The guide, known as the Blue Book, aimed at accommodation and other suppliers, concentrated on fixed elements like balcony height and pool markings. It was not specifically aimed at tour operators, but regarded as useful to them, the hearing was told.

The version in use was produced in 2012 and prompted coroner Nicholas Loraine-Smith to ask: “Would I be right in believing that the nearest this document gets is ‘bomb threat’? The word ‘terrorism’ does not feature.”

The inquest was told work on an updated version was currently in progress.

Tui’s UK and Ireland director of risk compliance, Jacque Reynolds, told the hearing that companies employed to oversee health and safety in hotels would audit things like pool standards, but not undertake security audits. “They were not part of the check lists,” she said.

“The reason is that it is variable and because it requires a far more in-depth knowledge of security. The expectation is that hotels monitor the appropriateness of their security arrangements,” she said.

She agreed with Andrew Ritchie QC, acting for 20 victims, who concluded: “In summary, you relied on the hotels and local authorities.”

The court also heard that no specific action to mitigate risk was taken at Sousse following an audit in August 2014 which did not specifically assess security concerns.

In addition, the hearing heard that Tui resort staff had had no training in security awareness, a policy that has now been changed.

Reynolds said Tui had received notices about possible terrorist threats about various destinations “maybe once a month” but in the case of Tunisia, had taken no action because “the FCO advice remained ‘green’”.

“As part of the discussions we were talking about the resorts we were travelling to and were told on numerous occasions that the advice would not be changing,” she said.

It also emerged in the inquest that Tui recently appointed a group head of health, safety and security at its Hannover headquarters. The court was told the staff member came from a security background and would develop a group-wide strategy.

The inquests continue.