US bill would require health and safety info for travelers
Several US senators have introduced a far-reaching bill that would require web sites providing travel services to also add detailed information about the health services at advertised destinations.
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.,) the lead sponsor of the bipartisan International Travelers Bill of Rights act, said he introduced the bill after 8-year old Brent Midlock drowned in a hotel pool in Mexico.
"If Ms. Midlock had been aware that this particular hotel did not offer adequate emergency care, perhaps she would have chosen to stay at another location where such services were offered," Kirk told The Hill.
"Because of this, I feel strongly that websites must do their best to make sure travelers are aware of the available onsite health and safety services before they book," he said.
Passage of the measure could affect many travel providers. No estimates were available of the cost but it could potentially be high, said travel obserers.
Under the bill, web site operators must include State Department travel warnings that might relate to various destinations. Sites would also have to include information on the extent to which each listed facility has on-site health and safety services.
The bill would require web site operators to request that on-site information if it is not readily available; and if no information is provided, they would have to say specifically.
The bill would make website operators immune from any liability related to safety issues as long as they provide the information and have no reason to believe that the information is inaccurate. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules, said The Hill.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism