THE PACKAGE TRAVEL ACT AND THE COVID19 PANDEMIC 2.2 Packages cancelled by traveler after the start of the package Many packages that started before the advice against non-essential travel and before the pandemic started, was cancelled by travelers due to the uncertainty as to whether the package could be continued or not or because of a fear of catching the virus. In one case the travelers had bought a package to Tanzania which among other things included a climbing of Kilimanjaro. On March 19, when the travelers were on their way up the mountain, the organizer contacted them to inform about the Covid19 situation. At this contact, the organizer was clear that, at that time, there was no uncertainty regarding the continuation of the journey. The organiser contacted the travelers in order to make sure that they were aware of the situation, since there was little or no coverage for cell phones at the places that the travelers had visited so far. The travelers chose to cancel the trip and return to Sweden. At home they claimed compensation for the parts of the package that were not performed. ARN did not find that the travelers had shown that, at the time of their cancellation, it was clear that the package tour would not be carried out in accordance with the contract, especially since the organiser explicitly had told the travelers that the rest of the package would be performed in accordance with the contract. ARN therefore rejected the request for a price reduction. There are also many cases where travelers had booked trips to Australia and New Zealand. Upon arrival at the destination, they were informed that the two countries would close down or impose quarantine upon entry. In these cases, the travelers have had to prove that the organizer could not carry out the rest of the trip to be entitled to a price reduction. Many countries have introduced quarantine in different ways. In several decisions from ARN, quarantine has been considered to result in the travelers being entitled to a price reduction. In one case the travelers had booked a trip to the Canary Islands. During five of the seven days of the trip, the travelers were quarantined at the hotel. During that time, they did not have access to either pool or the sea. The travelers were not allowed to stay outside the hotel area or visit restaurants. ARN found that the quality of the trip had deteriorated due to the restrictions, but that the traveler had received accommodation and meals in accordance with the package travel contract. ARN therefore decided that a reasonable price reduction was 33% of the total price of the package. In a similar case, ARN considered that a reasonable price reduction for a four-day quarantine at the hotel on a seven-day trip to Gran Canarias justified a price reduction of approximately 25 % of the total price for the package.
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