Legal Terms

A small boat used to carry passengers to port when the ship cannot pull up against the dock, also used as a lifeboat.

Paragraph detailing the liability and specifics of the product or service being sold.

An item in a tour package that is not intended to be used by the passenger, usually included to qualify for a lower tour based air fare.

Is a writing or combination of writings sufficient to obtain the travel services for which a consumer has contracted or paid.
Written or printed contract for service or product as outlined on the conditions stated.

The carrying capacity of a ship expressed in tons of 100 cubic feet; the total
weight. See gross registered ton.

Desk at a hotel or airline that is used specifically for selling tours and packages.

Within the travel industry, tour operator is used interchangeably with tour wholesaler as a company that creates and/or markets inclusive tours and/or provides services or supplies for packages sold by the travel agents.
A person who habitually or regularly puts together tours or packages comprising of two or more of the following and which is offered to the public, directly or through an intermediary, for an inclusive price:
- Guided tours;
- Accommodation
- Entertainment;
- Transport;
- Travel insurance

A person who contracts with hotels, sightseeing, and other ground components to provide ground packages for sale to individuals through travel agents and direct carriers normally to be used in conjunction with scheduled air transportation. However, these ground packages may be used independently such as a tour package at a destination that may include hotel, specialty attractions, and meals.

A document allowing a person to enter a country for a certain period of time. Like a visa, but with less strict requirements, since a tourist card can often be issued by presenting proof of citizenship.

The services of transportation from an airport, railway station or other terminal to the hotel of the clients. Conveyances between the ship and other locations such as airports, hotels or departure points for shore excursions.

A company whose primary business is furnishing travel information, arranging trips and acting as agents for the providers of travel and sellers of travel for various services including: tours, air, ground, and sea transportation, rental cars, site seeing excursions, and lodging for travelers. A registered travel agency is an establishment that has met standards for accreditation by the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) in the USA, or the International Air Transport Association (IATA) globally, for the sale of airline tickets and other travel services.
An establishment that has normally met standards for accreditation by the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for the sale of airline tickets and other travel services.

A weekly publication for the travel industry. Editor and publisher: Mr. Joel M. Abels. Headquartered at 15 W44th Street, New York NY 10036 Tel: +1 (212) 730-6600

A popular weekly West Coast travel magazine, published by Northstar Travel Media which also publishes Travel Weekly, and Meetings and Conventions. Headquartered at 9911 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035 USA Tel: +1 (310) 772-7400.

A room for three people.

A legal relationship in which one party holds legal title to property for the benefit of another, without maintaining ownership of that property.

A guest who did not make previous reservations.

The existing master contracts with travel agencies that now have General Services Administration (GSA) contracts.

The activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited and also refers to the sector of the national economy with complex functions that unites a number of goods and services, offered for consumption to those people.

A village with a high concentration of tourism resources and comparative advantage for tourism development.

Accommodation made available to visitors.

A natural person or juridical person engaged in the business of travel agency, tour operations, ground handling agency, tourist transportation, souvenir or handicraft production or retailing, visitor attraction, water sports, or any other business designated as a tourism enterprise.

Premises, the principal purpose of which is to provide tourists with information concerning tours, tourist activities and facilities, cultural activities and other matters to facilitate the tourist’s visit, journey or stay.

Services provided to visitors by tourism enterprises.

A person authorized to sell the products or services of a supplier. Travel Agent: a seller of travel services selling directly to the public, acting with or without any prior agreement as a formal or informal agent, booking agent, broker, sales representative, marketer or retailer of a travel package assembled by any other seller of travel services, or acting as a retailer of individual travel services.
A person who habitually or regularly undertakes to provide for other persons for a price, one or more separate services rendering possible a journey or sojourn, such services including, but not confined to:
- Selling tour packages on behalf of tour operators (Domestic or International).
- Arranging for travel documents in accordance with the prevailing regulations.
- Arranging for transport and/or accommodation for travellers.
Providing Travel Insurance facilities.

An information system that contains a database on tourism businesses and tourism heritage of the country.

The person or persons that travel with the tour groups from location to location. The Tour Director is responsible for arranging the tour and ensuring that passengers reach their destination in a timely and safe manner.

Transportation by carrier; accommodations; rental of motor vehicles; or any other service related to travel. Depending on the jurisdiction this may or may not include time shares. Travel services includes transportation by air, sea, or land, or the provision of other goods or services related to recreational, cultural or educational travel, including but not limited to lodging, food, guided tours, or instruction.

Any writing or computerized document the terms of which entitle the holder to obtain travel services.

Any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association, other than a common carrier or employee of a common carrier, who is primarily engaged in the direct solicitation of persons, by mail or telephone, for the sale of any travel or vacation investments, goods, products, or services, including, but not limited to travel or tour benefits, real property, interests in real property, time shares, lodging, commodities, or securities.

The Newspaper of the Leisure Travel Industry," published biweekly by CMP Publications, Inc., 600 Community Drive, Manhasset, New York 11030.

See Arbiter, Travel Agent.

A for-profit organization that provides, in return for either an advance fee for membership or an annual charge for membership, the privilege of arranging or obtaining future travel services from the organization. Vacation Club: any membership organization the primary purpose of which is to sell, arrange, or otherwise provide travel services to its members. Compliance with Californias progressive travel club law can be extremely difficult for California based companies.