Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PBL2000

 
TITLE Tourism Law

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Public Law

 
DESCRIPTION This is an introduction to Tourism Law, whereby the following subjects will be discussed: (a) The Malta Travel and Tourism Services Act (Chapter 409 of the Laws of Malta); and other related legislation under he Laws of Malta; (b) Online booking in tourism - the legal implications; (c) The Package Travel Directive; (d) Safety and Security in the tourism industry - including denied boarding compensation; (f) Travel abroad and sue at home; (g) Acts of God which disrupted holidays-how the Courts review these cases - (Volcanic ash experience on disrupt flights, and hurricane experiences on cruise liners) (h) The liability of the travel agent/airline/cruise liners companies/hotels and tour operators; (i) Insurance claims in tourism and (j) Case Studies.

Study-unit Aims

This study-unit aims at introducing the complex subject of tourism law, whereby a tourist (or one's heirs) could sue the airline/airport/hotel/tour operator etc because the holiday or the trip that one was planning was not delivered as expected, or because the chain of events culminated in a ruined holiday. There could be a delay in flight, overbooking of the hotel, ice on the airport runway, a fall from a camel etc. But the important question is who is the tourist to sue, particularly if one has booked online? In which forum one is to bring such a case? What is the prescription period for filling such a case? Consequently, the study unit aims to incorporate a multitude of laws and give a legal background and understanding to such complexities. This study unit delves into various interesting national and international case law, and see how Courts have dealt with the several legal issues applicable.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
a) explain Travel and Tourism Law which is deemed to be important for our economy; and
b) review some of the EU Directives and Regulations relevant to this area.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
a) apply Tourism law to any situation which fall under this area of the law; and
b) write a paper on the laws which regulate the Tourism sector.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

John Downes and Tricia Paton, 'Travel and Tourism Law in the UK', United Kingdom, fifth edition, September 2010, Elm Consulting Ltd , London, UK.
David Grant, 'Holiday Law' London, Sweet & Maxwell 2007.
Marc McDonald, 'European Community Tourism Law and Policy', Blackhall Publishing Ltd Dublin, 2003.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Jacqueline Tanti Dougall

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit