An industry-wide working group co-ordinated by ABTA met yesterday (1 December) to discuss the EU’s Package Travel Directive consultation.

At this first meeting made up of representatives from ABTA, FTO, AITO, PSA, The Co-operative Travel Group, Advantage and Worldchoice, the group focused on a timetable to gather accurate data about the industry, which will inform policy positions so that the industry’s voice is properly represented in response to the consultation.

ABTA Members will receive a questionnaire from ABTA at the end of this week, and will be asked to respond by Tuesday 22 December. The group will meet again in early January, to collate findings and then ABTA will put together a discussion paper for its 13 January board meeting. The final submission date is 7 February 2010.

The Package Travel Directive consultation covers a wide remit of issues from financial protection, liability, accuracy of information in promotional material, to cancellation rights and complaints.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “We are pleased that all the industry has agreed to work together in a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to change in regulations which has the potential to greatly benefit the industry and consumers.”