Journal of Tourism and Services - Vysoká škola obchodní v Praze

connection with the sale and realization of the journey. This Act
implements the European Union Directive No. 90/314/EEC of 1990, on
package travel, package holidays and package tours. The specific
character of this business lies in the fact, that it is linked with the
expenditures of considerable sum of money paid by clients of the tour
operators in advance and situation that the travel agencies/tour operators
realize their package tours mostly at a later date in abroad. Thus in line
with the Directive enterprises organizing package tours must provide
sufficient evidence of financial guarantee provided in order to secure
a refund of money paid by travellers and/or their repatriation in the event
of insolvency of a providers of the tourism services. The main purpose is
therefore the protection of the clients of travel agencies/tour operators in
their event insolvency in line with the requirements of the above
mentioned Directive, which are implemented into the Czech law by the
mentioned Act. For that reason, the content of the Act is limited only to
adjust those facts which are related to the above mentioned objectives.
It´s mainly about the definition of core terms (e.g. package tours, clients
of the travel agencies/tour operators) and definitions of two new trades
(e.g. tour operator and travel agency), rights and obligations relating to
the package tours, the scope of the compulsory insurance polycies for the
tour operators and travel agencies, description of a new type of contract
(travel contracts) and some other issues.
An important fact from the perspective of the tourist guides activities is
that this activity within the term of a “package” falls into “other tourism
services”, which complete two basic tourism services, namely transport
and accommodation within the creation of a package tour.
Significant is also the duty of the tour operator to ensure the package
tour itinerary. A tour manager accompanied by a local representative and
tour escort is in charge of this specific activity.
The Government Regulation No. 469/2000 Coll. [26] accepted the above
mentioned terms in compliance with the European standard EN 13809
“Tourism services - Travel Agencies and Tour Operators - Terminology“
[35]. This classification is essential for the professional competence
requirements at the international level, where there is an effort to blur
the differences between tourist guides and tour managers to save the
costs of the travel agencies and an efforts to use tour managers, or even
local representatives instead of fully qualified tourist guides. The problem
is that tour managers and local representatives needn´t prove their
professional competences at the European level. Hence it is necessary to
define the following specific definitions for these activities which are stated
in the European standard EN 13809 “Tourism services - Travel Agencies
and Tour Operators - Terminology“ [35].
● Tour manager – „person who manages and supervises the itinerary on
behalf of the tour operator, ensuring the programme is carried out as
described in the tour operator’s literature and sold to the
traveller/consumer and who gives local practical information“
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