The Commission told the European Parliament's monthly plenary session that it planned to extend consumer protection rules on travel packages to Internet bookings.
Consumer protection has been diluted as holidaymakers turn to the Web to book so-called "dynamic packages" – online travel packages – John Dalli, the EU's commissioner for health and consumer policy, told MEPs in Strasbourg last night.
Dalli said travel agents would also benefit from the changes to the 1990 Package Travel Directive, as they have been hit by both the recession and consumers opting for cheaper, more versatile holiday offers in the Internet.
Currently travel agents have to comply with strict terms of consumer redress under EU rules, but online agents have so far not been affected by the directive.
As airlines went bust last year and tourists were left stranded, there was increasing confusion about which companies in the online booking chain – airlines, hotels or tour operators – were liable for compensating consumers.
Dalli warned that the exact terms of the new rules were not yet clear as the EU executive was still in consultation mode and would be meeting stakeholders in April to discuss the changes.
The update will include consumer information clarifying the terms of liability and compensation if a travel company goes bust, according to Dalli.
It was unclear, however, whether the review would cover bookings where the consumer buys different components from different sellers.
"This is a timely and welcome piece of amending legislation. The Travel Package Directive was originally brought into law in 1990 when e-commerce was but a glint in a computer programmer's eye," British MEP Malcolm Harbour said, welcoming Dalli's comments.
Irish MEPs yesterday also welcomed Dalli's statement, because Ireland currently makes the highest number of online bookings per capita in the EU.
46% of Irish holidaymakers have booked dynamic packages since 2008, which is double the EU average.
