2. ECTAA behind the scenes 55 years of presence in Brussels
MUISZ General Assembly
Budapest 12th December 2016
ECTAA behind the scenes 55 years of presence in Brussels
Michel de Blust
Secretary General
ECTAA
@ECTAAEurope

3. Today’s Agenda: What is ECTAA – Members
Some achievements in recent years
Reasons for being a Member
Current issues in Brussels
What is new with IATA
Conclusions

4. Who Is ECTAA?
Members’ Associations
The voice of the travel trade vis-à-vis the European Union, IATA, UNWTO, WHO, OECD, etc…
Members 3 Allied Members
1 Preferred Destination

5. MUISZ & ECTAA MUISZ joined ECTAA as observer in 1994
Became affiliated Member in 1998
Became full Member in 2001
Hosted ECTAA AGM in Budapest in 1995 – 2001 – 2009

6. The Industry in Europe 90.000 enterprises
IATA accreditations (-3,46%)
60% of all International tickets on IATA Members > 50% of BSPs worldwide
180 million packages sold in 2015

7. Why ECTAA ?
Do you know:
Over 250 EU Directives and Regulations apply directly to travel agents & tour operators
Transport
Consumer protection
Taxation
Visa Code
Tourism
Etc…

8. Some Recent Achievements
The PNR Directive – less obligations for agents
The IMD – Insurance Mediation Directive - Agents can continue selling travel insurances
Review of the European visa code - Easier access from third countries
The Malev Case - Trying to get our money back

9. ECTAA’s 2016 Activity Report
Some Recent Achievements
ECTAA’s 2016 Activity Report

10. Current issues Lufthansa DCC Member States travel warnings
Transposition of the Package Travel Directive
Air passenger rights
IATA New GEN ISS plans
ETIAS
Etc…

11. IATA New GEN ISS Project
New form of agent accreditation
Easy pay
The credit limit RHC
Global Insolvency Insurance

12. IATA New GEN ISS Project
3 New types of accreditation
Easy Pay – “pay and sell”
Standard accreditation
Multi country accreditation

13. The Easy Pay functionalities
Optional Easy Pay
Light accreditation with no bank guarantee
Advanced payment of sales
Compulsory Easy pay
When an agent reaches the credit limit (RHC)

14. The Remittance Holding Capacity RHC
Objective: combat fraud (0,003%) of PSB sales!)
RHC = Formula based on previous year turn over + margin (5% or 15% or 100%)
Initial trials: more than 23% of agents potentially affected

15. Global Insurance against the risk of Insolvency
Global insurance (Euler – Hermes)
Optional (to replace bank guarantees)
Premium / costs / conditions not specified yet

16. New Gen ISS Resolution 8xx adopted 09/2016 Easy Pay available in 2017
RHC still in negotiation : implementation 2018

17. New Gen ISS – What is missing ?
A better governance of the IATA programme
Coverage of the risk of airline insolvency
BSP open to new forms of payment

18. What to expect in 2017? Perceived security threats – travel advices
The refugee crisis
The Brexit – impact on tourism
Impact of the Digital & sharing economy

19. Why being a Member of ECTAA?
Have your say in Brussels
Be influential with the EU Legislator
Be taken seriously by IATA
Benchmark with other Member States to get best national legislation (PTD)

20. How to get the best of ECTAA
Consult secretariat & Members on current issues
Join the technical working groups and committees
Participate to the semi-annual meetings
Use the ECTAA Members’ network
Etc.

21. Conclusions
European Tourism growth inseparable of the EU
Travel Trade stronger when united

22. Thank you
@ECTAAEurope 22