(Solution) Legislation and Ethics in Travel and Tourism Sector

Legislation and Ethics
in Travel and Tourism
Sector

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Explain the legal and regulatory framework of the travel and tourism sector......................1
1.2 Discuss surface, sea and air transport law in relation to the carriage of passengers within
the legal and regulatory framework............................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Evaluate the impacts of the principles of health, safety and security legislation on the
travel and tourism sector.............................................................................................................3
2.2 Analyse legislation that relates to equality............................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
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 ...........................................................................................................................................7
4.1Analyse ethical dilemmas faced by the travel and tourism sector.........................................7
4.2 Analyse the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy of a specified travel and
tourism business..........................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Tour and travelling industry is playing a important role in contributing economic
development. Individuals and groups use to have different reasons for travelling like for
education, research, business and adventure etc. Travel industry is regulated by legal and
regulatory framework which helps them to provide services in an effective and legal manner
(Aldebert, Dang and Longhi, 2011). Present report is based on Thomas Cook, it is a travelling
company which provides tours and travelling services to their customers. This report includes
legal framework for the industry, principles of health, safety and security legislation. It also
explains legislation related to equality and contract legislation related to tour and
travelling industry.
TASK 1
Covered in Leflate
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluate the impacts of the principles of health, safety and security legislation on the travel
and tourism sector
Government frames various legislations for each industry which helps them in
conducting their activities in an specified manner. In tour and travel industry many laws and
regulations are created to manage and provide health, safety and security to the clients or
potential consumers. Organisations are governed on the basis of these regulatory framework as it
helps them to provide their services in long term. In England and Wales, travel and tourism
industry health, safety and security are governed by the following:
Health and security at work Act 1974: This act governs and provides security to
individuals at their workplace (Goodall and Ashworth, 2013). Employers are accountable for the
activities done by their employees. Protection and security of employees are responsibility of
employer in organisation. These both parties has some duties and responsibilities which they
have to fulfil at workplace. In Thomas Cook, employer has to take some major steps regarding
business premises like workplace needs to be maintained and secure, staff members must be
trained for the safety and security issues at workplace. There should proper facility for entry and
exist, safety measures should be taken in business premises.

Duties of employer
 Employer has to maintain the systems and machinery at workplace, for providing security
and safety to workers.
 For providing enough lighting facilities in business premises for employees to perform
their activities. Facilitate training, instruction and information to all the employees regarding use of
health and safety equipments.
Duties of employee
 It is duty of employee to use all available safety measures at workplace.
 They should co-operate with other employees when needed to conduct their roles and
responsibilities.
 Employee should take care of health of himself and other employees working at the same
workplace.
Occupiers Liability Act 1957 and 1984
Occupiers Liability Act 1957: Owner of the property is responsible for the person who comes
and visit his place. This accountability has lawful nature and have duty of care.
Occupiers Liability Act 1984: Occupier has the duty to protect all visitors from danger at their
place or property. This act permits to injured person to make claim against their injury.
Duty of care and vicarious liability
Vicarious liability is the situation in which employer is responsible for the actions and
performance of their employees. Employer is responsible for those person to whom they have
duty of care.
2.2 Analyse legislation that relates to equality
Equality refers to the situation in which all the individuals have same and equal rights
and responsibilities at workplace (Hall, 2013). Rules and regulations are prepared to maintain the
equality and reduce discrimination in organisation. British government has formed laws that
helps the travel and tourism industry in achieving growth, so that they can help in economic
development. In case of Thomas Cook , company should promote equality among their staff
members so that they all can have equal rights and responsibilities for performing their activities

