Legislation and Ethics in Travel and Tourism Sector

This report discusses the legislation and ethics in the travel and tourism sector, including the legal and regulatory framework, impact of health, safety, and security, analysis of legislation, contract legislation, and consumer protection laws. It also focuses on Cox & King, a renowned travel organization, and its presence in 22 countries.

LEGISLATION AND
ETHICS IN TRAVEL AND
TOURISM SECTOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................7
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Legislations are basically the statuary laws established by some overnighting body to
regulate the fairness and ethicality in state or organization. There are various legislations that
dominates the travel and tourism industry and enable them to work towards the interest of their
stakeholders. The various acts and laws help this industry to protect the rights of customers and
thus help the organization to make sound decisions.
Cox & King is predominately the renowned travel organization being established in 1758 by
Richard Cox and headquartered in U.K. It has its presence cross 22 countries along with 4
continents and thus is largest travel agent.
This report addresses legal as well as regulatory framework in travel and tourism sector,
sea and air transport laws, impact of health, safety and security on travel and tourism industry,
analysis of legislation, contract legislation in travel and tourism, consumer protection legislation,
ethical dilemmas encountered by travel and tourism industry and CSR in travel and tourism
business.
MAIN BODY
LO 1
Legal as well as regulatory framework in travel and tourism sector
The laws in tourism generally lays down the framework which governs different travel
agencies, airports as well as travel organizations. It has generally evolved from the various
environmental protection, employee rights. Health and safety laws etc. Thus the legal framework
which addresses the travel and tourism is highly structured and includes a variety of laws as well
as regulations

Strategic rail authority(SRA) Health and safety executive(HSE)
This is basically the non-
governmental body of public
which is based in UK and thus
was established under the act
of transport 2000 in order to
offer the strategic direction
and guidance for railway
industry. It is the regulation
which has affected Cox and
King & its laws of tourism.
This enactment classified the
sector of railway into two
departments namely railway
track as swell as Rolling stock
organizations (Bianchi and
Stephenson, 2018).
It is commonly Known by the name of Health and safety at
workplace act which was being established in 1974. This is
basically the single and foremost legislation piece in UK for the
welfare of the employees and thus looking out for securing
their health and safety. Cox & King have a well-through HSE
where they are focussed in preventing and thus securing the
employees for various work-related injuries as well as ill
health. It is non-departmental body which is being sponsored
by Department for work as well as pensions.
International Air Transport Association(IATA)
This is basically the trade association in world's airlines that comprises more than 280
airlines predominately the major and important carriers that represents around 117 countries.
IATA supports the various airline activities and thus helps in the implementation of the difgfernt
industry policy as well as standards. The headquarters of IATA are in Canada, Montreal along
with the executive office situated in Geneva.
Sea and air transport laws
The rights of the passengers are basically included within the regulation number
1177/2010. Passengers who suffer from the disability as well as reduced mobility and travel form

sea or by the inland waterways enjoys the benefit of these rights when they travel anywhere in
European Union(EU). This regulation normally applies on the passengers who travel via ferry
services, Cruise etc.
Carriage of passenger by road act 1974
This is the act which is being set out and thus consists of law forces in UK. This relates to
the various rights as well as responsibilities of the concerned person in carriage of passengers
along with luggage by the road and thus the person is full liable for injury, death or loss of the
luggage of passengers.
Air transport regulations
This is the convention which was levied for the unification and integration of specific
rules which relates to the international carriage via air. It regulates the liability for different
international carriage of the persons, luggage as well as goods which are performed by the
aircraft. Under this regulation, whenever any person is responsible for the death or the personal
injury of the passengers then the passenger has the full right to claim the compensation for loss
suffered by them (Spencer, 2018). Besides this, the passengers are under the obligation for
carrying the tickets when they travel and also the carrier are required to deliver the ticket to the
passengers which should contain the various particulars like place as well as the date of issuance.
Montreal convention 1999
This convention replaced the Warsaw convention which was levied in 1929 and thus this
came into force in November 2003. It is basically the multilateral treaty which was adopted by
ICAO member in 1999 and thus established the various rules related to passenger carriage,
baggage as well as cargo. This forms the single and foremost piece of the legal system and thus
protects and secures the passengers by establishing liability system of two-tier which eliminates
the old requirements and thus serves the passengers by reducing the protracted litigation. This
convention was formed with the main aim to increase the liability and responsibility of the
airlines for the various lost baggages to a certain and fixed amount of around 1131 SDR per
passenger.
LO 2
Impact of health, safety and security on travel and tourism industry
There are basically the numerous legislations as well as rules which are being framed for
the welfare of the health, safety as well as security of individual and thus protects them. Within

