Economic and Legal Support of Tourist Activity. National and International Experience

The author analyzes the norms of national legislation, namely the Law of Ukraine "About Tourism", the Civil Code, the Commercial Code as well as the international experience of France, Malaysia, Turkey, Spain and other countries. The author defines the main directions of tourist activity and subjects which provide tourist services. The subjects, which provide tourist services, are travel operators and travel agents. The author analyzes the difference between travel operators and travels agents. Furthermore, the author explored procedure for granting licenses as a kind of state regulations of economic activity. New requirements for obtaining a tourist license were investigated. Particular attention is paid to financial guarantees. This guarantee depends on different factors (office location, tourists’ destination). Also, legislation declares additional responsibilities to tour operates and tour agents. The author analyzed national system of state and local self-government bodies and special bodies (agency), and international system of government and no government bodies. The author points out the importance of interaction between public authorities and the private sector. Moreover, the article pays attention to the importance of public control over tourism activities. Finally, the author proclaims indication of directions for improvement of national legislation.