Travel prices are rising: who is to blame? VUSR makes allegations!

Travel prices are rising: who is to blame? VUSR makes allegations!

The travel industry is currently confronted with rising prices, which is leading to an intensive exchange about the causes of this development. The EU Commission is often held responsible for the price increases. However, the travel agency association VUSR contradicts this view and emphasizes that in reality national politics are responsible for the price increases fvw.de reported.

This discussion takes place against the background that the tourism industry in Europe is also confronted with new challenges. Recently, the EU Parliament adopted a controversial recast of the Package Travel Directive, which is causing concern in the industry. Critics such as Gregor Kadanka from the Travel Agencies Association and Georg Imlauer from the Hotel Industry Association of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce express concern about unclear definitions, especially of the term “package trip”. aviation.direct.

Uncertainties and concerns

One of the key concerns concerns the possibility that any booking made within 24 hours of a request could be classified as a package holiday. This regulation could lead to an additional bureaucratic burden, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, and would result in penalties that could threaten their existence in the event of possible violations. In addition, the lack of clarity about the term “request” leads to legal uncertainty for hoteliers.

Small business owners could inadvertently be considered tour operators without the necessary resources to meet the new requirements. Associations such as the WKÖ criticize the fact that the EU Council had called for clearer regulations. Not only could this make the operations of many companies economically unviable, but it could also have a negative impact on the entire travel market.

Our rights in focus

Proponents of the new directive argue that it is intended to strengthen consumer protection. However, industry representatives warn against “misunderstood consumer protection” and excessive obligations for tour operators. A key point here is the concern that traditional package holidays are no longer economically viable, which could ultimately harm consumers.

A possible market change could also lead to unregulated bookings with international online providers that offer significantly less consumer protection. In this context, trialogue negotiations between the EU Commission, the EU Council and the EU Parliament will soon take place. The representatives of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce are committed to a balanced package travel directive, the result of which will be crucial for the future of the European travel market.