Legislation and Ethics in the Travel and Tourism Sector: A Comprehensive Analysis

This paper delves into the legal and ethical landscape of the travel and tourism sector, focusing on the United Kingdom. It examines the legal framework governing travel and tourism, including health, safety, and security legislation, as well as consumer protection laws. The paper also analyzes ethical dilemmas faced by the industry and explores the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies of a prominent travel and tourism company, Virgin Holidays. By examining these aspects, the paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the legal and ethical considerations that shape the travel and tourism industry.

Legislation and ethics in travel and
tourism sector
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................4
1.1 The legal and regulatory framework of the travel and tourism sector with reference to
England and Wales.......................................................................................................................4
1.2 Surface, sea and air transport law in relation to the carriage of passengers within the legal
and regulatory framework of United Kingdom............................................................................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................8
2.1 evaluate the impacts of the principles of health, safety and security legislation on the travel
and tourism sector........................................................................................................................8
2.2analyse legislation that relates to equality...............................................................................9
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................11
3.1 The contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers...................................11
3.2 The consumer protection legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers...............12
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................15
4.1 analyse ethical dilemmas faced by the travel and tourism sector........................................15
4.2 analyse the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy of a specified travel and tourism
business......................................................................................................................................16
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................17
Reference list.................................................................................................................................18
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Introduction
Travel and tourism has been a major part of many countries business sector. This shows that
there is the need for maintaining the safety of the customers in this sector just like there is the
requirement of maintaining the safety of the customers in the other business sector of the
different countries. This paper is based on the impact that is being caused by the different
principles of health, safety and security legislation in the travel and tourism industry. The paper
also describes the different legal and regulatory frameworks that are present in the travel and
tourism industry UK and also describe the consumer protection legislation that has been related
to the travel and tourism sector.
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Task 1
1.1 The legal and regulatory
framework of the travel and tourism
sector with reference to England and
Wales
For providing a structure to the tourism
industry proper, Framework has been
developed by adequate resignation for
the Virgin Holidays. However, the
tourism industry is associated with
different contracts, hospitality, business
organisations, suppliers, sellers,
customers and the need of legislation is
required for interacting between these
factors. For the maintenance of Virgin
Holidays, the need for legal regulations
is essential because it helps in
maintaining the quality standards, the
customer behaviour and other
requirements of the customer.
Depending on the Legal education the
decision making of the tourism industry
is being done, and the usage of proper
law and regulations and this is the
reason behind the study and rapid
growth of the travel and tourism
industry of England and Wales (Boella,
2017). The various provisions which
are related to the tourism industry are
the various regulations which are
connected to the tourism industry are:
Development of tourism Act 1969
This act is established for the
development of tourism industry in
Britain, and it is focused on
coordination of organisations related to
tourism industry. For this law, the
English Tourism Council and British
tourist authority have been attached
with each other for visiting Britain
(Conradson, 2017).
Transports act 1980 and 1985
This law has developed for the
Transportation system of tourism. The
reason behind establishing this law is to
minimise the competition between the
private bus companies and the national
bus companies of United Kingdom.
Package travel, package holidays and
package tours regulations 1992
This Law is developed for the package
tourism system in the United Kingdom.
However, usage of this law refers to
establishing the responsibility of the
tour operators for their customers.
The reason behind developing this
legislation:
It has been observed that by the use of
this legislation the country able to
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create standard possible for their
tourism. The tourism becomes more
regulated by using this legislation. In
addition to that, in addition to that
establishing the appropriate law for the
tourism organisations and the people
will enhance the quality of tourism
(Horner and Swarbrooke, 2016).
The different associations which are
related to the legislation of United
Kingdom tourism are Civil Aviation
authority, strategic rail authority, health
and safety Commission and
international air transport Association.
1.2 Surface, sea and air transport law
in relation to the carriage of
passengers within the legal and
regulatory framework of United
Kingdom
The carriage of passengers refers to the
contract of transport and the passenger
who is carried in a ship. In other words,
it can be said that some articles which
are carried by the carrier under a
contract are known as the carriage of
passengers. However, according to the
convention of Athens article number 3,
any loss or damage is done during the
carriage procedure then it is the
responsibility of the career. In addition
to that, the Carriers liability is the
responsibility of the person full loss
during the transportation time (Page
and Cutler, 2015).
