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The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association (ECTAA) has welcomed the provisional agreement reached on December 2 by EU policymakers during trilogue negotiations on the revision of the Package Travel Directive (PTD).
The outcome is being hailed as a balanced and pragmatic compromise that addresses key concerns of Europe’s travel industry while maintaining robust consumer protection.
ECTAA highlighted several improvements in the agreement:
– Clearer, simpler definitions: The removal of Linked Travel Arrangements and deletion of the 3-hour package definition reduce complexity and reflect longstanding industry requests.
– Workable 24-hour package rule: Combinations of services can fall outside the package regime if travellers are informed in advance, providing flexibility while ensuring transparency.
– Removal of prepayment limitations: Travel businesses can continue using standard booking and payment processes without facing disproportionate regulatory constraints.
– Balanced approach to travel warnings: Avoiding automatic legal consequences prevents operational disruption while maintaining strong consumer safeguards.
“This agreement shows that constructive dialogue works,” said Frank Oostdam, President of ECTAA. “We see meaningful improvements that reflect the operational realities of our sector while preserving robust consumer protection. It is a balanced outcome that will help the industry continue delivering a safe, reliable, and attractive travel product for millions of Europeans.”
Challenges remain, says ECTAA
Photo source: European Commission / © Synthex/Adobe Stock
Despite the positive steps, ECTAA noted that some challenges remain. The mandatory 14-day refund requirement remains unchanged even in systemic crises, which could create financial and operational strain. ECTAA continues advocating for a flexible, crisis-resilient mechanism to protect both consumers and travel businesses.
“We would like that the current negotiations on the various passenger rights regulations reached the same level of protection for the passengers and the intermediaries servicing them,” Oostdam added.
ECTAA represents the interests of 80,000 travel agents and tour operators across Europe, providing consultancy and selling transport, accommodation, leisure, and other tourism services, as well as combined products to leisure and business customers.
The provisional agreement demonstrates the value of industry engagement in EU policymaking, offering a workable framework for the sector while highlighting areas where further advocacy may be required.
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