Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
718. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the latest advice or direction for travel agents regarding cancelled holidays and ticket exchange requests from customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13354/20]
View answerOn 19 June, legal provisions were introduced to provide State backing for a new, temporary form of voucher called a Refund Credit Note, which can be issued by Irish licensed travel agents and tour operators to their customers where a booking has been cancelled due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Whilst consumers are entitled to a full cash refund under the Package Travel Directive in circumstances where a package holiday has to be cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions, customers can also agree to accept a Refund Credit Note instead of cash. If they do, which helps stem the immediate cash drain being experienced by the sector, then the State will stand over the cash value of that Note in the event that the issuer goes out of business. Consumer protections are therefore safeguarded. All relevant information is available on the Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1ae3d-refund-credit-note/
Further guidance on the right of travellers to terminate package travel contacts due to the unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak is available at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/40f0d7-guidance-on-the-right-of-travellers-to-terminate-package-travel-cont/
