Legal and Ethical Frameworks in the UK Travel and Tourism Industry

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Legislation and Ethics in Travel and
Tourism Sector
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................4
1.1 legal and regulatory frameworks of travel and tourism in England and Wales.....................4
1.2 surface, and air transport law regarding the carriage of passengers within the regulatory
framework of the United Kingdom..............................................................................................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 evaluate the impact of legislation on tourism industry with reference to United Kingdom
tour operator.................................................................................................................................6
2.2 analyse legislation that relates to Equality with reference to a tour operator........................8
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................9
3.1 explain contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism tourist......................................9
3.2 explain Consumer Protection legislation in relation to travel and tourism customer..........10
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................11
4.1 analyse ethical dilemma faced by the travel and tourism sector..........................................11
4.2 analyse the CSR policy of tour operator..............................................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14
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Introduction
Various legislation and government bodies that are associated with tourism are understood in this
assessment. Impact of this legislation on tourism, customers and the tour operators is described
in this assessment. The laws regarding the equality employees of tour operators are also
understood in this assessment. The contract has to be made between the tour operator and the
tourist while offering the tour package to the tourist. The process of this contract is determined in
this assessment. Protection regarding the consumer at the time of tourism is also understood in
this assessment. The ethical dilemmas faced by the tour operators like Thomas Cook group is
evaluated in this assessment. The CSR activity performed by the Thomas Cook group is studied
in this assessment.
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Task 1
1.1 legal and regulatory frameworks of travel and tourism in England and Wales.
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1.2 surface, and air transport law regarding the carriage of passengers within the
regulatory framework of the United Kingdom
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Task 2
Introduction
For this task, Thomas Cook is taken as a tour operator for the analysis. The impact of different
legislation regarding tourism is understood in this task. The legislation pertaining to Equality in
the tourism industry is described in this task.
2.1 evaluate the impact of legislation on tourism industry with reference to United
Kingdom tour operator.
Various positive impacts are as follows: -
 Health and safety of the tourist can be assured with the help of legislation. Safety
measures can be implemented by the tour operators like Thomas Cook when strict guidelines are
provided by the government. Health and safety act helps in accomplishing such guidelines.
 Fair trading between the tour operator and tourist can be possible. Fair trading helps in no
issue tourism for the tourist coming to the United Kingdom (Ferguson & Alarcon, 2015).
 Equality act helps in accomplishing the equality among the employees of Thomas Cook.
The opportunities are provided to the employees of the organisation equally.
 Discrimination among the tourist not takes place because of the implementation of the
law. The discrimination on the basis of culture which of the tourist follows does not take place
because of such acts.
 All human rights are protected by Thomas Cook. Tour operators abiding such laws
human right action by the government.
Negative impacts
 If small services are not fulfilled sometimes by Thomas Cook then also tourist takes legal
action. These impacts on the mode and motivation of the other tourist (Ferguson & Alarcon,
2015).
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 It sometimes affects the brand value of Thomas Cook. Legal actions on the organisation
affect the image among the tourist in the market.

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2.2 analyse legislation that relates to Equality with reference to a tour operator.
Different type of legislation is there that helps in enforcing the equality among the tourist and the
employees of Thomas Cook.
Sex discrimination act 1975
This legislature is followed by Thomas Cook. It is followed by this organisation for the
implementation of equality among the employees on the basis of gender. Equal opportunities are
provided to the employees of the organisation in the growth for the career.
Race discrimination act 1976
No favour on the basis of race or caste is provided to the employees of the organisation of
Thomas Cook. Decisions regarding the promotion of the employees are taken on the
performance of the employees. The Tourist of Thomas Cook is also treated equally. Of any
conflict between the employees of the organisation takes please then it is solved with face to face
communication between the employees (Ferguson & Alarcon, 2015). The race of an individual is
not considered at the time of decision making in the conflict between the employees.
Employment Protection Act of 1978
Any employee cannot be fired by Thomas Cook without any certain reason. The pregnancy
leaves are also provided to the female employees of this organisation (Munar, et. al., 2015). An
employee can return to the job after maternity leave.
Conclusion
Equality among employees can be implemented by the enforcement of the laws. Positive as well
as negative impacts are there because of different legislation on the tourism sector.
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Task 3
3.1 explain contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism tourist.
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3.2 explain Consumer Protection legislation in relation to travel and tourism customer.
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Task 4
Introduction
The analysis of the ethical dilemmas that can be faced by the tourist at the time of tourism is
described in this task. Thomas Cook is considered for the assessment of this task. The policy of
CSR for Thomas Cook is also discussed in this task. Ethical behaviour is very necessary for the
organisation like Thomas Cook. This task will describe the ethical practices of this organisation.
4.1 analyse ethical dilemma faced by the travel and tourism sector.
Various ethical dilemmas take place between the tourist and Thomas Cook. This dilemma results
in issues between tourist and Thomas Cook. According to the needs and wants of the customer,
the tour packages are developed by Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook is having both types of
customers. One type of customers is those that focus on luxury. Another type of customer
focuses on the prices of the tour package (Techera & Klein, 2013). Therefore Thomas Cook gets
into the dilemma of whether to focus on dropping the price or focusing on luxury. Marketing of
the tour package gets disturbed because of this type of dilemma for the Thomas Cook group.
Some of the tourist at the time of tourism focused on yoga and spirituality. Some of the tourist at
the time of tourism focuses on the adventure of tourism. In this situation, Thomas Cook is not
able to fulfil the demands of the customer with full of satisfaction. This is the type of element
that this organisation faces in a different situation.
There can be a situation in which some of the tourists want to remain at a particular site for a
particular period of time. From a group of tourist, there will be some tourist that wants to go
from that particular tourist site. In this situation also Thomas Cook is not able to make an
intelligent decision regarding whose demands have to be followed (Carlisle, et. al., 2013). A
proper code of practice is communicated to the tourist at this time so that no such issue takes
place among the tourists. This is the static ethical that this organisation follows at the time of
tourism.
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4.2 analyse the CSR policy of tour operator.
Various CSR activities are performed by the Thomas Cook group: -
 Charities to the underprivileged people of the society are done by this organisation. The
basic needs of the people are fulfilled in such type of Charity. Being a multinational successful
business it contributes a good amount of money to voluntary organisations.
 Thomas Cook manages different tourist sites. The natural beauty of the natural sites is
maintained by this organisation. It enhances the tourism of that particular natural site (Litvin,
2012). The awareness of natural tourist sites importance among the tourists is also conducted by
this organisation whether the particular tourist belongs to any tour operators.
 This organisation analyses the various needs of the different communities that are living
in remote areas. The demands of the communities that are living in nearby areas of the tourist
sites are analysed by this organisation. Then this organisation helps such communities in their
upliftment by spending money for communities.
 Thomas Cook is also very aware of sea pollution. This organisation made various efforts
as a CSR activity for reducing the plastic pollution from the Sea. Every year a large amount of
plastic is disposed of in the sea (Greenwood & Dwyer, 2014). Thomas Cook is taking important
steps regarding the sustainability of the seas. This is one of the major CSR initiatives that
Thomas Cook group has taken for sustainability.
Conclusion
Thomas Cook group faces various types of ethical dilemmas. It implements effective
communication for reducing ethical dilemmas. Various CSR activities are implemented by the
Thomas Cook group for sustainability. Thomas Cook group is one of the responsible tour
operators.
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