DIY vacations to be accorded more protection

Customers choosing to booking their own accommodation, flight tickets and travel insurance separately will now have an added advantage.

A recent report released by the European Commission that studied these holidays has recommended that DIY customers should receive as much armour to shield them against unforeseeable circumstances as those customers who book via a travel agent.

Booking tickets, accommodation or insurance from a travel agent protect the customer from the false advertising of a product. Also, on booking a package tour, the customer is protected from circumstances which involve holidays being cancelled or the firm going under.

The report suggests that the twenty year rule protecting the interest of consumers now be adapted to include DIY vacations too. If this rule is implemented, the travel industry will be considerably more cautious, as products will be more regulated when the booking is done by the customer. If commuters receive sub standard accommodation or services as against what was described in the brochures, after the implementation of the new rule, they will be assured a chance to lay claims. Under the current rulings, nothing much can be done of the services are thought to be sub-standard.

The recession has impacted the tourism industry severely, with many travel firms reportedly closing down shops. Also reported have been various instances where airlines have left passengers stranded abroad or have sent them via a different flight.

Since the massive proliferation of the Internet and its services, many customers choose to book cheaper deals. Rental cars, flights and other services are much easier to hunt from the comforts of one’s own home or office. It has now been declared that such a mode should be equally protected as choosing one’s services from a travel agent.