Marija Linnhoff starts Germany tour: Future of the package tours in focus!

Marija Linnhoff starts Germany tour: Future of the package tours in focus!

Marija Linnhoff, the head of the travel agency Vusr, is currently going on a tour of Germany to make the numerous challenges of the travel industry visible. The nationwide tour in Lower Saxony starts, whereby other federal states are to follow. Linnhoff emphasizes that it is important to support the work at the base of travel agencies and to draw attention to the tense situation. This initiative comes at a time when Thomas Cook revises his package tour guideline, which raises additional discussion points within the industry.

In a parallel debate on the revision of the flat -rate directive, seven associations, including ASR, DRV and DTV, signed a joint position paper. The VusR, although actively involved in the discussion, was not part of this document. Linnhoff also expressed concerns about the different interests between inpatient travel agencies and online travel providers (OTAS). Especially during this time, the factual dialogue within the industry is of crucial importance, but the chances of agreement in the revision of the directive are rather critical.

The challenges of the industry

The debate about the new regulations and in particular the demand for a three-hour rule ensures tensions. While VUSR boss Linnhoff criticizes the representation by Vir boss Michael Buller as not suitable, she at the same time asked the great tour operators to clearly support the inpatient sales. Buller, in turn, argues that the introduction of this regulation would have an impact on all providers.

There are stubborn differences between the associations despite some matches. Linnhoff is unsure whether she succeeds in pulling the organizers on the side of the inpatient travel agencies. The clear positioning and support of inpatient providers by the industry is to be regarded as crucial for future development.

Overall, the travel agencies are faced with a crucial phase, which is characterized by the current debate about the lump -sum directive. A coordinated reaction from the industry could make a decisive contribution to protecting the interests of everyone involved.