Surface law
The surface law refers to the
international carriage of a passenger by
road act 1979. However according to
this law protection of the passenger is a
responsibility of the carrier. In addition
to that according to the law any damage
or disorders either it is physical or
mental related to the passenger
travelling on the airline include under
this surface law. However, it can be
said that loss of luggage is also part of
the responsibility of the carrier.
However, the carriage Railway Act
1972 also is related to the integration
and development of different
transported passengers and goods.
Sea law
The sea law is different from the
surface law because the international
Maritime organisation has different
safety and security safeguards for the
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shipping system. However, it can be
said that this law is related to the
environmental factors as well. The
convention of international Maritime
has the safety of life at sea law which is
associated with different firefighting
skills and fire protection measures of
the crew members of the ship. In
addition to that life-saving equipment is
part of this legislation. According to the
Athens convention, the limits of
liability enhancers for the passengers
who are travelling by ship it is the
responsibility of the ship or ferry
(Coccossis, 2017).
Air law
For the Air law, the air transportation
law has developed by the country.
However, the international carriage and
different rules regarding it are related to
the passenger can be easily claimed by
the passenger. However, the passenger
can easily claim any compensation for
different personal injuries or death. In
addition to that according to this law
different activities of the airlines which
is related to any law of the country like
planning for non-traffic purpose or
putting down the customers or flying
across any territory without landing is
counted under this law.
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Task 2
Introduction
The impact of the different principles of the health, safety and the security legislation on the
travel and tourism sector is based on the different measure that has been taken in the country
United Kingdom.
2.1 evaluate the impacts of the principles of health, safety and security legislation on the
travel and tourism sector
It is highly important for the Virgin Holidays to note that the measures that are taken in the
health, safety and the security legislation will be allowing the tourist who visit the country
United Kingdom to avail their tours package without any fear and proper safety is being
maintained will be ensures. It is highly important to note that based on the different sectors, like
the health, security and the safety legislations the impact has been defined below:
Safety measurement: It has been noted that the country United Kingdom has adapted different
measures in the travel and tourism sector in order to provide the tourist with the proper amount
of safety being provided to them (Raj et al. 2017). The safety of the tourist and the safety of the
different employees who a work in tourism sector is being maintained by the country with the
help of the different legislative acts among which the one that has been taken in by the tourism
sector is Health and Safety Work Act 1974. According to this act any employee who works in
Virgin Holidays will be focusing on their own safety, the safety of the customs which in case of
the tourism industry are the tourist and ensure that proper health is being maintained by them.
Health: In order to ensure that proper health is being animated by the tourist who visits the
country United Kingdom there are different measures that are present in the country which will
be allowing the different companies in the travel and tourism industry to provide the appropriate
health services. The Virgin Holidays has different provision for the local communities where the
patients are being provided with low priced health services especially to the elder section of the
society. The government in the travel and tourism sector has ensure that they have collaborate
with the different health service providers in the country located at different locations so that in
case of any emergency the tourist can be provided with adequate health services. There are
different laws and legislative measures that are being taken by the countries in order to ensure
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that the tourist who visit the countries are not subjected to any inequality or harassment or
dissatisfaction due to the wrong or ill treatment being done to them (Fennell, 2015).
Security legislation: it has been analysed that the country United Kingdom has ensured to
provide the customers of the tourism sector with adequate security. The country’s government
and the legislative laws provided proper security at the visitors of the country by meaning proper
check at the different people who visit the country.
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2.2 Analyse legislation that relates to equality
There are different laws that have been nominated by the legislation the country United
Kingdom. It has been noted that the Virgin Holidays has been maintaining the Act of Equality
which is the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that the people who reside in the country are being
treated equally and are given the right amount of opportunities to avail the different services that
are available to the country. It has been noted that the country also maintains such laws and
legislation in for the visitors who visit the country as a tourist or regular travellers. The county
has the different laws and regulations that are to be maintained in order to ensure that the all the
people who reside in the country and who visit the country are equally treated (de Grosbois,
2016). There are different acts that have been taken in by the country in order to ensure that there
is no discrimination among employees in the country and the other citizens who are present in
the country. This will thus, ensure that the visitors who avail any tour to the country will be
highly restricted to conduct any discrimination among the individuals who are present in the
country. It has been analysed that the country has made use of the different equality act in order
to ensure that the tour operators are being treating every tourist of the country with proper care
and equality despite of the culture and the religion that is present in them.
