Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations
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In a busy tourism industry, staying abreast of regulations can be challenging, do you know if the current regulations affect you, or how proposed changes may open up new opportunities? If you are offering add-on and extras, the regulations may affect you.
The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 introduced a significant change to the travel industry by defining and regulating Linked Travel Arrangements (LTAs).
What is a Linked Travel Arrangement?
An LTA is a combination of at least two different types of travel services (like transport, accommodation, car rental, or significant tourist services) that are sold in a way that links them together.
The key factor is how these services are sold, not necessarily the content of the services themselves.
Examples of LTAs:
- Booking a flight and then receiving an email with a hotel offer for the same destination and dates, which you book within 24 hour
- A travel agency offering multiple travel services together, even if they are not booked at the same time.
Key Points about LTAs:
- Consumer Protection: LTAs provide consumers with similar protections as package holidays, including financial protection in case of insolvency.
- Broader Definition: The 2018 regulations widened the definition of a package, leading to more travel arrangements being covered by consumer protection.
- Organiser Liability: The organizer of an LTA is responsible for the performance of all travel services included in the arrangement.
Essentially, the 2018 regulations aimed to enhance consumer protection for travelers by expanding the scope of travel arrangements covered by financial safeguards.
Would you like to know more about specific aspects of LTAs, such as how they differ from package holidays or the implications for travel businesses? - Click Here
The Call for Evidence tests whether existing regulation is proportionate and effective. They were seeking views on the scope of the rules, including whether the same protections should be in place for international and domestic holidays and whether a minimum cost threshold for the rules to apply would make the regulatory burdens more proportionate. They were also seeking feedback on areas where the regime could be clearer, such as by changing the approach to currently named “Linked Travel Arrangements” and how other tourist services form part of a package.
Throughout the Call for Evidence, they were inviting views on how the rules have operated across the last five years, particularly through the Covid pandemic. This includes inviting views on whether reforms should be brought forward so the rules can work better for consumers and businesses when there are extreme extenuating circumstances.
Linked Travel Arrangments Webinar
Find out more about this in our essential webinar, featuring insights from industry experts Matt Gatenby, Senior Partner at Travlaw, Erika Miller, Package Travel Lead and Andrew Powell, Package Travel Advisor from the UK Government’s Department for Business & Trade. Current Regulations Decoded: Explore how these regulations could directly affect your business operations. From booking…
