South East MEP Sharon Bowles welcomes EU plans for better holiday travel protection

4.20.00pm GMT Fri 11th Dec 2009

Sharon Bowles MEP

Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles has welcomed the news that the EU Commission will be consulting on plans to ensure that holiday-goers benefit from better holiday travel protection.

Figures reveal that 23% of EU consumers, and over 40% in countries like Ireland and Sweden are now booking "dynamic" package holidays where consumers make up their own packages, many of which currently fall outside EU protection rules.

Sharon Bowles said: "This is good news for holiday-goers. There needs to be new legislation to protect consumers from losing money if travel companies go under."

Following the recent spate of airlines going bust, the Commission has also proposed to extend basic insolvency protection for consumers beyond package and dynamic package holidays, including for stand alone airline tickets.

Sharon Bowles said: "In a climate of economic instability, this proposed EU legislation will ensure that holiday-goers have some piece of mind when booking their holidays."

The proposed legislation will expand upon the existing EU Package Travel Directive.

Sharon Bowles said: "It is about time existing legislation was updated. I'm glad to see the Commission is on top of this. The new proposals will alleviate consumers' concerns and restore confidence in the travel market."

ENDS