There are different types of discrimination that has been covered by the legislation that is present
in the country. Some of which has been given below:
 Direct discrimination: It has been noted that the country ensure that no two people are
being treated with disrespect and threat directly by the local communities so that the
tourist who might visit the country. This is the state that occurs when a person is being
treated against the standards that has been mentioned by the government. It has been
noted that the country is being able to mitigate such issue is the country by applying and
undertaking the respective anti-discrimination laws by the government of United
Kingdom (Law et al. 2017).
 Harassment and disability: These are the most common form of security issue in terms
the equality that is being given to the citizen and the tourist who visit the country. It has
been noted that the people who visit the different countries and belong to some other
country with different colour, race and religion faces huge harassment due to certain
citizen is present in the countries. This is neglected in the country United Kingdom so
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that the none of the people who are visiting the country are being harassed for the
mentioned reasons.
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Task 3
3.1 The contract legislation in
relation to travel and tourism
customers
For maintaining the relationship with
the customer's different Contract
Legislation is being established by the
British government. However, the
Virgin Holidays have to maintain these
contracts for maintaining their
customers as well as for the payment
process of the services. This contract is
related to the cost of the stay,
destination, departure etc (Roberts and
Morag, 2017). The different standard
elements which are offered in the
contracts are:
Certainty
And the law related to customers is
very clear for both of the party and
common as well. However,
miscommunication can occur during
staying at the hotel which can make the
contract invalid.
Consideration
For completing the acceptance
validation of the contract of a certain
amount of consideration is a necessity.
However, without consideration not
any of the contracts would be bound.
Offer
It can be said that the office can be
available at the time of contract and if 1
party offer The Other have to accept it
with all the rules related to it (Piekarz
and Mills, 2015).
Acceptance
In this step of accepting the offer
gaining party accept the offer totally.
Capacity
The capacity of the contract is related
to the capability of the organisation that
is providing the offer. However and the
capacity can be related to the soundness
of min, the majority of age etc. For
example few services can only be
available to the customer if the
customer is age more than 18 years.
However for the maintenance of
different goods which are supplied
need to maintain some contracts for the
expectation of the customers of getting
the words in a stable condition.
However, for example if a customer is
buying his accommodation in a hotel he
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has the right to get the room in a proper
clean condition for the health and
safety which is related to the health and
safety law (Boella, 2017). The different
contracts related to the holiday are:
1. The difference consumer
regulations
2. The agreement which is made
between the agent and the
customer
3. The different details which are
provided by the organisation in
the advertisement website
photos and brochure
4. Different common terms
between the two related parties
are:
 The Destination Point
 The place of staying during the
holiday
 The different implied and
Express terms by the
organisation
 The total costing of the holiday
3.2 The consumer protection
legislation in relation to travel and
tourism customers
For the protection of the customers for
availing services from the Virgin
Holidays can easily claim their
compensation because of the customer
protection legislation act. However it
can be said that if the customer and
their interest has been violated by travel
agents or different tourism
organisations then they can claim by
using the trade description act 1968.
According to this act different services
related to the tourism industry like
misleading the prices of goods and
services or different information related
to the accommodation of transportation
can count under this act (Conradson,
2017).
The customer protection act of 1987
help the customer in getting the right
related to the duty of the fraud
organisation and the legal responsibility
related to the customer. This love helps
the customer in issues like unfair
business practice, fraud or liability.
According to this law, the
establishment of product liability
provision of unlawful pricing, the legal
authority establishment and
demolishing substandard goods supply.
According to the packets travel
regulation of 1992 the
miscommunication related to any
services of necessary arrangements can
be filed under this legislation.
However, the holiday contract is related
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to different type of transportation
accommodation and other tourist
services and if the organisation fails to
provide the promised services then it
will be counted under the package
travel regulation 1992 (Horner and
Swarbrooke, 2016).
