Travel Guarantee Fund. The travel agency will pay 30 zł premium for the tourists? – Virtual Poland

Senate proposed amendments to the amendment of the Act on tourist services. According to her travel agency to pay up to 30 zł contribution of each customer to the Tourist Guarantee Fund (TFG), so that the fund has better protect customers against insolvency of tour operators.

In the vote the amendment was supported by 88 senators, no one had been against, abstained from two people. Now this story will go to the president for his signature.

The amendment of the Act on tourist services and the Law on Compulsory Insurance, Insurance Guarantee Fund and Polish Motor Insurers’ Bureau, envisages the establishment of the Tourist Guarantee Fund, which is a separate account in the Insurance Guarantee Fund. Contributions to the TFG will be credited travel agencies, and their height will vary from 0 to 30 zł from the client.

The final rate to be set out in the Regulation for the amendment.

During the work on Law Deputy Minister of sport and tourism David Lasek pointed out that the zero rate would pay those offices that organize tourist events in Poland. With increasing distance and depending on the type of transport (in terms of planes), the rate would have to rise.

attached to the act of simulation shows that with an average premium of 12.5 zł, the TFG would be set aside annually approx. 30 mln zł; 15-zloty contribution could be levied on events on the territory of Europe and beyond with the use of air transport for the transport charter; fee of 10 zł constituency, tour operators organizing events in Europe and beyond, using another mode of transport than air transport for the transport charter; rate of 0 zł apply to events taking place on the area of ​​countries bordering the Polish, and in the case of Russia – within the Kaliningrad region.

In the event of the insolvency of tour operators, will first use the funds from the primary security system (first pillar) in the second – with a complementary system (pillar II – TFG). The fund is designed to ensure extra money in case funds from the insurance office were not sufficient to cover the claims of its clients, or in the case when the tour operator could not ensure the return of its customers in the country.

There is currently only the first pillar. Office must ensure the costs of returning customers from the tourist event to the place of departure, if contrary to the obligation not provide this return; ensure the return of payments made as payment for the event, when for reasons of travel agencies and persons who act in its name, it will not be implemented and paid part of the payment for that part of the event, which will not be realized. They must therefore have the agreement of the bank guarantee / insurance or insurance contract for customers who have this guarantee.

Protection – resulting from the operation of the TFG – will be covered by customers of travel agencies entered in the register of tour operators and travel agents established in Poland – regardless of the amount of premium payable.

Tour operators will have to issue to the client, who will pay the entire amount due for the service or to advance in excess of 10 percent. of this amount, a written confirmation of contribution to the TFG to inform them of how to apply for withdrawal of funds from this protection.

The new law authorizes a voivodship marshals, as well as the minister of sport – to control the travel agents, whether, for example. they dissipate contributions to TFG.