UK Travel Law and Ethics: Virgin Holidays Case Study Report

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[LEGISLATION AND ETHICS IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM]

INTRODUCTION
Travel & Tourism business has become one of the fundamental sectors that generate a
substantial amount of revenue and thereby contributing to the overall GDP of the UK economy.
Travel industry across the world is huge and contributes more than $ 7 trillion in terms of
Annual sales (Swanson and Edgell, 2013). The purpose of the assignment is to emphasize the
laws and legislations application to the tourism business in the UK. It is concerned about the
effective handling of ethical practices to ensure the smooth running of the business.
The report provides deep insight into moral issues that invade the tourism business in the UK. It
further aims to provide the regulatory framework applicable to the tourism business in the
context of England & Wales. Besides this, the report also throws light on the range of ethical
dilemmas faced by the tourism business.
Moreover, it explains the legal framework and process relating to Virgin Holidays and identifies
the ethical dilemma faced by the business. Also, it throws light on the incorporation of CSR
policy by Virgin Holidays. It is the leading travel company owned by Sir Richard Branson, an
owner of Virgin group (Fenell, 2011). The main aims of the company are to provide the best
travel experience to the customer across the world.

TASK 1
Being a travel law consultant in Virgin Holidays, it is required to throw light on the legislation
and framework applicable to travel and tourism business. The success of the business is driven
by the effective implementation of the applicable laws (Hall, 2013). Also, it is required to
understand health and safety mechanism so as to protect the consumer in the tourism industry.
Thereby, a leaflet and management report is produced so as to evaluate the impact of several laws
and regulation in the context of Virgin Holidays.
1.1 – EXPLAIN THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF THE TRAVEL &
TOURISM SECTOR WITH REFERENCE TO ENGLAND AND WALES
The UK government frames the laws and legislation so as to effectively handle the tourism business
in the country. They also lay down the ethical principles and regulatory framework that are required
to be followed by Travel operators in the UK (Weed et al., 2011). The legislation also considers the
several aspects of provisions of effective services so as to provide an enhanced experience to the
tourists. Thereby, it is required to understand the enforceability of several laws and framework that
impacts the dealing with the Travel & Tourism business. The significant legislation applicable to the
tour operator in the UK as follows:
Tourists Act, 1969
The establishment of the act is done by British Tourists authority with the ultimate objective of
coordinating the efforts of relevant bodies in travel and tourism business so as to provide better
customer experience to the tourists. The hotels, tour operators and transport authorities need to
come together for the effective provisions of services in the Travel & Tourism business. Thus, the
synchronization of services by various bodies is essential for the development of tourism industry in
the UK (Weed et al., 2011).
The act also laid the provisions with respect to giving of financial assistance out of the public fund
for the purpose of alteration or improvement in existing hotels. Apart from this, several provisions
have been made for securing the prices charged in respect of accommodation services.

Transport Act, 1980
The government of the UK adopts the legislative framework to make provisions with regard to the
services offered by the public and private bus transport companies. It also allows the deregulation
of bus services on a Trial basis.
The package travel, package holiday and Package Tour Regulation, 1992
The framework of law entrusts more responsibility on the tour operators for providing effective
facilities and services to the consumer in the tourism business. It contains several provisions related
to package travel and package holiday in respect of providing promised services. It contains several
rules and regulation in the context of selling a package holiday. Also, in case of any non-compliance,
it is the liability of the tour operator to pay compensation to the consumer. Every tour operator in
the UK is abided by the provisions of such regulation so as to make all necessary arrangements for
the safety and convenience of the consumer (Baddeley and Font, 2011).
Carriage by Air and Road act, 1979
An act was enabled to give effect to the provisions related to carriages by Air or Road. The act
contains all relevant provisions related to transport operators and entrust liability on the operator
in case of any damage of goods or luggage during the transit. The carrier is also responsible in case
of death of any passenger.
Regulatory Mechanism
There are several regulatory laws in order to stimulate and regularize the working structure of
travel and tourism business in the UK. It contains privileges and obligations related to different
parties involved in the tourism business. Thus, the tourism industry is abided by several regulatory
mechanisms.
Health and safety commission
The commission set up various health and safety measures for the protection of consumer in the
tourism business. Such Practices are required to be adopted by Virgin Holidays in order to protect
the customer from manipulation in the industry (White, 2016).

Regulations associated with the unfair trading act, 2008
The regulation provides a protection mechanism for the safeguarding of interest of consumer from
unfair commercial practices in the industry.
Air Travel operator licensing (ATOL)
The main purpose of the regulatory body is to provide financial protection to the traveller while
booking the holiday with the UK travel operator. The scheme protects the overseas customer from
losing their money in the event of travel business failure (Tamasi and Demichela, 2011).
Besides this, Regulation (EC) No. 1371/2007 is concerned about rail travel. It provides a protection
mechanism to curtail down the discriminatory practices so as to protect the people with disabilities.
It contains several provisions with regard to providing assistance to the disabled people at the
airport. Thereby, it sets the limit for complaints and sanctions. Moreover, Regulation (EC)
No.1073/2009 aims to provide common accessibility for free provisions of services with regard to
international road passengers. It also sets the procedure for overnight accommodation via. Coach
and bus and specifies the condition accepted in the transport industry.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that legislation and regulatory mechanism provides significant provisions for
the smooth running of services in travel and tourism business. Thereby, it sets out the rules for
providing the best possible experience for the tourists.

