Stronger Package Travel Protections

EU Council Press Releases

Published March 30th, 2026

Detected March 30th, 2026

Summary

The Council of the EU adopted a revised Package Travel Directive strengthening protections for travelers purchasing combined tourist services. Key changes include clarified definitions excluding linked travel arrangements, enhanced pre-trip information requirements (payment methods, visa requirements, accessibility, cancellation fees), 14-day refund rights for force majeure cancellations, 12-month transferable vouchers as refund alternatives, and 6-month insolvency refund guarantees. Member states have 28 months to implement.

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What changed

The EU Council adopted a revised Package Travel Directive (PTD) that substantially strengthens traveler protections across multiple dimensions. The directive simplifies the definition of 'package' by excluding linked travel arrangements, introduces comprehensive information disclosure requirements (payment details, passport/visa requirements, accessibility information, cancellation fees), enhances insolvency protection with guaranteed refunds within 6 months, and establishes 14-day refund rights when travelers cancel due to force majeure. Vouchers offered as refund alternatives must be of equal or greater value, valid for 12 months, and transferable once. Organisers must also establish complaint-handling systems.

Travel agencies, tour operators, and online travel platforms selling package travel in the EU must prepare for implementation within 28 months. Entities should review and update booking systems, Terms & Conditions, and consumer-facing materials to ensure compliance with the enhanced information disclosure requirements. Organisations should also assess their insolvency protection arrangements and implement complaint-handling procedures as required by the directive.

What to do next

Review and update consumer-facing information requirements to include payment methods, passport/visa requirements, accessibility details, and cancellation fees
Assess and enhance insolvency protection coverage to meet the directive's requirements
Implement complaint-handling systems as required by the directive

Source document (simplified)

Council of the EU
Press release
30 March 2026 10:44

Consumer protection: Council gives final sign off to additional safeguards for package travel users

Today, the Council adopted a directive revising the rules on package travel. The new rules strengthen the protection of travellers who buy various tourist services – such as flights, transfers, accommodation, or excursions – in a single package. The revised package travel directive (PTD) adjusts the definition of ‘package travel’, enhances the information that must be provided to travellers and clarifies travellers’ rights in the event of package cancellation or service provider insolvency.

The success of our travel industry depends on travellers’ trust. We want to ensure that, by protecting the rights of travellers, packages continue to be an attractive option for our people’s trips, as well as a best-selling product for agencies, travel websites and tour operators.

Michael Damianos, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus

Better protection for package travellers

The updated package travel directive simplifies the definition of ‘package’ also by excluding linked travel arrangements from the scope of the legislation. It also introduces clearer information requirements for consumers by detailing the information that travellers must receive before, during, and after their trip, including details of payment methods, passport/visa requirements, accessibility and cancellation fees. The new text also enhances transparency rules in the event of organiser insolvency and obliges organizers to establish complaint-handling systems.

The new directive clarifies travellers’ rights when they cancel their trip due to ‘force majeure’. In such cases, travellers should not be charged termination fees and organisers must refund them within 14 days.

The directive also introduces rules about vouchers that may be offered as an alternative to refunds, provided they are of equal or greater value than the original trip, valid for 12 months and transferable once.

In cases of organiser’s insolvency, travellers must be refunded within six months (period extendable under certain conditions). The directive also ensures better protection and information regarding insolvency coverage.

Next steps

Following the Council’s approval, the legislative act has been adopted and will enter into force on 20days after its publication in the official journal. Member states will then have 28 months to implement the new rules at national level.

Background

Package travel, in which tour operators combine travel services such as flights, accommodation and excursions, is popular among travellers. However, its complexity can make it difficult for them to recover expenses if the package travel is cancelled. The insolvency of major companies such as Thomas Cook, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 crisis have highlighted the need to enhance the existing rules to provide better protection. In response, in October 2023 the European Commission proposed a revision to the 2015 package travel directive, with the aim of simplifying the package travel rules and strengthening travellers’ protection.

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