TUI boss Ebel: Immediate reduction in the travel fund costs!

TUI boss Ebel: Immediate reduction in the travel fund costs!

The CEO of TUI, Sebastian Ebel, caused a stir in the German travel industry by demanding urgent measures to reduce the wages of the German travel security fund (DRSF). In a statement published on May 19, 2025, EBEL expressed his concerns about the considerable costs that tour operators currently have to pay, and described the last seven months as a "expensive month" for the industry, which were characterized by a standstill. The DRSF serves to support package travel customers in an emergency, as in the case of FTI's bankruptcy in 2024, but also increased the financial burden on the providers, which is reflected in the amount of the deposits. TUI currently pays one percent of his income in the funds, which corresponds to an average double-digit million amount per year, according to FAZ .

"The DRSF is important," emphasizes Ebel, "but the current fees are no longer portable." In addition, he demands that the payments be set to zero, since the target assets of 1.04 billion euros, including the permitted loan commitments, have been achieved in his opinion. EBEL also criticizes the passivity of the fund management and calls for a proactive approach to the adaptation of the fees. At the same time, he points out that not all those affected have already received money back in the FTI bankruptcy.

reactions from the industry

The reactions to Ebel's demands are polarized. While some industry representatives such as Christoph Debus, head of the Dertour, support his position and see the change of government in Berlin as a suitable time for a review of the DRSF, there are also skeptical voices. Marija Linnhoff, chair of the travel agency association Vusr, praises Ebel's clarity and determination. In contrast, other industry representatives express concerns about the consequences of immediate reduction in the fees.

Michael Buller from the Association Internet Travel Sales (Vir) and Norbert Fiebig from the German Travel Association (DRV) have also commented. Buller spoke out for a comprehensive discussion about the effects of the adapted fees, while Fiebig emphasized the need to find long -term consensus. Deniz Uğur von Bentour and Hans-Josef Vogel from Burkhardt's law firm joined this discussion to find a common solution.

political dimensions

The Ministry of Justice has also commented on Ebel's claims. Since the break in the traffic light coalition, no decisions about the amount of the fees have been made, which increases uncertainty in the industry. According to EBEL, short -term measures must therefore be taken to offer the tour operators a better perspective and to get the travel industry going again as a whole.

The debate about adapting the DRSF and the associated fees will continue to employ the travel industry in the coming weeks. EBEL is committed to more options for securing customers in order not to artificially increase the costs for package tours. It remains to be seen which political and industry -specific developments will bring the future for the DRSF. For further details on the topic, a look at the information from FVW .