What's atol protected and ABTA

[vondutch]

Sorry can someone explain

www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8487872/holiday-booking-protected-abta-atol/amp/

ABTA is the Association of British Travel Agents. It doesn’t mean your money is “protected” but it does mean that the travel agent is “genuine” as ABTA has certain requirements to be a member.

ATOL is more important when it comes to money. This means your money is protected if you book an ATOL-bonded package in case the operator goes into financial failure.

As above for ATOL- this protects against supplier failure.
ABTA is an industry membership scheme and the main benefit is that membership must be able to show that there is insurance or bonding in place for customer monies. There are other bonding schemes available such as trust accounts (travel Counsellors, PTS and TTA spring to mind) so ABTA membership isn't vital but I'd never use a travel agent that wasn't able to show that monies are protected or insured.