If the trip is canceled due to the Corona crisis, the refund of the price paid is due. Whether it can be a voucher even though the customer wants money is a matter of debate between Berlin and Brussels.
Berlin (dpa) - The EU Commission has rejected considerations by the federal government to restrict consumer rights in travel cancellations due to the corona pandemic.
Justice and Consumer Protection Commissioner Didier Reynders told the Funke Media Group newspapers that he was aware of the unprecedented crisis for the tourism sector in Europe. However, decisions by the member states would have to comply with EU law and be coordinated within the EU. Under EU law, consumers have the choice of accepting a voucher or preferring a refund.
The federal government wants a mandatory voucher solution and continues to campaign for it. "The Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection has taken note of the Commission's first assessment of the proposed voucher solution," a ministry spokesman told the "Handelsblatt". The Federal Government would continue to work on a European level for a voucher solution that complies with European law, which in the current situation also takes due account of the interests of consumers.
In the case of canceled trips, the Federal Government wants consumers to receive vouchers instead of an immediate repayment. The vouchers are to be limited until the end of 2021. If the customer has not redeemed his voucher by then, the organizer must refund the value. EU law applies to package tours.
According to earlier information from the German Travel Association (DRV), however, twelve EU member states have already adopted or initiated national regulations. "If many countries protect their respective travel industries through national laws and others do not, we can no longer speak of fair and comparable competitive conditions in Europe," said DRV President Norbert Fiebig.
In the case of canceled package tours, reimbursement is compulsory after 14 days at the latest, but many organizers have waited in the end. In the meantime, however, Alltours and Schauinsland-Reisen have started paying back. It was decided that "we can no longer put our customers' patience and understanding to the test," Schauinsland-Reisen explained.
Other organizers such as Tui and DER Touristik give customers the choice between a voucher plus bonus or repayment. But they are dependent on the goodwill of customers.
