The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT) welcomes the Government Department for Business and Trade (DBT) announcement today confirming Ministerial approval of and the publication of the Consultation outcome ‘Package Travel – updating the framework 2025.’ ABTOT and its Members worked closely with DBT throughout the Call for Evidence and Consultation stages, providing direct feedback from travel organiser Members via surveys and in person workshops.
ABTOT wholeheartedly supports the decision to maintain financial protection for domestic packages as well as to extend the definition of a package by incorporating type A LTA sales and abolishing type B LTAs.
Samantha Bradbury, Membership Director comments “Clarity and understanding is key for both industry and consumer confidence, as well as enforcement.”
A second key amendment follows DBT recognition to strengthen and clarify redress from third parties, allowing travel organisers to recover costs from suppliers more effectively under Regulation 29. This will help in part to redress the current imbalance of obligations on travel organisers and their suppliers when a holiday must be cancelled or significantly amended.
As a DBT approved body ABTOT supports the conclusion that widening territorial restrictions on insurers is too high risk and has potential to destabilise consumer protection.
Due to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 restrictions, a more sweeping overhaul of the PTRs was not possible, but the Consultation has identified several key areas which may be explored in further, independent, legislative review.
ABTOT commends the DBT and Minister for their engagement with the wider industry and for driving the Consultation and its PTR changes to a timely conclusion.