Unit 8: Legislation and Ethics in Travel and Tourism Sector Report

This report delves into the legal and regulatory framework governing the UK's travel and tourism sector. It begins by outlining key legislation, including the Athens Convention Act, Transport Acts, and the Development of Tourism Act, emphasizing their impact on passenger carriage and industry coordination. The report then explores the principles of health, safety, and security legislation, such as the Data Protection Act, vicarious liability, and the Health and Safety Act, illustrating their influence on travel agencies like Thomas Cook. It also examines equality legislations, including the Race Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, and Employment Protection Act, ensuring fair treatment of employees. Furthermore, the report analyzes contract legislation, emphasizing essential elements like offer, acceptance, consideration, and the capacity of parties. Finally, it addresses ethical dilemmas and corporate social responsibility within the tourism sector, providing a comprehensive overview of the legal and ethical landscape.

LETT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 legal and regulatory framework of the travel and tourism sector .........................................3
1.2 Surface, sea and air transport law in relation to carriage of passengers with in the legal and
regulatory framework...................................................................................................................4
2.1 Impacts of the principle of health, safety and security legislation on the travel and tourism
sector. ..........................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism sector ...............................................11
3.2 Consumer protection legislation in relations to travel and tourism customers ...................13
4.1 Ethical dilemmas faced by travel and tourism sector .........................................................16
4.2 Corporate social responsibility policy of a specified tourism business ..............................17
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................18
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INTRODUCTION
Globalization has provided opportunities for entrepreneurs for establishing business. It is
assertive that business should adopt a strategic approach for carrying out the business procedure
in effective way. Along with this innovative ideas and approaches are required for performing
the business functions. Travel and tourism sector of UK is facing different kind of issues and due
to that overall performance of the industry is getting affected. It is critical that all the legal
guidelines should be followed so that required tourism activities can be performed in ethical and
regulatory manner. Present report describes about legal and regulatory framework that are
followed in the tourism sector and impacts of principles of health, safety and security legislations
on the travel and tourism sector also have been mentioned.
TASK 1
1.1 legal and regulatory framework of the travel and tourism sector
UK government has formed different laws that are mandatory to be followed
for all the organizations that are working in this sector. It is critical that rules and
norms that are formed by the government should be strictly followed so that all the
business activities can be performed in legal and lawful manner. English legal
system defines about guidelines that are vital to be followed for all the travel
companies that are working across UK. Different types of regulatory framework
are as mentioned :-
The Athens Convention act 1974 :- Individuals that are involved in international
carriers activities for carrying the passengers by road are included under this act
along with this individuals that travel through sea ways are also included in this
category. The act gives guidelines to people and it aids for performing all the travel
activities in legal and lawful manner.
Transport acts 1980 :- The major objective for which this act was formed to
deregulate the various coach services in the nation. With this power have been
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granted to the authorities and doing the deregulations of various coach services in
the nation. Powers have been granted to the authorities for deregulating the bus
services and local bus services are regulated by them. Moreover, this act has
played a pivot role in enhancing the rivalry in the industry. Different national bus
companies and bus service provider companies got influenced through the
formation of this act.
Carriage by air and road act 1979 :- This act has been formed with the objective to
give guidelines that if any harm or injuries are sustained by any individual while
carrying the passengers than carriers will be held liable for the damages and
injuries that are sustained by a person.
Development of tourism act 1969 :- This regulation has been formed with the
objective to develop coordination among various tour service provider companies
that are operating in UK. It is critical that all the service provider companies should
make their best possible efforts so that better and effective services should be
provided to individuals that are involved in the tourism sector.
1.2 Surface, sea and air transport law in relation to carriage of passengers with in
the legal and regulatory framework
Surface and sea laws have been made by the government for those
individuals who are engaged in the activities of providing travel services to
passengers. Surface law and sea law that has been made by the government is as
described :-
The international carriage of passenger act 1979 :- Directions and instructions to
passengers are provided by this act and individuals who provide tickets and other
services to people comes in this category. In this act duty of Carrier is assigned so
that proper safety and protection should be provided to other people. It si
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accountability of carrier to ensure proper safety to people that are travelling by
making use of services that are provided by them. This act has been formulated
with the objective to provide better and effective transportation services to the
clients.
Air law :- The Warsaw convention of 1929 has been made with the objective to
regulate the transportation activities that are performed under the aviation sector.
Rules and regulations are essential to be followed for organization and people that
are working in the aviation sector. If any damages and injuries are sustained by an
individual than legal claims can be made against the harms and damages that are
sustained by the individual.
