EC Directive on Holiday Organisers
Some parts of this directive affect any organisation or individual who organise trips in which any two of the following are included: travel, accommodation, and tourist services (e.g. walks etc.); whether or not they are priced separately. Therefore Hostelling and Local YHA Groups should take notice of the following advice from the business development department.
Some groups have opened separate bank accounts for the fees associated with hostelling weekends and other trips. These contain a balance equal to the cost of a typical group, trip, thus safeguarding the member’s deposits/payments (and enabling the Group to make advance bookings before collecting monies from participants). Whilst this is good practice it is NOT essential, and is probably beyond the means of many Groups. However certain actions by the Group are necessary, and these are listed below.
- The Group Programme or trip sheet must not show any misleading information. It must contain accurate information about the following where relevant:Destination and Transport arrangements;
- accommodation type, grading (e.g. simple Youth Hostel) and location; plus any meals included
- itinerary/activities
- if abroad, passport and visa details
- amount of deposit, and deadline for full payment
- minimum number of participants required for the event to occur, and cancellation deadline.
In practice a good group programme and or members’ information sheet will contain all of this already. The last two items could be incorporated into a general preamble. In respect of destination, accommodation and location, it may be wise to approximate; e.g. if you are not certain of securing beds at a specific hostel, state the general area to be visited. If you end up in a lower priced hostel, you would of course be expected to charge your members correspondingly less for the trip.
- The transport details should state whether the group or the individual member is responsible for organising car-sharing, assuming this is the method used. However in all cases you are strongly advised to state that:
“Any transport sharing arrangements made are deemed to be between individuals, and it is the responsibility of the individual participant to satisfy him or herself that the driver has appropriate insurance cover.Everyone taking part in the activity of the Group does so at their own risk. Neither the Group nor the Association will be held responsible for any accident, injury or loss occurring as a result of any Group event, or in connection with travel to any such event, however caused”.
Internet Links
EU Directive on Package Travel, Holidays and Tours (90/314/EEC) - The full text