The unfair trading integration 2008
provide the customers with an authority
price of the services, charges related to
the Minibar, charges of renting the
room and the time limit, price
disclosure at the bars, Sub charges for
the payment method of applications
and Cards etc.
However, the contract laws related to
the customers are mainly developed by
the British government for providing
best services by the travel and tourism
industry to the customers or tourists.
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Task 4
4.1 analyse ethical dilemmas faced by the travel and tourism sector
The travel and tourism industry in the country UK is complex and involves different factors that
are present in the country which has been enabling the country to grow the needs that are to be
regulated on the tourism sector. There are different factors that recreating dilemmas for the
country’s travel and tourism industry. It has been noted that the factors such as hospitality, the
management of the Virgin Holidays of the country and some other factors has been considered to
be dependent on each other. The different political concerns that are roe t in the different
countries has been creating issues in the country UK and the travel industries that are present in
the country leading to difficulty for the Virgin Holidays in the sector to be creating issues in the
country’s travel and tourism sector. The company has not been able to consider expanding the
business in different countries where there is the presence of political instability.
There are different social and cultural elements that has been creating issue is the overall travel
and tourism industry in the country UK (Moutinho and Vargas-Sanchez, 2018). the countries
such as Bangladesh and other culturally different countries has not been accepting the policies
that are being followed by the travel and tourism sector in UK leading to the dilemma of
conducting the business operations in such countries. It has been noted that the social and the
cultural value that are present in different countries leads to variety of political instability which
in turn creates difficulty in the overall rules and regulation that will be follows in the travel and
tourism sector of UK in order to expand their business in the respective foreign countries.
Different countries have different ways of conducting their legislative laws and regulations due
to which it has been noted that these countries are unable to carry out the development of the
travel and tourism industry. The communities those are present in certain foreign countries. It has
been noted that the countries in different parts of the country undergo different issues among
their own communities and the local population leading to difficulty in the overall operations
being regulated in those respective countries in terms of the travel and tourism sector (Strambach
and Surmeier, 2018). The increase in the number of unethical activities that are present in the
different countries has been creating difficulty for the travel and tourism industry in UK to
develop its roots in the respective countries leading to failure in the new initiative taken by the
companies in the tourism industry. Despite of the unethical activities and the negatives aspects
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that are present in different countries certain developing countries has been helping the tourism
sector in UK to develop and gain success by creating employment opportunities for the local
population of the countries like India and other Asian countries.
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4.2 analyse the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy of a specified travel and
tourism business
The company Virgin Holidays has been able to carry out different activities that have been
ensuring corporate social responsibility in the country. It has been analysed that the company is
being able to carry out sustainable tourism leading to proper maintenance of the safety of the
environment that is present in the different countries and in UK. It has been noted that the
company has maintained different strategies that has been able to benefit the different
communities that are present in the country UK. It has been analysed that the company has
maintained different efforts in creating effective measure that ensure that the tourist visits to the
country UK and other collaborative countries are being able to carry out activities that will not
create environmental pollution. The Company has developed proper steps and strategies that
have been creating customer satisfaction leading to effective services that is being provided to
the customers. It has been noted that the company has been promoting different campaigns
which ensured the sustainability of the environment by using low carbon footprint producing
processes and services. Due to this activity the company has been able to gain more success
leading to a rise of 20% in the revenue generation that has been created by the company. It has
been noted that the company has involved itself in the promotion of equality among the different
communities and developed plans to promoter gender identity (Leon and Araña, 2014). The
company has focused on the wellbeing of the whales and the dolphins which are on the
extinction rate globally. The company has also expanded its business in the Caribbean by
developing different packages of holidays and services in the location. This has ensured that the
company is being able to carry out the activities of the company more effectively as better
success rate is being gained by the company.
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Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that the different legislative laws and the framework that are present in
different countries has been able to create more effective in the travel tourism industry in the
country UK. It has been noted that the companies in the travel and tourism sector in the country
UK has focused itself in maintaining proper ethical values and policies. The companies are being
able to carry out different activities properly so that they can carry out the different operation in
the foreign countries more effectively. It can be thus, concluded that the companies in the travel
and tourism sector in UK needs to focus more on the developing countries so that the legislative
laws and regulations matches with the policies that are present in the country leading to more
success rate in the travel and tourism industry with better economic growth.
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