The Legal Impacts of COVID-19 in the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry

– the deposit paid will be included in the chosen trip of their choice, maintaining the same payment conditions as for the original trip, which was booked between 13 March and 19 April. Given the current situation, the tour operators offered the new opportunity to change travel plans, free of charge, for customers who had planned trips with departure from 19 to 30 April. The customers who booked leisure travels were given the option to change the date, duration, hotel, room type, destination and/or season, if at least fourteen days remain until the departure date of the previously planned trip (e.g. the departure to Antalya was planned on 19 April, which means it is possible to change the trip according to the above rules until April 3 inclusive). Understanding the customers’ concerns about future trips, the tour operators offered even more flexible travel change conditions: for all customers who booked trips with departure until 30 June 2020, there was a free opportunity to change their trip plans and choose any of the other destinations that the tour operator offers. Customers have the option to choose another trip before the end of this year, and the trip can take place in 2021. In case the customer is currently unable to make a relevant decision on the change, the funds will be left in the existing reservation, with the possibility to use them in any other program provided by tour operator, with departure from Riga, which will be valid in the time of new booking (until 31 December 2020). Travel agencies can issue a confirmation of the amount paid – a voucher – to the clients, in their own name, indicating the client’s data, reservation number and the amount paid, which can be transferred to the new reservation in full. However, this voucher does not state the tour operator’s liability in case of insolvency. If the customers do not currently plan to change or cancel reservations for which the payment has not yet been made in full and which are scheduled to depart by 30 June, the following special conditions will apply:  payment in full two weeks before departure (previously this could be done one month prior departure date);  cancellation with penalty fee in the amount of the deposit paid two weeks before departure (previously this could be done one month prior to departure date). Recalculation procedure in case of the change:  the payment (partial or full) received by the operator will be transferred to the new reservation in full;  in case the new price is higher, the customer makes a surcharge;