Collective Commentary about the New Package Travel Directive

I n today’s changing world, sustainable tourism and the protection of travellers require a major paradigm shift. Technological innovation has always been an essential part of mobility systems and will change the travel experience forever. At the same time, the possibilities offered by the Internet have revolutionised the distribution of travel services. New promotion and sales systems have been developed, replacing, to a considerable extent, traditional channels and modernising the way organisers and travel agents relate to travellers. The importance of sharing common rules is emphasised by the fact that tourism plays an important role in the EU economy, and package travel, package holidays and package tours are a significant share of the travel market. Europe is the world’s leading tourist destination, and tourism plays a fundamental role in the development of many European regions, especially where development is lagging behind, also considering its potential for economic benefits and job creation, which is especially true for young people. It has also shown remarkable resilience and has undergone steady growth, even during the recent crisis. Considering the deep changes which have recently affected the EU market, both the European Parliament and Council have taken action to achieve a ‘full harmonisation’ of the regulations and foster the creation of an effective ‘European Union Travel Area’. With the adoption of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 of 25 November 2015 on package travel and linked travel arrangements, the legislative framework has been updated to the latest developments in the tourism sector, to adjust it to the reality of commercial traffic, getting rid of ambiguities and filling regulatory gaps. In this perspective, I am pleased to co-present this Collective Commentary on the New Package Travel Directive , which contains key contributions by some of the most prestigious European researchers on this subject. It is a comprehensive collection of works with a broad perspective in the field of tourism law, a useful tool for professional lawyers, but also for tourist economic operators.