the travel and tourism sector, Individual's health is also secured and protected with the help of
health and safety at workplace established in 1974. Within this act, the employer is responsible
and held accountable for the various acts which are applied by the employee. Besides this, the
employer are also held accountable for the security and protection of the employee within the
organization (Milano, Novelli and Cheer, 2019). This act generally is regulated and governed by
the commission of health and safety wherever it is not under the control of HSC. In this scenario,
they generally encounter 2 options. Either they can issue the guidelines or the approved codes
and standards of regulations as well as practices. Under this act, the employer are required to
provide various facilities to their employee within the premises like first aid, proper lightning.
Apart from this, the employer are also responsible for training their staff and employees
regarding different safety terms.
Besides this act, there is another act which is occupier liability 1984. According to this
act, the owner or the occupier have the obligations against the individual whoever visit their
lands. Along with this, the occupier has the full right to take the legal actions against individual
who visit their land or property without their permission. It is generally the parliament act of UK
which specifies the different liability of the occupiers for the trespassers. This act or law extends
the right to the owner against the trespasser and visitors and is enforceable when occupier has the
basic and constructive knowledge that actual danger exist or the trespasser may be nearby.
General data protection regulation, 2018
This act came in to force in 2018 and thus formulate the rights of the individual of
personal data. This act addressees that it is the responsibility of the organization to protect and
secure the confidential and personal information of the individual which normally includes the
bank details, phone number, house address as well as other data (Edgell Sr, 2016). This
information is essential for the Cox & King to maintain a proper database of their employees.
The information which is provided to Cox & King should be with the consent of that individual
and this consent should be free of any coercion or fraud.
Analysis of legislation
Equality stresses upon the fact that each and every individual should be treated equally
and thus should not be discriminated on the basis of sex, race, caste etc. Discrimination on the
other and means that each and every individual are treated on the same platform and equally and

are differentiated on the grounds of sec, race etc. In order to overcome this, there are various
legislations which are
Sex discrimination act 1975
This act came in to force in 1975 and thus laid down the different provisions which
relates to sex discrimination. According to this act, every person whether men or women has the
equal rights and cannot be differentiated on the basis of their sex. This act promotes equality
between men and women and thus eliminates the discrimination of sex. This is basically the act
of UK parliament and includes more than 86 sections (Hughes, 2018). This amendment was
made with the aim for providing equal opportunities to men as well as women whether education
or at the workplace as well as prohibits the company to recruit the individual by considering the
grounds of sex.
Race discrimination act 1956
This act was formed by the UK parliament and thus stresses upon preventing the
discrimination between different individual on the basis of race. This act laid down the
regulations which reduces and thus eliminates the differentiation between different people by
considering their race. Racial discrimination generally consists of the discrimination which is
made on colours, race, nationality etc. This kind of the differentiation is seen in the employment
and at the workplace (Font and McCabe, 2017). Therefore, based on this act, the individual have
the full right to take legal action and thus seek the support of court if anyhow they are
discriminated on racial basis in any field whether employment, housing or education.
Employee protection act 1998
This act was laid down in 1996 by the parliament of UK and was passed by conservative
government that includes the provision for protecting the employees as well as employers at the
workplace. This act applies in both public as well as private sector and also extend to provide
maternity leave to former and latter. This act also gives the right to the employees to take legal
actions against the company if they are terminated or dismissed without any prior permission.
Thus, no employer or manager can dismiss or suspend the employee without any strict reason or
without providing the notice of minimum 1 week.
LO 3
Contract legislation in travel and tourism
Contract legislation

