If a package tour is canceled or canceled, travelers have the right to get their money back within two weeks.
But during the corona pandemic, travel companies have lagged behind with refunds.
According to calculations, the total debt is SEK 675 million.
At the same time, the General Complaints Board has received almost five times as many reports of package travel compared with last year.
Therefore, the government, together with the Center Party and the Liberals, proposes that travel companies should be able to apply for government loans so that travelers can get their money back faster.
- There are still many who are waiting for their money from canceled trips.
I know that the package travel companies do their best in this strained situation and therefore we go in with this loan so that consumers get their money back, says Minister of Trade and Industry Ibrahim Baylan (S).
Not individual airline tickets
Package tour operators can apply for government loans for canceled trips during the period March to the end of January next year, but the trip must have been paid for before the last October of this year.
The government loan, on the other hand, only applies to travel packages, not individual airline tickets.
- Those who arrange package tours are often themselves out with money to hotels and airlines.
If you do not get money back yourself then it is also difficult to do the right thing for yourself towards consumers.
That is why we are helping with this loan, says Ibrahim Baylan (S) and continues:
- Then my expectations are that airlines and hotel chains that do not pay paid back to consumers actually do it.
The proposal will be sent out for consultation tomorrow, but before the proposal can go through, it needs to be approved by the European Commission.
It is Kammarkollegiet that will handle the loans that must be repaid within six years.