Collective Commentary about the New Package Travel Directive

T he European Directive (EU) 2015/2302 on package travel and linked travel arrangements has created a Common Law on Tourist and Travel contracts and the base for a European Tourism Law. It is a pleasure, as the Rector of the University of Milano-Bicocca, to co-present this Collective Commentary about the New Package Directive , to which have contributed scholars of almost all European Countries. It is not a coincidence that a large number of Italian scholars are contributing to this volume. Tourism is an essential component of the Italian economy, and Italy has a long tradition in hospitality. Furthermore, Italy has always been very involved in the development of Tourism Law, being, this year, the centenary of the first publication in the field: Il Diritto Turistico , by Bortolo Belotti, published in Milan in 1919. The University of Milano-Bicocca, which I have the privilege to guide, has always, in its 20 years of scientific commitment, demonstrated a particular interest in tourism in its juridical, economic and sociological aspects. Bicocca was one of the first universities, in Italy, to start a course in tourism ( Diploma Universitario in Economia e Gestione dei Servizi Turistici ), in 1996, led by Prof. Vincenzo Franceschelli. This “Diploma” was then converted into a “Corso di laurea” (Bachelor’s degree). Today, at the University of Milano-Bicocca, there is an active triennial degree (Corso di laurea triennale) in Scienze del turismo e comunità locale , at the Faculty of Sociology, directed by Prof. Matteo Colleoni (who also leads the role of Rector’s Delegate for Sustainability) and two Master’s degrees (Corsi di laurea magistrale): one in Turismo, Territorio e Sviluppo Locale , at the Faculty of Sociology, directed by Prof. Elena dell’Agnese, and the other in Economia del turismo , at the Faculty of Economics, directed by Prof. Auretta Benedetti. The importance of the tourism studies in Italy, and particularly in Bicocca, is further confirmed by the number of Italian scholars contributing to this