Contract is basically the agreement which exists between two parties or more than two
parties within which the rights as well as obligation of both parties arises and are enforceable by
the law. In travel and tourism sector, the passenger and travel company should be aware they
both are bound legally with one another. Besides this, according to the contract travel company
posses the full right to claim payment and passengers have the right to claim any compensation if
company does not fulfil their promises (Kline, 2018). In this sector, the contracts which usually
exists are
Contract for supply of goods 1988
Under this contract, the supplier are required to and must supply the goods as well as
provide the services in accordance with contract. This is mandatory because the customers who
enter this contract with suppliers generally have some expectations for the supplier. In travel and
tourism industry, consumers are entitled the great accommodation provided by the hotel. They
expect the room to be well cleaned and reflect hygienic thus if the hotel provides does not
comply to this the consumers have the right to sue supplier as per the contract.
Holiday contract
This contract is like the various other contracts that exists in travel and tourism sector.
According to this contract, the hotels providers are required to provide the full description of the
place, hotels etc. within their brochure that will make it convenient for the traveller to choose the
best. Besides this, the contract of package travel should also include the name of traveller,
payment details as well as email address of the customer. The traveller has the full right to sue
the company if the company does not provide the things which is being mentioned by them.
Contract for provision of services
The services agreement is basically the contract which binds the service provider to
perform the given services which are being mentioned in the contract and also pose the liability
on customers to take the benefit of services in exchange for certain mount of money. Under this
contract, the hotel providers must provide the services and amenities which are being provided in
their brochure and thus comply to their promises. On the other hand, customers must pay the
specific amount of money which is being set by the hotel for taking these services. If the
travellers denies paying the fees and expenses which are associated the agreement then service
provides have the right to sue them and take legal action against them.

Consumer protection legislation
Trade description
act 1968
Consumer protection
act 1987
Hotel proprietor act
1956
Food act 1984
This act mainly deals
with the description of
goods as well as
services that are being
traded. This act was
replaced by the
Merchandise Marks
act 1957. This act
generally includes
various provisions
relating to misleading
the consumers by
misdescription of
goods as well as
services that are being
traded.
This act primarily
provides full security
to the consumers who
encounter the
misdescription of
services and goods by
This act was generally
established by the
parliament of UK
protects the rights as
well as interest of
consumers. The
manufacturer
providing the goods
remain under the
liability to provide the
right quality of goods
to consumers (McCabe
and Diekmann, 2015).
Whenever consumer
purchase the goods or
products they have full
right to gather
information and know
about that product.
Thus, this binds the
manufacturer to
According to this act,
the hotel or any
establishment are not
deemed to become or
be inn and duties,
rights as well as
liabilities shall be in
accordance with the
provision of act.
Under this law, the
hotel proprietor shall
serve as innkeeper and
thus posses the
liability to make the
good experience for
their guest and thus
protect their persona
property which they
bring in the hotel. Any
loss or the damage to
their property that
occurs during period
This act was being
established in 1984
and thus amends the
various laws relating
to the safety of food
serves to the
customers. This act
lays down the
provision and thus
stresses that the
preparation as well as
the sale of the food
which is being
prepared by hotels
shall be within the
constraints of purity as
well as wholesomeness
and shall strictly
comply to food and
safety standards.
The food should

hotels. According to
this act, Hotels are
under full obligation
to offer services along
with goods as per the
description being
mention by them
(Sigala, 2018). In any
case, if the hotel
providers fails to do
so, then customers
have full right to file
suit or case against
them under the section
14 of act (Mtapuri and
Giampiccoli, 2019).
provide the needed
information which will
form the basis of
decision-making by
consumers. In this
industry, the products
of hotel are their food,
rooms and other
amenities thus hotels
are required to provide
all the information
about their rooms,
cleanlinesses, staff
services in their
brochure and traveller
have the right to know
about the hotel and
their rooms.
of midnight shall be
under the control of
hotel and shall be bear
by them (Technitis,
2015).
follow the principle of
hygiene and thus
prohibits the hotels to
mislead the
representation of
various ingredients.
LO 4
Ethical dilemmas encountered by travel and tourism industry
Ethics is basically the discipline which lays down the difference between good and bad
practices and aware the people of their moral duties. Each and every sector including travel and
tourism faces some kind of ethical dilemmas which somewhat hinders their operations and tells
them the differentiation between right and wrong. The various dilemmas relating to ethics faced
by travel and tourism industry are
Local community Sustainable products Ethical marketing
This industry generally faces
the challenge regarding the
forced labour as well as the
exploitation of various migrant
The most important dilemma
which the travel and tourism
industry faces is providing the
safe and sustainable products
This is one more dilemma
which this industry faces while
marketing their tourism. The
industry remains under the

