News

18 March 2026

EU Parliament Approves New Travel Package Protections to Shield Holidaymakers

Login / create an account to be able to react

• 223

The European Parliament has endorsed new legislation aimed at strengthening the protection and rights of holidaymakers within the EU, ensuring better consumer experiences and safeguarding against unexpected travel disruptions.

Content source Tap to read the news Publishing org

European Parliament

Related Organisation(s)

European Parliament

Topics Geographical descriptors

Albania

Armenia

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

EU-27

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Kosovo

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Moldova

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Türkiye

Ukraine

Other

Organisation Type

Consumer Organisations

Destination Management & Marketing Organisations

Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce

National authorities

• Specific types of tourism

• • Adventure tourism

  • Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

  • Cultural tourism

  • Ecotourism

  • Education tourism

  • Festival tourism

  • Gastronomy tourism

  • Health and medical tourism

  • MICE tourism

  • Mountain tourism

  • Religious tourism

  • Rural tourism

  • Sports tourism

  • Urban/city tourism

  • Wellness tourism

• Transition Pathway Strategic Areas

• • Coordinated information on travelling

  • Cross-border travelling

  • Governance of tourism destinations

  • Tools for data on tourism

  • Tourism strategies

• Business activities

• • Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism

Share "service" : "share", "target": "_blank", "version" : "2.0", "networks" : ["twitter", "facebook", "linkedin"]

In a decisive move, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) gave their approval to revised rules on package travel during a plenary session held on March 12, 2026. The directive, discussed in Strasbourg, seeks to safeguard holidaymakers by implementing clearer definitions of travel packages, introducing more flexible rules for vouchers, and enabling cancellations without penalties under extraordinary circumstances.

With the new rules, consumers gain the right to reject vouchers used during the pandemic and demand refunds. Vouchers are limited to a 12-month validity, and clients must be reimbursed for expired or unused vouchers. Furthermore, customers can cancel trips without fees if unforeseen events arise at the destination or departure point. The legislation also ensures timely responses to complaints and strengthens insolvency protections against bankruptcy-related losses. These changes aim to enhance transparency and offer peace of mind to EU travelers, reinforcing consumer rights and the integrity of the tourism industry.

For full details, refer to the official publicationhere.

#Responsible travel #Sustainable tourism #Climate-friendly tourism practices #Carbon footprint reduction #Tourism development

Rating Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet Rate Comments (0) Related content-

• 65

Comment 0

Knowledge documents

16 Jan 2025

Council strengthens travellers' rights with revised package travel directive The Council of the European Union adopted a negotiating mandate on 18 December 2024 for a revised directive to enhance traveller protection and clarify package... Categories Adventure tourism Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism +16 more5

• 89

Comment 0

Legislation

22 Aug 2024

EU regulation on linked arrangements and updated package travel This Directive updates the EU's legislative framework for package and linked travel arrangements to enhance consumer protection, adapt to market changes, and ensure consistency across... Categories Adventure tourism Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism +41 more-

• 39

Comment 0

Legislation

22 Aug 2024

Revision of the EU package travel directive for increased safety and explicitness The directive updates EU regulations on package travel to enhance consumer protection, simplify procedures, and address issues highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises. Categories Adventure tourism Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism +42 more See also-

• 164

Comment 0

• News
• 15 Jan 2026

Register and join our monthly discussion on the changes shaping European tourism in 2025! European tourism in 2025 marked a turning point: demand remained strong, international travel grew steadily, and the sector shifted its focus from recovery to long‑term... Categories Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more5

• 212

Comment 0

• News
• 23 Jul 2025

European Commission launches public consultation on first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan The European Commission has officially launched a public consultation on the inaugural European Affordable Housing Plan, marking a significant step toward addressing housing challenges across... Categories Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more 5

• 317

Comment 0

• News
• 31 Jul 2025

EU Launches €2 Million Funding Call to Explore Cultural Impact on Health and Well-being The European Commission has launched a new Horizon Europe funding call offering up to €2 million per project to support research on how culture and... Categories Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more