After some 1,700 Poles were stranded abroad last year when travel
agencies were hit by a wave of bankruptcies, the Finance Ministry plans to revise regulations so that customers are better protected.

But the tougher rules will mean additional costs for travelers, while new tour operators will find it more difficult to enter the market.

The ministry intends to significantly increase insurance fees for tour
operators and introduce an additional insurance fund based on payments made by travel agencies.

The Ministry, together with the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, wants to increase the minimum amount for which a tour operator commencing business operations must be insured.

For tour operators using charter flights, the amount would be 250,000 euros (up from 40,000 euros at the moment), and for those not using charter flights 50,000 euros (up from 7,500 euros).

These amounts would increase as a company's sales grow. This could pose a barrier for new businesses wanting to enter the market.