Abta legal chief: Rewrite the PTRs Ian Taylor


Abta director of legal affairs Simon Bunce has urged the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to “rewrite the whole lot” in its review of the Package Travel Regulations (PTRs). Bunce called for a rewrite of the


regulations at a Travlaw event in London last week, suggesting the department “starts with a blank sheet of paper”. He was speaking a day after


aviation minister Anthony Browne promised an update on Atol reform “this year” following confirmation of a delay to the reform in mid-January (Travel Weekly, January 18). Bunce said: “We’ve left the EU.


We should rewrite the whole lot in a way that works for the UK industry. It would be a missed opportunity if we don’t.” He suggested the Package Travel


Directive, on which the PTRs are based, was “a compromise” and argued: “We don’t need to make these compromises. Let’s start with a blank sheet of paper and write a set of regulations that work for the UK.” Not everyone agreed. Krystene


Bousfield, partner at Travlaw, argued the regulations “need to be simplified”. She said: “We don’t need to rewrite the regulations. They need to be tweaked.” Alistair Rowland, chief executive


of Blue Bay Travel and chair of Abta, acknowledged: “There are some


Payday boosts sales but family sector still slow


Juliet Dennis


The first ‘payday weekend’ of January has boosted summer sales, but agents say they continue to have to work hard to convert in the price-sensitive family market. The trade reported Saturday to


be the strongest sales day, suggesting clients waited to be paid until booking at the weekend. Hays Travel shops and


Independence Group members enjoyed their best weekend this month. The group hailed the success of its payday campaign, which reassured clients plenty of holidays


4 1 FEBRUARY 2024


would still be available at the end of January, and said many clients were choosing staggered payment plans. Retail director Jane Schumm said:


“Many are making the most of low deposits and direct debit options.” Barrhead Travel recorded its best-


ever weekend for sales and said it was on track to have its best-ever January. Some agents predicted next


weekend would be stronger still but cautioned the price-sensitive end of the market was slower to book and noted overall sales last week fell on the previous week. Kelly Cookes, chief commercial officer at The Advantage Travel


Let’s start with a blank sheet of paper and write a set of regulations that work for the UK


issues of concern with the PTRs.” But Bunce argued the “balance of


risk has shifted too far” against travel organisers and Rowland agreed: “An organiser is on the hook for anything that can happen on a holiday.” The DBT issued a Call for


Evidence on reform of the PTRs in September 2023 and is reviewing the submissions ahead of a follow-up consultation.


Craig Belshaw, assistant director


for partnerships and consumer policy at the department, told an Abta travel regulations conference in November: “We have the power to write entirely new legislation.” Asked about the delay to Atol


reform, Rowland noted: “Everyone wants to get to the finish line on reform, but we want the right outcome.” Bunce argued: “We have to use


the opportunity of the delay on Atol.” He added: “I’m sure the CAA wishes it hadn’t started [Atol reform].” Browne revealed there will be


an update later this year when he spoke at a joint CAA-Travel Weekly Parliamentary reception to celebrate


the 50th anniversary of Atol last week. i Business, page 54


Greece is popular due to ‘keen pricing’


Partnership, said: “Family bookings are coming through, but the lower end of this market continues to be slow. This is likely to pick up this week following [the end of month] payday.” Summer 2024 bookings made


up 50% of members’ total sales last week, with Saturday taking a 20% share of the week’s bookings. Cookes reported a “slight dip” in sales on the week before, but said sales remained “significantly up” on last year. InteleTravel UK and Ireland


managing director Tricia Handley- Hughes said summer 2024 was “way ahead of the shoulder season” and


already up to 40% of total sales taken for last summer. But she added: “There’s lots of


price matching and discounting. Customers are shopping around, so agents are having to work hard.” Polka Dot Travel director Mark


Johnson agreed, but said: “We are consistently busy.” Merlin Travel Group reported a


“noticeable” hike in long-haul sales, while Independent Travel Experts said keen pricing was boosting Greece sales. Managing director Gary Gillespie said ITE saw overall sales slow slightly week on week. Summer 2024 accounted for 61% of sales.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Sven Hansche


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