What is TourWatch?

‘TourWatch’ is a group of leading sports tour operators who organise sports tours and festivals for British University students. TourWatch exists to provide a communication forum between these festival organisers and to promote the concept of ‘Responsible Touring’.

- What is ‘Responsible Touring’?
- What do we do?
- How will TourWatch hold groups responsible?
- The fundamentals of ‘Responsible Touring’
- Banned university teams
- Contact details

What is ‘Responsible Touring’?

Responsible Touring is a set of simple guidelines endorsed (and enforced) by TourWatch members designed to encourage students on tour to be responsible and accountable for their own actions and the actions of their team-mates and to promote the safest possible touring environment for students, officials and staff participating in University sports festivals.

What do we do?

The purpose of this forum is not to spoil the fun of the thousands of student tourists who every year, enjoy the fantastic experience of tour, party & drink responsibly with their team-mates, look after each other and treat the host resort with respect. The purpose of the forum is to collectively identify and hold accountable those university tour groups who:

1) Act unreasonably, ignoring warnings and behaving recklessly & irresponsibly on tour, endangering their own safety and that of others.
2) Cause deliberate vandalism/damage to accommodation, vehicles or venues.

How will TourWatch hold groups responsible?

Banned from one, banned from all. Any group that is identified by a TourWatch member as meeting any of the criteria listed above will be put forward for a ban at the annual TourWatch meeting. The duration of any ban imposed will be between one and two years in duration and will include ALL members’ festivals. There will be no process for appeal. The ban will extend to the entire club or, in very serious cases, the entire university- not just individuals. The names list of those banned will be circulated among TourWatch members to prevent banned individuals travelling with/as non-banned clubs/teams.

The fundamentals of ‘Responsible Touring’:

It's tempting, but don't overdo the drink just because you're away having fun. Know your limit and stay in control. If one of your team-mates has overdone it- look after them, do not leave them alone, especially if they become unwell.

• Do not use, purchase or sell any drugs on tour.

• Respect your accommodation and the people who have to work there. Don’t cause deliberate damage or vandalise your room or communal areas. If you break or damage something by accident- just pay for it and say sorry!

• On vehicles, use seatbelts where provided, do not stand up and walk around unnecessarily and don’t do anything to distract the driver.

• Don’t physically or verbally assault anyone or deliberately seek confrontation.

• Respect the rules/code of your sport, play safely and obey the officials

• Remember to observe local laws & customs on decency/partial nudity when you choose your fancy dress.

• Don't use the excuse of "we're on a sports tour" to justify the acceptability of unacceptable behaviour and damage.

• Do not, under any circumstances, use body paint for your costumes. The damage deposits lost as a result of body paint stains on sheets, walls, curtains and towels run into tens of thousands of Euros every year.

Banned University Teams

Below is a list of the teams presently banned from all TourWatch member events. These teams will be banned for a 12 month period beginning May 2008 after which their status will be reviewed.

• Edge Hill University Men's FC
• Glasgow Caledonian University Men's FC
• Derby University Men's RFC

Contact Details

For further information please contact any of the following TourWatch members: