ACM sympathizes with the Dutch travel industry’s voucher initiative
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) sympathizes with the initiative of the Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR), which is the trade association of the travel industry, to develop so-called ‘corona vouchers.’
Starting today, ANVR-affiliated travel agents will issue these vouchers to consumers who have booked and paid for package deals, but who cannot travel due to the current situation. These consumers are issued vouchers that are worth the amount of their trips. Edwin van Houten, Director of ACM’s Consumer Department, comments: “We are in the middle of an extraordinary situation with negative effects on consumers and businesses in the travel industry. Given the current situation, we stand behind this initiative.”
These vouchers will be covered against the tour operator’s bankruptcy by the warranty scheme of SGR, one of the travel guarantee funds in the Netherlands, for one year starting from the date of issue. ACM, as the consumer authority in the Netherlands, has also reviewed the conditions that have been attached to these vouchers. In that review, the basic principle was to strike a balance between the rights of consumers and the survival of tour operators.