New package tour law comes into force

Holiday drinkHoliday drink.Photo: pixabay.com

On Monday, the new Package Travel Act was introduced.

 

It provides stronger rights to travellers, and it is safer for them to put together package tours themselves.

The law gives travellers greater rights to complain, and more rights when organising a trip by air with hotel bookings added.

The old law gave customers a lot of rights, but eventually became outdated, as two out of three Norwegians now organise their own travels, using different websites, wrote TV 2 news.

“The law gives you the right to cancel within certain deadlines,you are protected against bankruptcy and you have one counter-party to deal with if you are going to complain,” said Consumer Communications Director at the Consumers Council,Pia Cecilie Høst.

Now you can also get a refund of the hotel price in addition to the flight ticket if the flight is cancelled.

The Government submitted the proposal for new travel laws in parliament in March. On Monday, July the 1st, it entered into force.

The Act is implementing the EU Package Travel Plan from 2015.

The directive ensures that Norwegians who purchase travel arrangement packages from foreign businesses will have the same rights as purchasers from Norwegian businesses.

The new law includes several requirements for tour operators, and several eventualities are covered by the regulations. Among other things, car rental and purchase of concert tickets could be regarded as parts of package travel, which will ensure more consumers against bankruptcy of organisers.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today