Controversial German directive passes with reduced sting

Source: Tourism Update, 06/06/2017

On a positive note German travel and hospitality associations were
successful in removing and amending the most detrimental regulations
contained in earlier versions despite a lack of unity in their
ranks.


The directive passed through its second and third reading in the early
hours of June 2 in a process that took less than two minutes reports
Reinhart Mecklenburg of AfroSales Tourism Marketing Services.


The new national law comes into effect on July 1 2018.
In its original form the directive threatened to entrench the power of
Germanys dominant tour operator reintroduce exclusive agreements which
have been banned in the country since 1994 and force retailers to take
on the liabilities of tour operators.


The first reaction by Germanys travel trade associations waivers
between ‘Not nice, but at least better than the original draft issued
by Brussels and ‘Let’s go ahead and live with this admin monster
commented Mecklenburg.


A laudable reaction he said came from the countrys largest travel
agents alliance Quality Travel Alliance (QTA) which lost little time
in announcing that its legal experts would draw up a detailed
information bulletin for its 8 000 retail travel agency members. QTA
will also provide substantial online and offline training for counter
staff.


In terms of the working relationship with the Southern African
hospitality industry not much changes states Mecklenburg. The heavy
administration onus is 100% on the German agent.


One aspect that might be of common interest is the fact that outbound
tour operators may increase published selling prices by 8% up to four
months prior to the date of travel.



The EU package travel directive was passed into German law last week.
The German travel trade were taken by surprise late last week when the
controversial EU package travel directive (PTD), expected to drag on
for some months yet, was passed by the German Bundestag.
On a positive note, German travel and hospitality associations were
successful in removing and amending the most detrimental regulations
contained in earlier versions, despite a lack of unity in their ranks.
The directive passed through its second and third reading in the early
hours of June 2, in a process that took less than two minutes, reports
Reinhart Mecklenburg of AfroSales Tourism Marketing Services. The new
national law comes into effect on July 1, 2018.
In its original form, the directive threatened to entrench the power
of Germany’s dominant tour operators, reintroduce exclusive agreements
which have been banned in the country since 1994, and force retailers
to take on the liabilities of tour operators.
“The first reaction by Germany’s travel trade associations waivers
between ‘Not nice, but at least better than the original draft issued
by Brussels’ and ‘Let’s go ahead and live with this admin monster’,”
commented Mecklenburg.
A laudable reaction, he said, came from the country’s largest travel
agents’ alliance, Quality Travel Alliance (QTA), which lost little
time in announcing that its legal experts would draw up a detailed
information bulletin for its 8 000 retail travel agency members. QTA
will also provide substantial online and offline training for counter
staff.
“In terms of the working relationship with the Southern African
hospitality industry, not much changes,” states Mecklenburg. “The
heavy administration onus is 100% on the German agent.
“One aspect that might be of common interest is the fact that outbound
tour operators may increase published selling prices by 8% up to four
months prior to the date of travel.