When Roads No Longer Lead to Rome: Turism in the Age of Coronavirus and Consumer Rights

Due to the coronavirus outbreak and the following pandemic announcement, many tourists had to cancel their journeys. Tourism is severely affected by the coronavirus crisis, which brings many challenges for the consumer protection in this area as well. The author discusses the legal position and the rights of consumers in the field of air transport, package travels and hotel accommoda- tion, thereby focusing on typical situations, which tourists are facing in the time of pandemic. The author examines problems concerning consumer pro- tection that have arisen due to mass cancellations of tourist services and which may be brought before the courts in the future. In the light of the foregoing, the author analyses the legal position of a Slovenian consumer in different phases of the pandemic and proposes solutions of possible future disputes.

Keywords: tourist contracts, package travel, air transport, liability of a tour operator, consumer protection, unfair contract terms, change of circumstances, withdrawal from a contract, pandemic, coronavirus.