Sea law :- This act has been formed by the government of UK with the objective to
regulate carriers and passengers that are indulge in transportation activities through
sea ways. It is critical that proper safety and security should be provided to people
that are travelling through sea. This act has been made with the major objective to
protect the people that are travelling through sea. Liabilities of carriers are decided
and if any passenger faces any kind of harm and injury than accountabilities needs
to be decided. International maritime organization has been made with the
objective to regulate the safeguarding of people who are travelling through sea. It
is also critical to make use of safety appliances while travelling through sea.
TASK 2
2.1 Impacts of the principle of health, safety and security legislations on the travel
and tourism sector.
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LEAFLET
Principles of health, safety and security legislations gives impact on the activities
that are performed in the travel and tourism sector. Overall working of the
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organizations that are performing in tourism industry gets influenced due to it.
Thomas cook is a leading travel agency of UK that provides superior class
services to its business consumers. It is critical that health and safety related
guidelines should be followed so that all the business activities can be performed
in legal and lawful manner. Moreover, various acts that have been formed are as
follows :-
Data protection act 1998 :- This act has been formed with the objective to ensure
safety and protection of data and information and it is critical that safety and
protection of data should be ensured. Along with this it has been vital that
disclosure of information should be done in proper manner so that all the
necessary data and information should be kept safe and secure. It is imperative
that data should be properly recorded and any information should not be disclosed
without taking prior permission from the person.
Vicarious liability :- AS per the vicarious liability employer of any company is
responsible for providing proper care to individuals that are working in the
company. If any staff member sustain injury than employer of the firm can be
held liable for the damages and injuries that are sustained by the staff member. It
becomes duty of the employer to provide safe and conductive working
environment to the staff members that are working in the venture. In Thomas cook
it is the duty of management for ensuring that all the staff members should receive
safe and conductive working environment.
Health and safety act 1974 :- This act gives guidelines that it is critical that health,
safety and welfare of the people should be ensured that are working in the
organization. Proper safe and conductive working environment needs to be
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provided to the individuals and duties and accountabilities of each staff member
should be determined. Dangerous chemicals and hazardous substances should be
handled safely and protected manner.
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2.2 Legislations that relates to equality.
LEAFLET
It is imperative that all the staff members that are working in the organization
should be provided with equal job opportunities. Any discrimination on the
grounds of sex, religion, education and financial status should be strictly made
prohibited. Legislations that are followed in the enterprise are as mentioned :-
Race discrimination act 1976 :- In this act guidelines have been mentioned that no
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discrimination can be made with any staff member on the grounds of race and
nationality. If any employer makes any kind of discrimination on this grounds
than it is considered illegal.
Sex discrimination act 1975 :- All the male and female staff members should be
provided with equal job opportunities so that they work in safe and protective
working environment. Along with this it is required that equal pay should be
given for equal work that is performed by the employees.
Employment protection act 1978 :- Under this legislation guidelines have been
mentioned that staff members should be protected and it also helps for providing
better, safe and secure working environment for the employees. This act aids in
ensuring that staff members should be made safe from any kind of illegal
behaviour that is performed by the employer.
Employment act 2002 :- In this act guidelines have been mentioned that maternity
and paternity rights should be provided to the staff members so that they can be
enjoy their family life. Along with this act also gives guidelines related to
working conditions, working hours and flexible working hours.
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TASK 3
3.1 Contract legislations in relation to travrl nad tourism sector
TO,
Travel assistant
Thomas cook
Sir,
Contract agreements are signed among two or more parties and terms and
conditions of the business are determined by them. Travel firms that are operating
their business in UK make agreements for determining the terms and services of
the business. Along with this the conditions that are determined under the contract
includes travel destinations, arrival and departure time, proper duration and prices
of facilities and amenities that are provided by tourism organizations. There are
some important elements that needs to be included while making agreements and
it consists of these elements :-
Offer :- When any offeror invite other party to get involve in the contract
than it is considered as offer. Any kind of agreement proposed by the offeror is
considered in the category of offer.
Acceptance :- If any party gets agree to accept the terms and conditions that
are mentioned in the contract than it is described as acceptance shown by a party.
Acceptance of offer remains as amount to gain facilities of goods and services
provided by travel industry.
Consideration :- while consideration contracts are considered as binding by
law and if any contract is rejected than it is considered as illegal.
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Capacity of parties :- it is vital that all the parties that are involved in
making contract should have capacity to enter into legal and valid agreement. Any
individual facing criminal charges can not be considered as eligible for signing
any valid contract. Along with this a minor person having age below 18 years is
also considered as not eligible for signing a valid contract.
