ABTA will make decision on unsatisfactory situation next week
Holiday companies could be forced to include a GBP9-per-head security charge of package holidays in the brochure price, rather than it being added as an additional cost. Travellers have had to pay the charge since the 11 September terror attacks; the charge was initially £7.
ABTA’s Sean Tipton told News From Abroad that while some members feel it would be introduce such a charge as part of holiday prices, the organisation is still concerned about the situation because its code of conduct states that unavoidable taxes should be included in holiday costs.
He added: “We still feel that at present we have an unsatisfactory situation, and this matter will be resolved either way at the next meeting of our board of directors on 10 September.”
The Telegraph reports that First Choice Holidays already includes the levy in its prices, while MyTravel and Thomson, which currently make a separate charge, say they will go along with any new rules imposed by ABTA.
And Bruce Treloar, of Trading Standards, reportedly told the newspaper: “Companies have been making a fast buck by separating out the charge. It’s about time ABTA got its house in order.”
