The contractual liability of travel and tourism agencies for the acts of third-party service providers: a comparative legal study
Keywords:
Tourism contract, tourist-consumer, service providers, third-party acts, contractual liabilityAbstract
The rules governing the contractual liability of travel and tourism agencies traditionally centered on their obligation to execute the tourism program agreed upon with the tourist-client, holding them accountable primarily for personal fault causing harm to the tourist. However, this framework has evolved significantly. In the contemporary era of technological advancement, specialization, division of labor, and sophisticated tourism services, travel agencies—as specialized professionals—increasingly rely on third-party service providers (hoteliers, carriers, restaurant operators) to ensure the safety and quality of tourism services delivered to the tourist-consumer. This development has given rise to a new legal concept: the contractual liability of travel and tourism agencies for the acts of third-party service providers who execute contractual obligations, particularly in package tours. Once this liability is established, it enables the client to seek compensation directly from the agency rather than pursuing the service provider, given the agency's proximity to the client, their direct contractual relationship, and the client's familiarity with the agency.
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