The Council of Ministers has approved a new regulation allowing travel agencies to issue vouchers instead of refunds for package holidays. This is a temporary and specific amendment to the existing travel regulations, which did not permit this option, putting agencies in a difficult position since the vast majority of cruise lines and airlines are not refunding cash for canceled trips. This measure has also been approved in other European Union countries such as Italy and France.
Consumers can demand that their travel agency provide proof that the supplier is not issuing cash refunds. According to the text approved by the government, consumers have one year to use the voucher, but if they do not use it within that period, they can request a refund.
