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TUI boss Ebel calls for quick reforms: DRSF under criticism!
TUI CEO Ebel is calling for changes to the DRSF in order to reduce high insurance costs. Tour operators criticize double burdens.
TUI boss Ebel calls for quick reforms: DRSF under criticism!
In the travel industry there is currently increased pressure on the German Travel Insurance Fund (DRSF). In a recent statement, TUI CEO Sebastian Ebel called for the DRSF to take quicker measures to relieve the burden on the organizers. Ebel says that the high hedging costs are putting a heavy burden on the company and complains that the industry had to wait too long for the necessary changes. His appeal is directed at both the DRSF and the Ministry of Justice to finally take action.
The situation will also be critically examined at the annual meeting of the travel agency association VUSR in Berlin. Here Ebel emphasizes that the current regulation of customer money protection needs to be revised and describes the situation at the DRSF as a “scandal”. TUI and the Dertour Group have already taken legal action to combat the DRSF's high contribution rates. In this context, the Dertour Group is demanding repayments amounting to millions due to double payments in the year of accession.
Double burden on the organizers
A particularly powerful expression of the problem comes from Timo Kohlenberg, Managing Director of America Unlimited. Due to a turnover of over ten million euros, Kohlenberg had to join the DRSF and has paid contributions for both 2022 and for advance bookings for 2023, which leads to a double burden. He is planning legal action because he is supposed to pay twice for around 30 percent of the trips.
The issue of double burden is also addressed by VUSR boss Marija Linnhoff, who calls for solutions to adjust contributions in order to secure the existence of travel agencies. Green politician Stefan Schmidt shows understanding for the situation, but suggests that the problem should be solved without legal proceedings. Schmidt speaks of a “perceived” double burden, an assessment that is met with criticism from Kohlenberg.
The demands for a revision of the DRSF and a reduction in the contribution burden for organizers are becoming increasingly important. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining how quickly and in what form the needs of the travel industry are responded to.