arrangements’ – these are arrangements where one service provider redirects the customer to the website of another service provider.
MVVP services the Leisure Industries with its know how on internet platforms and ecommerce. The new PTD is an important new development in this field, requiring adjustments to booking terms.
