Legislation and Ethics in the Travel and Tourism Sector

Legislation and Ethics in the Travel and Tourism
Sector

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................
TASK 1 UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IN THE
TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR.................................................................................................
1.1 Legal and regulatory framework for travel and tourism sector.............................................1
1.2 Surface, air and sea related transport law in terms of carriage of passengers within legal
and regulatory framework............................................................................................................2
Task 2 Understand legislation and regulation relating to health, safety and security in the travel
and tourism sector.................................................................................................................................
2.1 Impact of principles of health and safety on travel and tourism sector.................................3
2.2 Legislation that relates to equality.........................................................................................4
Task 3 Understand consumer protection legislation in relation to the travel and tourism sector.........
3.1 Explain contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers...............................5
3.2 Explain consumer protection legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers...........6
TASK 4 understanding the role of business ethics in the travel and tourism sector............................
4.1 Analysis of ethical dilemmas experienced by travel and tourism sector...............................7
4.2 Analysing the corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy of particular travel and tourism
organization.................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................
References............................................................................................................................................

INTRODUCTION
Travel and tourism industry is one of largest business domains in the UK and has largest
share in the UK GDP. There is a large regulatory framework related to this industry whether
mode of transportation is sea, air or land. In this report, rules and regulations are discussed in
detail. Along with this, legislation related to equality is explained briefly. In middle part of the
report, contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers is discussed in detail. In
end part of the report, types of ethical dilemma faced by firms operating in travel and tourism
sector are discussed in detail. Along with this, CSR policies of the firm are also described
briefly.
TASK 1 UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
IN THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR
1.1 Legal and regulatory framework for travel and tourism sector
Thomas cook requires to strictly follow all the relevant rules and regulations that are
related to travel and tourism industry. If same will not be strictly followed then regulatory
authorities have a right to file a case against the firm. Hence, in order to run business smoothly
without any problem, it is very important for Thomas cook to follow all the relevant rules and
regulations of the business. It has been observed that in UK, there are strong rules which are
applied strictly by the relevant authorities. This is because mentioned industry has highest share
in the UK GDP and if there will be strict rules then same will be operated in a proper manner in
the UK. Travel and tourism industry is serving people whether they are foreigner or domestic
and it is very important to ensure their safety and wellbeing in UK (Erkuş-Öztürk and Eraydın,
2010). Hence, with passage of time, many new amendments are made in current law.
Travel agencies strictly need to follow these rules and regulations very tightly. There are
different modes of transportation like air, water and land as well as rules and regulations are
prepared separately for these models of transportation. If we look at transportation act 2002 of
UK then it can be seen that there are strict provisions related to trains. In other words, it can be
said that in railway, there are provisions which are related to people safety and cleanness in the
railway compartments. As per the law, it is the liability of railway administration to make sure
that all the services will be available on time to the passengers (Lew, 2011). In UK, there is a
health and safety commission which prepares rules and regulations related to hygiene in trains.
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This commission also prepares rules related to services that are delivered to the
customers on train. It is the liability of UK government to make sure that good quality of services
are provided and rules as well as regulations are strictly followed on all modes of transport
whether they are water, air or land. In UK, there are many rules related to safety of passengers on
all modes of transportation. However, government can prepare some more rules related to safety
of employees. This will help government in ensuring that life of people will remain safe while
visiting on any mode of transportation. Some of the rules with which firms are operating in travel
and tourism sector are as follows.
 Healthy and safety executive- This is the regulation that is related to both the employer
and employees. In same, rights and obligation related to both entities are determined by
the law. It is responsibility of the firm to make available all the safety related equipment
to the employees (Yang, 2010). In case of any misfortune event, they can protect their
life. Similarly, it is liability of the employees to adopt all safety related equipment. If
employer does not provide any equipment and any misfortune event takes place then
employer will be liable to pay compensation amount.
 Health and safety commission- It is a law in which health and safety issues that are
related to travel and tourism industry are covered. Under this law, employer and
employees have to operate within determined rules and regulations. Failure to comply
with law may invite penalty from regulatory authorities.
1.2 Surface, air and sea related transport law in terms of carriage of passengers within legal and
regulatory framework
In UK, all modes of transportation whether it is air or land are used at large scale. Rules
and regulations that are related to different modes of transportation are as follows.
 Sea transport- As per this law, it is very important for the firms that are involved in sea
transport to make sure that adequate safety and health related measures are undertaken to
make sure that people that are traveling through ship life will be safe and they will be
provided good working conditions on ship. This reduces chances of accidents and ensures
good help of passengers while they are traveling on ship (Bornhorst, Ritchie and
Sheehan, 2010). Firms that are in travel and tourism industry must follow carriage of
goods act 1992 and territorial act 1987. Failure to comply with these laws may create
problems for the firm.
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