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TSI Seeks More Protection For Travellers

Fri, 24 Nov 2006

A watchdog warned that tougher laws are needed in order to protect tourists booking holidays and once they are abroad .

According to the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), millions of people are booking holidays each year, and are unaware that they have no financial protection should things go wrong when abroad .

TSI's head officer for holidays and travel, Bruce Treloar, said, "The way people book their holidays these days has changed dramatically, particularly with the rise of the internet and the use of budget airlines .

"However, the laws have not kept pace with this change. They do not adequately protect consumers if they fall foul of disreputable companies or if companies go bust.

"Nor are consumers clear about what risks they are taking with their money or about which companies they can trust."

Mr Treloar added, "The whole situation is a real mess and we urgently need the government and the industry to sort it out before the big holiday booking season kicks in after Christmas ."

The TSI is calling for an emergency fund to be set up immediately which legally binds airlines to guarantee all advance flight payments purchased in the UK.

The fund would be paid for by a small passenger levy payable at the point of purchase. Other measures are also to be looked at.

Mr Treloar carried on his attack on the travel industry by accusing them of ‘misleading’ consumers by luring them with artificially low prices, which were then raised by compulsory charges. He also called for more transparency in the way prices are advertised.
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