at workplace. Company follows some laws to maintain equality and eliminate discrimination,
these are explained as below:
Race Discrimination Act, 1976 explains the rules and procedures that helps in reducing
the difference between individuals on basis of their race. It refers to the discrimination made on
basis of caste, region, religion, colour, nationality etc. In case of Thomas Cook, employer should
give opportunity to all the individuals by considering their importance for providing them
services (Han and Hyun, 2015).
Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, this act helps in creating opportunities
for employees. It provides employment security to all the employees by protecting their jobs.
This explains various rights which employees have at workplace. Travel and tourism industry
has good opportunities as it is expanding day by day so they have good job opportunities for
individuals.
Sex discrimination act 1975: This act reduces or eliminates the difference or
discrimination among individuals on basis of their gender in the area of employment, education.
Government of UK protects the right of men and women at workplace.
In context to Thomas Cook, it is very important for them to comply with all these laws
and regulations to provide equality in travel and tourism industry. This step will lead to the
development of the country.
TASK 3
Covered in Leflate
TASK 4
4.1Analyse ethical dilemmas faced by the travel and tourism sector
Ethics refers to the good and bad activities or operations. Every company has some
ethical issues and these differs from organisation to organisation (Mok, Sparks and Kadampully,
2013). The reason for this can be misuse of information and assets by employees or third party,
discrimination in organisation etc. Companies operating in travel and tourism industry faces
unethical or unhealthy competition due to the low prices in marketing. Thomas Cook can reduce
this unethical competition by establishing business ethics which will help company in attaining
competitive advantage in industry. Organisation will provide all related information to the
travellers including all risk, health and security issues.

They should also tell them about environmental conditions for encouraging their clients
to act in a legal environment. Holiday planning for their clients should be done by considering all
the ecosystem of country. The major ethical dilemmas faced by this industry is related to gender
and race discrimination, corruption, unhealthy food for tourists, harassment etc. Thomas Cook is
focused towards prevention of natural resources of the nation, for them this comes as first
priority to save resources from unethical uses. Company attracts large number of customers by
promoting their services and packages in ethical ways (Mok, Sparks and Kadampully, 2013).
They should design their packages in such a manner which will help travellers to spend their
holidays in a good environment.
The following are some ethics of tourism and travel industry:
Local Community: Some times resources are not easily available and are in limited
amount. Company should design their holiday packages which do not create any kind of harm to
the local community. As they helps company to acquire rare resources for completing their
activities. Organisation should not provide harm any kind of harm to the community as their
business is fully dependent on them.
Supply Chain: This helps company to increase their productivities and profitability by
doing their business activities with different suppliers. Company has to face difficulty in finding
out best option for supply so that they can complete all their business activities in specified time
period.
4.2 Analyse the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy of a specified travel and tourism
business
Corporate Social Responsibility: This is being considered as a policy which plays a
crucial role in travel and tourism business sector (Moutinho, 2011). It is required for business
organisations that are dealing in travel and tourism sector and have impacted upon environment.
Here, it has been analysed that economic, environmental and social imperatives are some of
factors that are linked with CSR activities which needs to be taken under by Thomas Cook while
doing business. Some of points in present context are mentioned beneath:
 Thomas Cook needs to focus on using a number of resources which needs to be friendlily
in nature.
 Away with this, Thomas Cook needs to contribute among education, cultural and social
programme so that to gain competitive advantages.

Manager and leaders of Thomas Cook have made there decision in focusing a number of
areas and these are :
Education, employability, heath and Sanitation: Since Thomas Cook is one of famous
tour and travel business organisation, it is required for the company to provide both diploma and
degree courses so that knowledge can be raised of agents and of clients as well at the same time
(Park and Oh, 2012).
With the help of CSR activities that is done by Thomas Cook, it can be said that this
travel company not only believes in its own profit which is earned from its packages.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it is concluded that travel and tourism industry has vary wider
scope and is very crucial for development of economy. IATA, ABTA, CAA and HSE are some
legal regulations which provides regulatory framework to travel and tourist industry so that can
do all activities within legal environment. This industry manages health, safety and security of
their clients with the help of HSW Act, 1974, Occupiers liability Act, 1984 etc. organisation of
this industry manages and protect the equality of their employees and customers with the help of
Equity laws. Consumers' interest is protected by trade discrimination Act and consumer
protection act 1987. Company use business ethics for providing their products and services to
their clients in an ethical manner.

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