Analysis of Legislation, Ethics, and Consumer Protection in Tourism

This report examines contract legislation and consumer protection within the travel and tourism industry, focusing on the UK context and specifically referencing Thomas Cook. It details contract legislation, including contracts for goods and services, and provision of services, highlighting the importance of clear agreements between companies, suppliers, and customers. The report also addresses consumer protection legislation, such as the Package Holiday and Package Tours Regulation 1992, the Trade Description Act 1968, the Food Act 1984, and the Hotel Protection Act 1956, emphasizing their role in safeguarding customer rights and ensuring fair practices. The analysis underscores the importance of these regulations for travel and tourism companies in providing quality services and maintaining customer satisfaction.

Legislation and Ethics in Travel and Tourism Sector
Contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers
Contract legislation is defining as agreement among companies which leads to fair
conducting of business functions as well as in legal manner. In respect of travel
and tourism industry, this legislation is referring to legal statement which is
conducted among suppliers, customers and so on which ensure about effective
conducting of transaction. Along with this, in travel and tourism industry there is
blind trust or contract of customers toward company related to charges and
services provided to them during their journey or holiday. This will include
several condition that provide detailed information about visitor's tour for example
arrival time, departure time, about destination, packages and so on. Contract
legislation adopted by travel and tourism company have several specific standard
elements, from which major are mentioned below: -
 Holiday Package or Offer: In this procedure there are generally two
parties are involved from which one named as offeror and another is
offeree. Here offeror make and provide some offer to its offeree and then
offeree will accept that specific offer. This is generally considering as
statement of service which is prompt to be recognized by its potential
offeree. In respect of travel and tourism industry this factors are defining
as situation when company make contract with their potential customers
about holiday packages.
 Contract for supply of goods and services: It is defining as agreement by
which supplier promise to company to supply their products and services at
time as well as in appropriate way. In respect of travel and tourism company
they are conducting their business at various location due to which they
required to arrange various services at different places. In this condition
they required supplier contract in order to ensure that their suppliers will
arrange proper rooms, transportation and other facilities in effective manner.
 Contract for provision of services: It is defining as contract among two or
more parties which provide chance for at least one party to perform services
generally for another parties in order to exchange products, services or
capital compensation. In context of travel and tourism industry, here two
parties are involved one is service provider and another is services taker.
For example, tour operator is person who is providing services related to
room, travelling and so on and visitors are another party i.e. service taker. In
this transaction or contract is done among tour operator and visitors in
respect of money.
These are some of the major contract which are consider in travel and

Consumer protection legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers
Customer protection is defining as term which are adopted in order to protect
customers from unfair practices. For which it is essential to educate customers
about their right as well as responsibility so that they can understand each and
every situation in effective manner. By this legislation government also able to
reduce or stop unfair practices that are conducted by an organisation for gaining
more benefits in illegal manner. In respect of travel and tourism industry there are
various customer’s protection legislation which are developed for preventing rights
of visitors, from which some major are given below: -
 Package holiday and package tours regulation 1992: Every organisation
which are operating in travel and tourism industry need to adopt respective
legislation. This is so because through it they able to develop proper
holiday and tour packages for their potential visitors. According to
legislation, holiday package will define when it has two out of major three
components i.e. transportation facilities, accommodation facilities and
another tour services that can be include in package. In respect of Thomas
Cook by adopting this legislation they able to develop proper holiday and
tour packages that are according to their customer’s requirement.
 Hotel protection Act 1956: According to this legislation, when a
customers or guest lost or damage their property then it is responsibility of
hotel proprietor even if there is fault of guest himself or its staffs. In
respect of Thomas Cook, it is essential for their management to provide
proper training to their staffs so they can avoid or minimise damage or loss
of their guest belongingness.
 Trade Description Act 1968: This act is developed by parliament of
United Kingdom in order to protect right of customers from misleading
activities or practices that are conducted by retailers, suppliers,
manufacturer or another service provider. This will ensure that customer
will right amount, quality and size of product for which they are paying. In
context of travel and tourism sector by adopting this legislation Thomas
Cook able to provide proper services to their visitors or customers as well
as it will also aid them in protecting rights of customers.
 Food Act 1984: This legislation is generally adopted by United Kingdom
government in order to ensure that hotel and restaurants are providing
proper food to their customers. The respective rule develops a standard
and guidelines which is essential for every organisation to follow who are
operating in travel and tourism sector. In respect of Thomas Cook, it is
essential for them to adopt food legislation because it will help them in
offering quality food products to their customers. Through this they also
able to attract more customers as well as satisfy them properly.
These are some of the major rules and regulation which are adopted by
Thomas Cook in order to protect rights as well as duty of their potential customers.
Along with this it will also help them in conducting their work in effective and
impressive manner.