workers at the workplace.
Hiring the workers in the
hotels and other travel
companies generally is the
problem which is being faced
by this industry (Langston,
2017). Thus, providing the
income to these local workers
and engaging them in various
activities is the major concern
for hotels and other travel
agencies. The hotels are
required to provide the
effective training to the
workers regarding serving the
customers better and provide
them the world-class quality to
them. Besides this, providing
the local workers with various
resources as well as imparting
the education as well as
training to serve the travellers
better remain a dilemma for
this industry. They support the
local economies by hiring
them on part-time basis. Of the
as well as top quality services.
This industry faces the most
important issue when their
competitors engage in the
unethical competition and thus
provide products at much low
price along with bad quality
services and goods. Thus, in
order to survive in the market,
providing the sustainable
products that meet the
specified quality and
expectations of customers
remain a challenge of the
industry (Vargas-Sánchez and
Moutinho, 2018).
pressure to create and promote
the more sustainable offerings
to the customers and thus
makes sure that business
operate in the ethical manner.
The industry engage in the
dilemma to make their
strategies congruent with their
stakeholders concerns.
The sustainable marketing
includes using the processes,
techniques as well as resources
in such a way that it serves the
stakeholder community and
thus provides a greener
environment to the customers.
The industry is required to
market the products that
contribute a large part towards
the sustainability and thus
attracts large amount of
visitors.

full-time basis and thus offers
them the lands for the
development.
CSR in travel and tourism business
Corporate social responsibility is basically the management practice through which the
organizations make committent to contribute a small part towards the welfare of society as well
as environment.
Role of CSR
The main role of CSR in Cox and king is that it helps them to serve the customers better
and thus create an unforgettable experience for them. It plays the role of creating a value for
customers by providing sustainable products to them and thus leaving long-lasting impression in
their minds(Van der Wagen, 2015). Besides this, the most important role which dominates CSR
in Cox & King is that it increases the employee loyalty. As the employees often find those
companies that operate their functions in ethical manner and thus have the values which align to
their interests. Thus, through CSR, Cox & king are able to attract as well as retain the quality
employees. Another most important role which CSR plays is helping the company to gain
financial success in long-term. For example when the Cox & King reinvest their profits for the
welfare of local community as well as universities then it helps in building a great local economy
that make it convenient for hotels to look out talented employees.
CSR policy
The CSR policy of the travel and tourism generally incorporates operating in the most
sustainable manner and thus involves various attributes like accountability, sustainability,
corporate governance etc.
Sustainability
Sustainability defines the way in which organizations perform their functions and thus
addresses their core values. Cox & King are required to perform their activities in a sustainable
manner whether it is marketing their services or aligning the interest of stakeholders. For
example the most sustainable practices which the Cox & King apply is using the most energy
efficient operations like automated energy system. They work on reducing the use of energy
(Sigala and Chen, 2017).

Accountability
Under the environment health as well as safety policy, the organizations are required to
provide the safe environment for their employees. As the employees as well as the management
of Cox & King are held accountable and are responsible for contributing towards the safe and
free environment that eventually fosters the safe working environment. For example the
employees of Cox & King every year contribute some part of their income towards the welfare
of environment and thus this company is well-known for the accountability and transparency to
their stakeholders.
Corporate governance
Corporate governance is basically the system of different rules and practices through
which the organization is controlled as well as directed. The Cox & King are required to conduct
their business in the most ethical manner and thus achieve the results responsibly. The company
is required to perform their activities in the most transparent as well as fair manner to meet the
expectations of stakeholders. For example Cox & King with the helps of board of directors as
well as management team is consistently involved in achieving the great results by maintaining
ethics and thus reviewing the policies every year.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized that there are various legal frameworks in travel and tourism
sector like SRA, HSE etc. that helps the organization comply to various laws and thus work
accordingly. Besides this, the various sea and air transport laws enables the passengers to seek
compensation for any loss or damage to their baggage or luggage. The various health and safety
leas, sec discrimination act stresses on working towards the welfare of employees and thus
treating them well. Along with these, the different consumer protection laws gives the consumer
right to sue the hotels if they fail to complete their promises and also helps the service provider
to work ethically in the interest of travellers. For increasing the value for customers, hotels carry
out various CSR initiatives like corporate governance, accountability, transparency through
which they contribute toward the welfare of society.

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
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approaches, challenges and potential. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 25(7). pp.869-
883.
Goodwin, H., 2017. 14 Issues of Resilience, Sustainability and Responsibility in Tourism.
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resource management in an age of disruption and growth. In Handbook of Human
Resource Management in the Tourism and Hospitality Industries. Edward Elgar
Publishing.
Kline, C. ed., 2018. Tourism Experiences and Animal Consumption: Contested Values, Morality
and Ethics. Routledge.
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