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ABTA responds to critics
ABTA has defended itself against harsh criticism on the eve of its Convention.
It has been accused of not protecting its agent members over the new Package Travel Directive.
Some of the association’s members, including On Holiday Group chief executive Steve Endacott, alongside former member Travel Counsellors boss David Speakman, have publicly aired their views in the run-up to the annual Convention which starts today.
Today, ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer issued this response.
"The really key points in relation to the Package Travel Directive (PTD) are that we maintain the pressure to bring airline holiday sales and click-through arrangements into the scope of the Directive; that we make sure that agents acting as pure retailers of third party packages are not saddled with PTD obligations; and that we make sure that the drafting of the Directive does not compromise our members’ agency status.
"These are the key issues that emerged when we consulted with all of our members (agents, operators and mixed businesses) in 2009 and these are the key points that we have been putting to the Commission since that time.
"We are looking forward to a healthy debate on PTD during the Convention this week, when a range of businesses, including online travel agents, will have the chance to put forward their views, but it is vital that we don’t lose sight of these issues that impact all our members.
"A real threat of a revised PTD is that the agency model will be compromised, we have put forward a compelling case to the Commission to help ensure this does not happen.
"It is also important that as an industry we put forward a united voice on other critical points raised in discussions in Europe, for example arguing for cooling off periods to be kept out of the Directive and preserving the right of businesses to surcharge."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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