It is critical that rules, regulations and norms should be properly followed in
travel and tourism sector so that required activities can be performed in legal and
lawful manner. All the parties involved in signing contract defines about terms
and conditions and their accountability. By properly following the contract law,
travel and tourism service providers ensures that goods and services should be
handled in safe and protected manner.
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3.2 Consumer protection legislations in relations to travel and tourism customers
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POSTER
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It is critical that consumers should be provided with better services and amenities
so that their rights should be protected. Travel and tourism service provider
companies needs to consider legislations that have been formed by the
government so that better safety and protection of consumers can be ensured
through this. Rights of consumers are protected through these legislations and it
aids in ensuring that tourist can make legal action against the travel service
provider organization in case any injuries and damages are sustained by the firm.
Some rights of protection are posses by the consumers and it includes :-
Rights to disclosure of information :- Right has been provided for getting all
information and dealings that are related to travel agencies and disclosure of rights
referring to facilities protects the consumers in case of breech of contract.
Rights to fair value, good quality and safety :- Rights have been given to tourists
for choosing the facilities according to their interest. Tourists can choose the
goods and services that satisfy their safety and health related rights and meets
with their needs and requirement.
Rights to accountable terms and conditions :- every tourists have right for being
responsible for the terms and conditions that are helpful to safe the consumer to
obey the duty to be consumers.
Rights to fair and honest dealing :- it is imperative that valid agreement should be
created between supplier and consumers so that valid agreement can be signed
between them.
Rights to protection of steps taken in good faith :- If breach of contract occurs
than travel agency deserves the rights for take action against the agency in their
safe and good faith. Legal action can be taken by consumers and they can sue
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travel and tourism service provider companies.
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TASK 4
4.1 Ethical dilemmas faced by travel and tourism sector
Travel and tourism service provider companies works for rendering superior
and effective services to consumers. Ethical dilemmas is defined as moral conflicts
that are faced by travel service provider organizations. It is critical that consumers
and visitors of Thomas cook should be provided with valid and reliable
information and they should not be given any kind of fake and misleading
information related to services and packages that are offered by the travel and
tourism service provider organization (Evans and et.al., 2012). Moreover, wrong
information that is provided to tourists create dilemmas and due to that impact is
being observed on the overall activities that are performed in travel and tourism
sector (Dupeyras and MacCallum, 2013). It becomes responsibility of travel service
provider company that safe and protected environment should be provided to the
tourist so that they can enjoy the services and facilities that are being provided to
them. Along with this on the behalf of tourism presentation, society attracts and
repulse against the travel facilities.
It becomes duty of travel service provider agencies that ethical issues should
be dealt correctly so that travellers should not face any kind f issue and problems.
Activities that are performed in travel and tourism sector gives impact on the
society as well as on the local community people and due to that activities of the
businesses hampered due to that (Getz, 2013). It is moral responsibility of travel
service provider organizations that any kind of misleading information should not
be given to travellers (Ryan, Ninov and Aziz, 2012). All the initiatives will support for
rendering better services and facilities that are provided to tourists. Sometimes
with objective to attract tourists many organizations makes use of marketing
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strategies and in this misleading information are provided to tourists due to which
impact ethical issues are faced (Theobald, 2013). Promises made by the organization
does not get fulfilled and needs and preferences shown by visitors does not get
fulfilled.
4.2 Corporate social responsibility policy of a specified tourism business
Thomas cook is a leading tourism service provider company of UK and it
offers superior quality services to the tourist. Strategic approaches are used by
business and it helps for meeting the goals and objectives of the business in
successful manner (Ghimire, 2013). Corporate social responsibility is defined as
responsibility of the venture towards society. It is a term that defines about
initiatives taken by any business organization for sharing some part of the profit
with the society people who are in need of this.
Thomas cook has adopted different CSR initiatives so that positive changes
can be implemented in the lives of community people and it will support for
meeting the CSR objectives of the organization. Funds are raised and these funds
are used for good causes (Hall, 2013). It is a targeted policy that is formed for
sustaining in competitive market of UK and it also aids for making the company
liable towards the community in which people are living. Some major elements
have been included under the CSR policy of the organization and it includes
atmospheric adoptable manner, respect of labor standards and assessing the
destinations carefully.
Complete and entire concepts that are related with the concept of travel
organization and its management are included under this concept. It is critical that
corporate social policies of the organization should be implemented in a systematic
and organized manner so that its required objectives could be achieved
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