Exploring Legal & Ethical Frameworks in the UK Travel Sector

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the travel and tourism sector in the UK, with a focus on Thomas Cook's compliance requirements. It explores various legislations, including the Interpretation Carriage by Air and Road Act 1979, health and safety regulations, and air travel operator licensing. The report also discusses surface, sea, and air transport laws, detailing the specific rules and regulations for each mode of transportation and their impact on passenger safety and service quality. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of adhering to these laws for the smooth functioning and ethical operation of businesses within the travel and tourism industry, referencing relevant acts such as the Territorial Sea Act 1987 and the Carriage of Goods Act 1992. The document concludes by emphasizing the responsibilities of tour operators and the rights of passengers in the context of UK transport laws.

Legislation and ethics

1.1 Explaining legal and regulatory framework of travel and
tourism sector
Thomas Cook needs to comply with different types of legal and
regulatory framework that are applied on travel and tourism sector.
Tourism industry involves sellers, supliers, business organizations,
clients, contracts, hospitality. According to England and Wales, it is
essentential for every enterprise to follow all the rules and legislations
to run the business in effecrtive manner. Like other industries, travel and
tourism industry also includes a framework of strict rules and
regulations. The legislations and the tourism industry are connected in
many ways. This is because travel and tourism industry is providing
services to the domestic and foreign people. Travel and tourism
department of UK brings many laws on time to time with which hotels
need to comply very strictly. There are different modes of transportation
and for each mode separate rules and regulations are prepared. For rail
as a means of transportation, special rules and regulations are prepared.

Interpretation
Carriage by Air and Road Act 1979, The road and air services
provided to the passengers must be in an ethical manner. The
carrier is responsible to take care about its passenger during
journey. This act is concerns with the rights of the ravellersand
also involve any famages caused to employer during the
journey. It also specifies the condition under which are
accepted in transport with respect to national road transport.
The main motive of this act is to provide quality oriented
services to its clients.

Interpretation
UK government held responsible in order to make sure
that all the rules and regulations are strictly followed in
the nation transport industry. The mode of
transportation can be rail, sea and air. Government must
develop separate rules for safety and security related to
each mode of transportation. It helps to make sure that
passenger’s life will remain safe using different modes
of transportation. In the UK, there are many laws that
are prepared to make sure about the smooth functioning
of travel and tourism sector. In the mentioned nation,
travel and tourism sector is growing at a rapid pace and
it is 10% of nation GDP.

Regulations that affect tourism
laws
All firms that are operating in this industry need to
comply with these laws. Some of the relevant
rules:
Health and safety commission
 Safety tools and gears used
 Travel guide with tourists
 Safety instructions circulated
 Proper training given to employees

Air Travel operator licencing
 Proper licence of Aicraft
 Safety measures adopted
 Policies are framed for customer safety
 Disclosed all direct and indirect cost in
tickets
 Reasonable cost of ticket

Interpretation
Health and safety commission- This is another law that contains
information about the health and safety related issues. It also
encompasses rules and regulations related to the duties and
responsibilities of employer and employees at the workplace. It helps
customers to complete the journey with proper safety measures.
Air travel operators licensing- Relevant rules and regulations are
introduced by government with an objective to provide more and
more protection to the customers that are travelling by airplanes. It
also contains rules and regulations that protect people who make
purchase of tickets and tour packages. This law also provides security
to the employers. Hence, it can be said that this law is providing
protection to both the customers and employers. The procedures are
designed in order to meet the safety requirements of customers.

1.2 Discussing surface, sea and air transport law in relation to the
carriage of passengers within legal and regulatory framework
of UK
An individual can choose different modes of transport to travel from one place to the another place are the
following:
 Roadways
 Airways
 Waterways
Modes of transportation are sea, air and surface. There are different rules and regulations that are framed by
UK government to safeguard the interest of individuals that are travelling through any mode of
transportation. Laws and regulations prepared for different mode of transportation are as follows.
Sea transport- It is a mode of transportation that is used by Thomas Cook and its travellers. Mostly, it is
used by those people who are related with transportation business and often travel through this mode of
transportation.This is mode of transportation is commonly used to transport goods in the international
market. There are very tough rules and regulations related to sea mode of transportation. It is riky mode
of transportation therefore, it is necessary for business firms to make sure that they are adopting proper
health and safety related measures. Ot is important for Thomas Cook to provide insurance of all
customers. By doing this, chances of accidents can be reduced and it can be ensured that people
travelling through ship will be served with good services. Companies operating in Travel and tourism
sector need to follow territorial sea act 1987 and carriage of goods act 1992 in order to provide proper
transportation facility through sea mode of transportation. Government has also developed some of the
rules and regulations related to carriage services that are provided by the firms by using sea mode of
transportation. Hence, it is very important for the firms to follow all these rules and regulations strictly.

Interpretation
 Air transport- In order to control aviation industry and to run its operations smoothly,
rules and regulations are generated in the UK. Civil aviation authority which is a
governing body of UK looks after effective implementation of rules and regulations. It is
responsible to manage and control the operations of all airlines that are operating in the
UK. There is Air and road act 1979 according to which there are many provisions that
firms operating in transport industry require to be followed. This law helps in effective
management of the operations of firms operating in the transportation industry. There are
many other rules and regulations that are related to aviation industry and firms operating in
this industry need to strictly adhere with relevant rules and regulations. It provides
passenger a right to claim compensation in case of death of customer during the journey.
 Surface transport- There are various legislations imposed by government in order to ensue the
safety of clients.It indicates the modes of transportation that are operating on land. Vehicles like
cars, trucks and trains come under the category of surface transport. In the travel and tourism
industry, firms need to follow all the rules and regulations that are related to passenger safety
and quality of service. Firms operating in travel and tourism industry also require to follow
various rules and regulations that are prepared by British tourism department. Different types of
provisions are added by UK government in laws related to surface transport. According to these
rules, one can demand for compensation if any accident happens with him. It can be said that in
this law, responsibilities of tour operators are determined in a proper way.

Interpretation
 Air transport- It is regarded as one of the fastest mode of transportation. It is preferred
by person in emergy conditions. It provides high quality services to its customers. It has
several customers such as individual, Business clients, educational trips, family
vacations. Apart from having several benefits the huge amount of risks is associated
with this type of transportation.
 Surface transport- It indicates the modes of transportation that are operating on land.
Vehicles like cars, trucks and trains come under the category of surface transport. In the travel
and tourism industry, firms need to follow all the rules and regulations that are related to
passenger safety and quality of service. Firms operating in travel and tourism industry also
require to follow various rules and regulations that are prepared by British tourism
department. Different types of provisions are added by UK government in laws related to
surface transport. According to these rules, one can demand for compensation if any accident
happens with him. It can be said that in this law, responsibilities of tour operators are
determined in a proper way.

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Online
Development of tourism act 1969, 2016. [Online]. Available through: < http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/51>. [Accessed on 25th June 2016].

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