Legislation and Ethics in the Travel and Tourism Sector

Legislation and Ethics in the Travel and Tourism Sector

Paper details

AC 1.1 explain the legal and regulatory framework of the travel and tourism sector
AC 1.2 discuss surface, sea and air transport law in relation to the carriage of passengers within the legal and regulatory framework
AC 3.1 explain contract legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers
AC 3.2 explain consumer protection legislation in relation to travel and tourism customers

Assignment Tasks (Lecturers must link assessment criteria to questions as below)

You have been provided with a scenario, outlined below, which requires you to write an essay style answer giving advice and addressing the following issues –

1. An explanation of the legal and regulatory framework governing travel and tourism, with focus pertaining to the effect of the same on the transport of passengers carried by means of surface, sea and air transport. Explanations and discussions which present each of the relevant legal issues in a rational formation, with precisely communicated, appropriate advice may achieve a merit grade. (AC 1.1, AC 1.2 and M3)

2. An explanation of the provisions of Contract Law and consumer protection legislation relating to the travel and tourism sector. Answers that are extremely logically organised and constructed to address each issue accurately, with relevant supporting evidence may attract D2 and be considered for the template of the pamphlet.

Answers that solve problems with consistent application of the IDEA framework, giving clear guidance and explanations of the issues arising, demonstrate both creative and convergent thinking, which can attract D3. (AC 3.1, AC 3.2, D2 and D3)
Assignment Scenario

You are successfully through to the final stage of interview for a post as a junior case worker, in the Legal and Company Secretarial department of the Virgin Atlantic Airways. At this stage your expertise within the law will be addressed.

 
Keen to avoid the pitfalls suffered by some of their competitors, Virgin Atlantic Airways have created specific scenarios for you the candidate to resolve, these involve individuals who have resorted to legal action, following an unhappy experience within their travels, or as a tourist.

Candidates should give detailed explanations of the relevant legal issues and accurate advice to the complainants in an essay style format.

Complaint 1 –

With a luncheon wedding to attend in Scotland on Saturday 20th July 2014, I booked flights for three passengers, with Scot Air, from London to Edinburgh on the Friday afternoon.

The flight had been overbooked and we were unable to board the plane. Following arguments with the unhelpful ground crew, we reached the decision to return to central London and board a train to our destination. For no apparent reason, the 20.10pm train was cancelled and we were forced to board an overnight sleeper train to Scotland, and asked to pay the difference in price!

As a result, we only just managed to make it to the wedding on time; we did not have the opportunity to adequately prepare for such an event. The occasion was marred by this general ineptness of both these providers.

To date, I have only been successful in recouping minimal losses for this shambles and wish to lodge a formal complaint with a higher authority or regulator, but am unsure of who oversees these providers. Please advise me as to what recourse may be available.

Your answer should include an explanation of the legal and regulatory framework of the travel and tourism sector, with a discussion focussing on the carriage of passengers by surface, sea and air transport, this should be supported with relevant statutes, regulations and decided case law examples. Explanations and discussions which present each of the relevant legal issues in a rational formation, with precisely communicated, appropriate advice may achieve M3.

This task meets with AC 1.1 and AC 1.2

Complaint 2 –

My wife and I have recently returned from a package holiday, which was meant to celebrate our anniversary. The website recommended a superior suite at the hotel and as the accompanying photographs showed a plush suite, we agreed to pay the extra amount for the romantic luxury.

On arrival at the hotel, it quickly became apparent that it was not the same suite we had viewed and this was certainly not of a superior standard! The carpet was stained and dirty, the room had not been cleaned from the previous occupants; there was no wardrobe or set of drawers for our use, just a coat rack behind the door and a rickety kitchen stool. The king size bed was actually two singles pushed together. The en suite shower, with its cracked and missing tiles, did not drain properly, and provided the constant threat of flooding the whole suite, not quite the Jacuzzi I had envisaged!

We paid for a romantic break, which we did not receive, having been fobbed off by the tour provider, I complained further, as this provider boasts ABTA membership. Once again my complaint has been minimised, with what appears to be a measure of bias towards the tour provider, I would appreciate guidance on how to pursue this matter further.

Your answer must include an explanation of the main provisions of both Contract Law and the law relating to Consumer protection in the travel and tourism sector, supported with relevant Statutes, regulations and decided case law examples. As the firm would like to produce a guideline pamphlet for Travel and Tourism Customers, answers that are extremely logically organised and constructed to address each issue accurately, with relevant supporting evidence may attract D2 and be considered for the template of the same.

Answers that solve each problem with the consistent application of the IDEA framework to address the advice given, will give clear guidance and explanations of the issues arising, this demonstrates both creative and convergent thinking, which can attract D3.
This task meets with AC 3.1 and AC 3.2