The new legislation on package travel and associated travel arrangements (Law 186 (I) / 2017) harmonises national law with the corresponding EU Directive. The move aims to establish a high and uniform level of protection for travellers in respect of package travel, also taking into account the increasing use of the Internet for bookings.
Two types of travel are covered by the new law, firstly package tours organised by tour operators; and secondly the most up-to-date travel booking arrangements where consumers are guided in a targeted manner while booking a travel service, for example air tickets, usually via the Internet, to book additional travel services, for example car hire.
In relation to package travel, the Directive provides that the organiser is to provide travellers with specific and clear information prior to the conclusion of the contract, such as the main features of travel services, the total price of the package including taxes, methods of payment and information on the traveller’s ability to cancel the contract.
Also, the organiser has to inform travellers about who will have the ultimate responsibility in the event that a service is not executed as agreed.
With regard to associated travel arrangements, the Law requires traders to inform travellers at the time of the contract that the contract is not a package travel deal and therefore will not have all the rights granted in the case of a formally organised trip.
The law also includes standard forms of basic information, which both organisers and merchants facilitating associated travel arrangements must provide to travellers prior to concluding a contract, depending on the type of trip and the booking method.
The traveller, in both package travel and coupled travel arrangements, is protected in the event of insolvency of the trader responsible for the contract.
In such a case, the organiser or trader facilitating paired travel arrangements must provide collateral for reimbursement of the amounts received by travellers. This guarantee also covers repatriation.
In addition, the Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism has designated Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) to act as Approved Body according to Article 18 of the Law.
The role of the Approved Body is, among other things, to ensure that organisers of package tours and traders facilitating paired travel arrangements meet the conditions set by the law to protect travellers from possible insolvency.
In addition, it is the responsibility of the Approved Body to take immediate action to ensure that a traveller who has been affected by an insolvency of an organiser or trader receives a refund and is repatriated when travelling abroad.
For the convenience of all interested parties, the Consumer Protection Service has prepared information material on the basic rights of travellers and on the basic obligations of businesses operating in the travel services sector, which derive from the new law.
The information material and the text of the new law are posted on Service’s website.
