Tui chief calls for ‘moratorium on legistation’ and review of travel regulations
Sebastian Ebel says bureaucracy pushing up holiday costs
KickT
Tui Group chief executive Sebastian Ebel has called for a review of European travel regulation and a “moratorium on legislation” as he insisted “there is a lot that is not running smoothly”.
Ebel said he believed there were opportunities for growth in Europe but insisted “politics needs to free itself from the grip of those who seek to regulate more and more new things” as he singled out compensation rules in the EU and Germany’s travel insurance fund.
In an interview published on the Tui Stories section of the company’s website on Monday (December 30), Ebel also hit out at high location costs in Europe, adding: “We need investment in digital infrastructure and a tangible elimination of bureaucracy. A moratorium on legislation is essential.”
Ebel said: “All these new regulatory requirements are pushing up the price of package holidays, whether it’s the German travel insurance fund or the far-reaching compensation rules for late arrival.
“This ought to be reviewed to ensure a level playing field for all providers. That is something politicians ought to be addressing, because a package holiday offers the best consumer protection of all. Here we need to enjoy the same terms as the purely online platforms.”
Despite the criticism, Ebel insisted he was confident about Tui’s prospects in 2025.
He said: “I am optimistic about the future. Our customers don’t like to skimp [sic] on their holidays, even in times of crisis. All the same, we are well prepared because of the political and economic conditions in Europe.
“Tui is on the right path to becoming a global marketplace for holiday and leisure experiences. We have created the right conditions to achieve our medium-term goals: building global platforms, pushing harmonisation and rolling out our business worldwide.
“At the same time, we will maintain our focus on quality, sustainability and Tui as an employer of excellence. Behind all this we have a strong Tui team, our people all over the world. And with that I go into the coming year full of confidence.”
