TRAVEL PROTECTION BILL
The purpose of the Bill is to:
-
Improve protection for holidaymakers by updating the UK’s
financial protection scheme for holidays.
The main benefits of the Bill would
be:
-
To ensure the Air Travel Organisers’ Licence (ATOL)
travel protection scheme for holidaymakers keeps pace with
innovation in the online .travel market, and that appropriate
protection is in place regardless of whether consumers book
online or the high street.
-
To make it easier for UK companies when selling holidays
across Europe, as they will be able to trade under the UK’s
ATOL scheme rather than the regimes in each country they sell
to.
The main elements of the Bill are:
-
To update the ATOL scheme and align it with enhancements
to the EU and UK package travel regulations that predate people
booking their holidays on the internet.
-
The measures would:
-
enable the ATOL scheme to cover new digital business
models and modern consumer purchasing behaviour;
-
align protection with that offered across Europe to allow
UK established companies to sell more easily across
borders.
Territorial extent and application
-
The Bill would apply to the UK.
Key facts
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ATOL was set up in 1973 to protect UK consumers when they
purchase a holiday including a flight. It ensures they will
receive a refund or be brought home if the company they
purchase from goes out of business. It protects over 20 million
holidaymakers each year.
-
The ABTA Holiday Habits Report 2016 identified that more
than three quarters (76%) of UK consumers booked their holiday
online in 2016.
