BRITISH & INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

BSI, the British Standardisation Organisation is responsible for the preparation of British Standards in the field of tourism services. It currently has eight panels: SVS/2/-/1 Language Study Tour Providers (dormant); SVS/2/-/2 Spa Services; SVS/2/-/3 Tourist Guiding Services; SVS/2/-/4 Recreational Diving Services; SVS/2/-/5 Adventurous Activities; SVS/2/-/6 Symbology Applicable to Tourism (dormant); SVS/2/-/7 Golf Services; and SVS/2/-/8 Tourist Information Offices.

A British Standard (BS) on activity holidays and expeditions was published in 2007, reviewed in 2008, and is expected to be reissued soon.

European Standard on Qualification of Tourist Guides

The European Standards body has issued a standard on requirements for the provision of professional tourist guide training and qualification programmes. There have been considerable obstacles regarding the free provision of services by tourist guides from one EU Member State to groups of travellers they are accompanying from another Member State. The European Court of Justice has ruled that only museums and historical sites may be excluded, but this has been interpreted liberally in some cases as entire cities. Member States must publish a list of excluded sites for which a local qualification is required.

International

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is currently working on several proposals for international standards in the field of tourism and related services to provide tourism buyers, providers and consumers with criteria for making informed decisions outside the EU to bring in standards on operators and agents.

ABTA’s Position

ABTA is represented on the British Standards Institute (BSI) Panel SVS/2 Tourism Services which is looking at all these issues. ABTA’s aims are to:

Ensure that standards are developed only where there's a clear need for a standard.
Ensure that standards are developed only where there's clear industry support for a standard.
Ensure that standards are developed only where they improve the existing statutory and voluntary framworks within the tourism sector.

ABTA is also represented on CEN, the European Standards body.

ECTAA has been involved in the tourist guides at a European level with the European Tour Operators’ Association (ETOA) .

Last updated: 30 June 2009