Action against travel agents
TOURISM Whitsundays chief executive officer Peter O'Reilly has given the thumbs up to action being taken by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) against businesses advertising misleading holiday package prices.
Three businesses have been given court enforceable undertakings by the ACCC under new laws for advertising holiday packages that did not include the total price. The businesses are Wicked Travel, Peter Pan's Adventure Travel and Adventure Travel Bugs.
Some of the businesses advertised tours to the Whitsundays for as little as $299 when the price did not include mandatory charges. The charges increased the total price of the trips to about $450 in some cases.
Mr O'Reilly said the Whitsunday tourism industry had been one of the first to adopt fully inclusive pricing strategies to comply with the new law.
“It is disappointing that the Whitsundays has been on the receiving end of misleading advertising yet again, but I am sure local operators who have been extremely proactive in implementing the law changes will be applauding the ACCC's enforcement action,” he said.
“The new law is there to support consumers in making an informed choice, and we think this will benefit the travel industry as a whole in the long run.”
