What are The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 and who do these regulations apply to?

  • Who do these regulations apply to?

    1. These Regulations apply to –
    (a) packages (defined below) offered for sale or sold by travel organisers to travellers, and
    (b) linked travel arrangements (LTAs) (defined below), which are concluded on or after the commencement date of 1 July 2018.
    2. These Regulations do not apply to –
    (a) packages and linked travel arrangements covering a period of less than 24 hours, unless overnight accommodation is included;
    (b) packages offered, and linked travel arrangements facilitated, occasionally on a not-for-profit basis for a limited group of travellers;
    (c) packages and linked travel arrangements purchased on the basis of a general agreement.

    All travel organisers, both those acting as principal or agent selling package holidays in the UK and EU have to comply with these regulations. These rules are in place in the UK to implement a European Directive which now also affects all member states.

    Package holidays are often complex combinations of travel services including transport and accommodation and often other services. The business putting these elements together is the travel organiser and is subject to the obligations under the Travel regulations. Various service providers are often involved with package holidays and a problem with the delivery of one service may affect the delivery of others. Added to this that there may often be language barriers or geographical issues, which it is why it can be more attractive for a customer to deal with one UK based business than trying to DIY it themselves.

    A package is defined as a combination of two or more of the following travel services:
    3. Carriage of passengers – i.e. transport including flights, ferries, trains, coaches.
    4. Accommodation – hotels, chalets, tents, mobile homes, cruise cabins, villas but not accommodation that is part of the transport – such as a sleeper carriage on a train or a cabin in a ferry.
    5. Motor Vehicle Hire – car, motorbike or scooter
    6. Any other tourist service – this can be anything but must be significant – examples include guided walks or tours, ski passes or ski equipment rental, concert admission, sport events, spa treatments, golf fees, expert instruction in photography, cooking, painting.

    How we can help travel businesses

    ABTOT was specifically set up in 1993 to offer a straightforward, cost effective solution to the insolvency protection obligations imposed on travel businesses by the Travel Regulations. With an expert team, a range of accepted products and direct access to the leading travel bond underwriters, we work with travel businesses to find the correct solution for them. Find out more:
    How we work Travel Bonds process for Tour Operators (abtot.com)
    FAQs Travel Bonding FAQs – ABTOT


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