1.2 – EXPLAINS SURFACE, SEA AND AIR TRANSPORT LAW IN RELATION TO
THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS WITHIN THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK OF UNITED KINGDOM.
Air, surface and sea law in the context of the UK economy
Laws and regulations play a vital role to frame the guidelines with respect to the Tourism business.
The implementation of various laws made the travel happen with ease and there are fewer chances
of going anything wrong. Besides this, Transport laws in the context of Air, Surface and Sea are
required to ensure effective provisions of services with respect to UK Travel business (Drion, 2013).
Laws of Air Transport
There are several laws that regulate the Air transport includes the Warsaw convention act, 1929,
Tokyo Convention of 1963, Montreal convention of 1975, Hauge convention of 1955 and many
others. The Warsaw convention of 1929 laid down several rules and principles regarding the
international carriages. The law provides protection to the tourists in case of personal injury and
problems with respect to luggage (Janssen et al., 2013).
The law commends aviation companies to ensure security and check the luggage of the passenger
before the start of the journey. The flight attendant needs to be more responsible to provide
effective services to the consumer. The passenger can ask for compensation in case of any breach of
contract by the air authority. Thus, it provides rules and procedure in the context of passenger
landing, cargo in a specific territory.
Laws of Surface
The law is governed by Road act, 1979 and aims to formulate safety and security measures for the
passenger travelling by road. It protects the interest of passenger on road. The law also laid down
several provisions with respect to claims on account of physical damages and mental disorder of the
passenger. The Carriage Act of 1972 covers the loss of luggage by passenger and also regulates the
interest of disabled passenger (Drion, 2013).

Laws of Sea Transport
There are several laws and regulation related to the safety and security of sea craft. It also contains
environmental factors that are to be regulated under this law. The Anthen convention act of 1974
is implemented by the UK government that involves travelling of international passengers or
domestic passenger by sea. It also imposes the liability in case of any damages caused during the
sea travelling (Smith, 2014).
Conclusion- It is hereby concluded that the effective integration of the above-mentioned laws and
regulation lead to the smooth running of business operations with respect to travel and tourism
business.

TASK 2
2.1 ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF THE PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH, SECURITY AND
SAFETY LEGISLATION ON THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR IN CONTEXT OF
VIRGIN HOLIDAYS
Travel and tourism industry involves health and safety mechanism for safeguarding the interest of
the people at the workplace. The regulatory framework related to health and safety is extremely
important for safeguarding the interest of the consumer. For Example- Health & Safety Act, 1974
deals with the incorporation of safety standards in the corporate culture of Virgin Holidays. There is
also common regulation that entrusts the responsibility of the employer to safeguard the interest of
the employees (Smith, 2014).
The prime concern of the various standards is to ensure the health and security of the people going
on a trip. The issues must be primarily addressed so as to ensure a safe mode of travel and
accommodation facilities. It further makes the journey stress free and full of enjoyment. There are
various laws and regulation that facilitates equal treatment of passengers so as to avoid
discriminatory practices.
Health & Safety Act, 1974
The basic principles of law lay down emphasis on a clean and hygienic working environment to all
the employees at the workplace. The staff members must be treated equally as well as must be
given priority at the workplace (Hughes and Ferrett, 2011). It also includes several guidelines in
providing technical assistance to the provisions. Thus, the act poses a serious responsibility on the
employer for providing appropriate training in a specific situation.
The occupiers’ liability Act of 1984
The act states that it is the obligation of the occupier to provide safety and security to the visitors
who visited his land. It lay down the responsibility on the occupier to handle the customer in the
Travel &Tourism business.
Approved code of practices (ACOP)

The code of practices related to health and safety takes sufficient care to disregards the hazardous
work practices at the workplace. It also contains several common regulations that assign duty on
the employer to provide induction and training programs to the new employees. It is also required
to use the caution sign and installation of mock drills for effectively dealing with the fire (Tarlow,
2014).

Data protection act of 1984
The act requires keeping the personal information of the consumer to be confidential. The
information collected by the travel operator at the time of booking need not be shared to the third
party without the consent of the consumer. Thus, the law demands the security of data and use of
data for the specific purpose.
Human rights act 1998
The act emphasizes the free rights of the human including the right to education and right to
information so as to provide a dignified life to the others.
Impact of Health and Safety legislation
Health and safety standards are essential to ensure the quality of services in the tourism industry. It
also supports operational members in order to handle the unplanned accidents and address the
common problems faced by the traveller. Thus, it is important to implement good practices and
standards across the industry (Tarlow, 2014).
Virgin Holidays gives importance to the health and safety standards. The company maintains the
highest standard of services so as to meet the prescribed criteria. Design of various policies and
programs has been done for raising the standard of safety standards to ensure the best travel
experience with confidence.
Positive Impact
o The legislation put emphasis on health and safety mechanism.
o An assessment of risk by an employer becomes easy.
o Promotes audit of health business across the industry.
o It provides direction and persuades more professionalism in the company (Cole, 2014).
Negative Impact
o Health and safety standards are usually very lengthy.
o Sometimes the practical implementation is difficult.
o Improper evaluation can impact the safety of the consumer.