German tourism: Travel agents call for changes to package travel law

The German government could be ready to adapt the controversial new package travel law following protests, chancellor Angela Merkel indicated to industry bosses this week, fvw.com reports.

The current draft law to implement the new EU Package Travel Directive has come under fire from the travel industry in recent months, especially over fears that travel agents could be legally liable like tour operators if they sell two different travel products as one single booking.

Speaking at the German Tourism Summit in Berlin on Monday, Merkel said: “On the topic of the package travel directive, we have the situation of the small and medium-sized travel agents in our view…And yes, we don’t want to confront the whole tourism industry.” However, she added that the government also had to take consumer interests into account.

The German chancellor highlighted the growth of tourism in Germany, which grew by 5% to a new record level last year, describing Germany as “having something to offer” and being “a safe country”. Merkel also underlined the role of tourism in economic development around the world, telling an audience of some 600 industry executives and managers that “you are all development helpers”. In an earlier video message, the chancellor had encouraged Germans to travel to the Arabian world as well as developing countries to increase cultural understanding.

Controversial clause 

Michael Frenzel, president of the German Tourism Federation (BTW), which organised the one-day conference, declared: “The current draft to implement the EU package travel directive urgently needs changing.” He said that justice minister Heiko Maas had told him at a meeting last Friday that changes could be expected, and predicted that the controversial clause on travel agency liability for package bookings could be adapted. The draft law is due to be discussed by the German cabinet on October 12, and is scheduled to become law by autumn 2017.

In his opening speech, the former TUI chief pointed out the “rapid” changes in political, social and economic conditions for the tourism industry, including terror threats, which had resulted in “slow” bookings this summer and capacity problems in the Western Mediterranean as holidaymakers switched away from Turkey and North Africa.

In his speech, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai called for increased cooperation between tourism source markets and destinations that have been affected by crises. “Real crises are often magnified or distorted by crises of perception. We need to enhance our support to countries affected by crises as they recover and help them increase their resilience. Supporting these countries will benefit the whole tourism sector and the whole of society,” he declared.

Despite current challenges, Rifai stressed that tourism is proving to be one of the most resilient economic sectors worldwide, creating jobs for millions and contributing to more inclusive growth. He recalled that in 2015, international tourist arrivals reached 1.2 billion, 52 million more than in 2014, and that data for the first half of 2016 confirmed this positive trend with a 4% increase in international tourist arrivals.

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