Package Holidays
The act outlines what is expected by each organisation related to package holidays. They must follow the definitions of what is outlined in the act, which also includes the key definitions of minimum requirements for what is expected of the health and safety law. It also outlines that each organisation who work along with another such as tour operator and travel agent must not disagree on their agreed proposal and must not cancel supplies relating to package holidays.
Package Tours Regulations
The main articles covered in this are misleading descriptions of the package, the brochures accuracy, the requirements such as passports and visas, the safe keeping of client’s money.
The reasons why holiday dates can be changed, cancellation rights and date changing’s of packages.
The responsibility of the package holiday provider and their acknowledgement of the contract.
Disability
This act entitles any member who falls under the definition of disability. They act also allows the persons concerned to claim compensation and how to get it if they feel they have been let down and the provider of the service has failed to comply to the regulations involved.
Consumer Protection
The act entitles everyone to confidentiality rights where their information is protected by law under the act and means any organisation must follow it and if they do not they know that they are breaking the law, this is also outlined in the majority of organisations forms where you are required to tick the boxes of what you would like them to do with your information, these they must follow.
Issues that have affected the industry
Economic
- Collapse of Airlines, any airline which fails, their customers who have paid for the service are protected through the C.A.A rights who have the insurance policies allowing the customers to get the refund or another flight offered with another airline.
- Disposable income levels, many people do not have high incomes, therefore they are forced to use basic travel arrangements, they also can not use the services frequently and therefore if the fuel processes rise they can not easily afford the service, causing them to use other services.
Political
- EU Initiatives, the EU has set out laws, where everyone has to be taken into account, the travel providers must allow access for the disabled and obese passengers. This may mean that they have to take out rows of seats to accommodate them.
- Availability of Visas, many countries require you to purchase visa in advance which means that the tourists may be put off because they are not allowed into the country and therefore their tour operator will loose business.
Major Incidents
- War, during the period of war people may be put off visiting countries; this means that some companies may have to refund in full their cost.
- Terrorism, like war the customers would be out off going, however as it is not a war the customer should not expect a full refund due to the reason that the terrorism is not an organised event by a government but by a group of people who do not like something.
- Natural Disasters, these allow the customer to be paid by the insurance provider who should cover these in their policy. These insurance providers may allow the customer to get a full refund but the natural disaster will cause a lack of tourism in the area.
Economic
Collapse of Airline
Ansett Australia Group, failed to continue in 2001, when they ran out of money, their flights ceased on the 4th march 2002. The company used to be a popular company who operated flights throughout Australia and allowed services to fly to other countries.
This has affected the industry quite a lot, because since the company ceased to operate the customers who regularly use the company had to look elsewhere causing, them to be quite annoyed as some may feel that they can only trust certain companies, and do not wish to change their plans.
Political
Visas
Many countries have certain reasons for the visa’s allowances.
Australia is a main one where while applying for a visa. You must answer questions, by doing this you may go through different forms, where if you give the wrong the answer, then you may not be able to gain the visa, or have yours removed from you.
This has affected the industry because many people may not know that the answer they gave is incorrect, therefore they can not use the services they have booked abroad, such as a holiday. This will cause both the tour operator and transport providers to loose their customers because they do not understand how to get into a country or the questions may be misleading.
Major Incidents
Terrorism; Many terrorists have caused havoc over the years one of the largest is the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers. This is where the terrorists had carried out series of attacks by first hi jacking aircrafts and forcing them to change directions, only a few of these plans were stopped because the victims on board had let others know what was happening causing the American air force to be alerted, they had managed to bring down a few so that the Pentagon and white house were not hit.
This has led to travellers staying more nearer to home and if possible using other methods of transport, this has also led to holiday companies loosing business and the customers feel that they may be caught up in the attacks, causing less to use services forcing the prices up.
Natural Disaster; Tsunami, over the years there have been a number of tsunami’s the most heard of happened in 2004, when Indonesia was hit by a major tsunami injuring and killing a large number of people, this also left many homeless. The tsunami was heard about all over the world leading to many international countries to get together and raise money for the people, this had included charities, which the money was sent to. Many of these sent the money to suppliers who provided food, drink, living accommodation, education and other services such as fresh water.
This has affected the industry in many ways because the countries affected lost interest from tourists, who knew that the countries had been hard hit by the disaster. The tourists felt that they would like to travel but couldn’t so they cancelled all plans they had causing the providers of their trips to loose the money and loose their customers.
Collapse of airline
As airlines go out of business, the customers who have to receive money from their insurance companies want to find other flights. The airports will be overcrowded and many people may have to go onto other flights, causing them to miss business meetings or special events.
Major Incidents
War, Many customers will feel threatened by the war. This will cause the industry providers to loose customers. The clients will not go because they feel that there may be another attack. This will also mean that the attractions will not get their customers causing them to loose business and money.
Terrorism, Like war, many customers feel that the terrorists could attack again and so do not attempt to travel for their own safety. Their government may also advise them not to travel this is because the government, the foreign office can provide details of where they say it is not advisable to travel because of violence. This can include Sri Lanka, where there is an on going civil war with the Tamales.
Natural Disasters,
Many customers feel that if one event such as a tsunami occurred then they do not want to travel to the particular area concerned.
This causes many tourism facilities to loose money and loose customers, many of the customers feel that they cannot afford to go again, if hotels put up their prices after suffering the incidents.
The tourism authorities will also suffer because they unfortunately cannot get the customers or new employees to go because the same event may occur, such as continuous earthquakes causing many people to loose lives.
