President Nawrocki Signs Law Allowing Travel Vouchers Instead of Refunds Amid Middle East Conflict

President Karol Nawrocki has signed an amendment allowing travel agencies to offer vouchers instead of cash refunds for canceled trips due to disruptions from the Middle East conflict.

Travel Voucher Introduction

Travel agency clients will be able to receive a voucher instead of a monetary refund for a canceled trip. President Karol Nawrocki signed the amendment to the law on tourist events, which introduces this solution in connection with trip disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Scope and Duration of Vouchers

The amendment to the law on tourist events and related tourism services introduces a mechanism enabling tour operators to offer travelers a voucher for a tourist event in the future, specifically within a period of up to two years from the date of accepting the voucher. This proposal is linked to the outbreak of armed conflict in Iran, which disrupted the execution of contracts concerning tourist events in Middle Eastern countries.

Definition of Tourist Events

A tourist event is a combination of at least two different types of tourist services for the purpose of the same trip or vacation, such as a flight and accommodation.

Voucher Value and Financial Protection

According to the amendment, the value of the voucher cannot be lower than the amount the client previously paid for the trip. Accepting the voucher will not result in the termination of the contract with the tour operator, which means the funds paid by clients will remain protected against the tour operator’s insolvency.

Presidential Statement on the Law

This is a sensible, technical solution supported across political divisions. In a responsible state, one must know how to react to crises in a way that protects both consumers and Polish enterprises, assessed the President, as cited by the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland (KPRP).