The political climate

Tourism is one of the most heavily regulated industries. As a global organisation TUI Travel has a public affairs team that works with governments across our key source markets to address issues that impact our industry and our customers.

The Package Travel Directive is one issue that has come to the fore following the collapse of a number of airlines including XL Airways and one on which we have been campaigning across our key markets. The Package Travel Directive came into effect in 1990 and its provisions were introduced into UK law through the Package Travel Regulations in 1992. The Package Travel Directive set out travel organisers' responsibilities to their customers in the event that an operator fails. In the EU, anyone who offers package holidays must comply with the Package Travel Directive.

Following campaigning by TUI Travel and the industry, the European Commission has recognised that the Package Travel Directive needs to be updated in line with the significant changes that have taken place in the industry over the last 17 years, most notably the use of the internet for booking holidays. We are ensuring that TUI Travel's views on this regulation and the protection customers should expect are heard. As part of this, Peter Long has met with the European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs to submit our recommendations.