Vouchers for tourists for canceled trips. The Senate voted on the amendments
On Thursday, June 25, the Senate proposed amendments to the amendment introducing vouchers for travel agency clients for canceled trips.
The idea of vouchers for tourists who miss trips organized by travel agencies has been talked about for a long time. Problematic situations occurred at the beginning of 2026, when trips were canceled due to the war in the Middle East, among others. to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. It was mainly this situation that inspired the changes.
Amendments to the amendment on vouchers for tourists
In May, the Parliament adopted an amendment to the act that introduces vouchers for travel agency clients for canceled trips. On June 25, the Senate proposed amendments to the amendment, which are of a more precise nature. 84 senators voted unanimously to adopt the bill with amendments.
What will change? This concerns an amendment to the Act on Tourist Events and Related Tourist Services. Thanks to it, there will be a mechanism in Poland that will enable the trip organizer to offer the client a special voucher. Based on it, you will be able to leave at a different time – it will be possible to use it within two years.
Such a voucher will be an alternative to a cash refund for an unrealized service. The solution is intended to protect tourists, but also travel agencies that may be at risk of bankruptcy as a result of cancellation of tourist events in emergency situations.
Tourist event. This will be taken into account
In order for the voucher to be awarded to the injured tourists, the trip will have to meet the criteria of a tourist event. It is crucial to combine at least two different types of services for the same trip or holiday, e.g. flights and accommodation.
The value of the voucher cannot be lower than the amount the customer previously paid for the trip, and accepting it will not result in termination of the contract with the tour operator. For this reason, funds paid by customers will be protected against the insolvency of the tour operator.
The amendments were proposed by the legislative office and are of a clarifying nature. Now the bill will go back to the Sejm.
