- Spain’s package travel law consultation will not open until 2027
- The government is considering a standalone law transposing an EU directive
- Travel associations UNAV and FETAVE raised concerns over refund rules
- The EU directive must be transposed by 29 September 2028
- New regulations apply across the bloc from 29 March 2029
Spain’s General Directorate for Consumer Affairs has informed travel agency associations UNAV and FETAVE that the next phase of public consultation on the new package travel law will not open until 2027. Director General of Consumer Affairs Daniel Arribas González noted that the legislative proposal will strictly follow the content of the European Union directive. The government intends to extract package holiday regulations out of Spain’s general consumer protection law and establish them as a separate piece of legislation.
Travel associations UNAV and FETAVE raised concerns over financial and cash-flow pressures related to crisis refunds, extraordinary disruption events and obligations between organisers and tourism providers. The association warned that the European reform requires clearer boundaries regarding operator liabilities when major crises disrupt holidays.
Under EU rules Spain has until 29 September 2028 to transpose the directive into national law with the new regulations set to apply across the bloc starting 29 March 2029. Under the EU directive linked travel arrangements are abolished and combinations where customer details are passed to a second trader within 24 hours will automatically classify as regulated packages.
