Legal Protection of Tourists in High-Risk Tourism Activities According to Consumer Protection Law

Abstract

In tourism activities, business actors are required to provide protection to tourists according to the mandate of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection (UUPK). UUPK has regulated that tourists have rights, including security and comfort when traveling, especially in high-risk areas. Security and comfort are then regulated in SOPs which cover human resources, equipment, and services. This study examines how business actors provide legal protection for tourists in diving tourism as high-risk tourism. This study uses a normative legal method by dissecting principles and norms in SOP documents for the diving tourism business actors, and UUPK. The results of this study indicate that arrangements for legal protection and safety of tourists, and the rights of tourists as users or consumers of services in the tourism sector, both have been regulated in UUPK. Business actors also need to pay attention to several aspects in the diving tourism business. However, currently, there are still many business actors that prepare SOPs with exoneration clauses that are detrimental to tourists. Safety and comfort are not guaranteed, causing many victims to die and inappropriate compensation. Efforts to resolve disputes that can be carried out are litigation and non-litigation, however most business actors take non-litigation procedure using the mediation method.