Association of British Travel Agents

History

Previously known as Association of British Travel Agents, its name was changed on 1 July 2007 to ABTA, The Travel Association to reflect its wider representation of the travel industry.

On 1 July 2008 it merged with the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO).

Function

For more than 50 years ABTA and its members have been helping holidaymakers to get the most from their travel by working to high professional standards and offering choice, value and quality.

Consumer protection

There is no statutory for airlines providing flight-only or other companies providing any accommodation-only holidays to give consumer protection in unforeseen difficult circumstances. ABTA looks after consumer protection from the tour operator end of the contract, which is in turn legally overseen by the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing

Air Travel Organisers' Licensing

Air Travel Organisers' Licensing is a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority scheme to protect people who have purchased package holidays and flights from a member tour operator....

(ATOL) scheme of the Civil Aviation Authority which came into effect in 1973. The ATOL regulations are the core of the consumer protection which ABTA members have to conform by; all UK-bought package holidays including a flight have to abide by ATOL. UK tour operators have to be ATOL-licensed by the CAA.

For package holidays (provided by tour operators) there is also:

the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tour Regulations 1992, regulated by the BIS
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...

- all package holidays must have consumer protection.
the Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) Regulations 1995, regulated by the CAA - covers flight-only holidays bought from tour operators.

ABTA members protect themselves for consumer protection (unforeseen events) claims via the ABTA Protection Plan. Unforeseen events have mainly included travel operators going into administration or liquidation. The government, via ATOL and the 1992 and 1995 regulations, provides the obligations on travel agent consumer protection, and ABTA is the organisation that implements the insurance policies. ABTA's insurance policies are provided by International Passenger Protection (IPP) of West Wickham

West Wickham

West Wickham is a place in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is 10.3 miles south east of Charing Cross. West Wickham history dates back to early settlements existing since 1068, although the name `Wickham` is an indication of an earlier Anglo-Saxon settlement...

in Bromley

London Borough of Bromley

The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...

Structure

As of November 2008, it had 5466 travel agent outlets, and 787 tour operators. 90% of package holiday

Package holiday

A package holiday or package tour consists of transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided like a rental car, activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country...

s in the UK are sold through its members, and about 45% of independent travel arrangements.

It has eleven regional divisions. The head office is situated near Vinopolis

Vinopolis

Vinopolis is a London commercial visitor attraction operated by Wineworld London that presents the subject of wine and oenology through exhibits and wine tastings. It is located at Bankside, to the east of Southwark Bridge and close to London Bridge on the south side of the River Thames...

and Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....

. Its members provide around 90% of package holidays in the UK.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

History

Function

Consumer protection

Structure

See also

External links