Pictured above: Clive Garner
Travel law experts Irwin Mitchell are demanding improvements to
health and safety as thousands complain about all-inclusive
breaks.
Travel law experts acting for thousands of holidaymakers who
have suffered illness abroad are urging tour operators to ensure
safety is their number one priority as moves are made to increase
the number of all-inclusive holidays available.
The latest research from Mintel shows that in the five years up
to 2010 the 'all-inclusive' holiday market grew by 32 percent.
However, national law firm Irwin Mitchell has long-standing
concerns over all-inclusive holidays and the safety standards at
resorts.
The firm currently represents over 4,400 holidaymakers who have
suffered from serious illnesses including salmonella and
cryptosporidium contracted while on all-inclusive package
holidays.
Travel law specialists at Irwin Mitchell are now demanding
improvements to hygiene and safety as First Choice confirmed it
will become the first major tour operator to make all of its
holidays all-inclusive. This means every one of its packages will
include the cost of flights, accommodation and food and drink at
its resorts from 2012.
Over 50 per cent of the complaints about all inclusive resorts
to Irwin Mitchell were from people who became ill on a holiday
provided by First Choice.
The countries where all-inclusive holidays have been most
popular, such as Spain, Turkey, Egypt and the Dominican Republic,
feature prominently on Irwin Mitchell's top five worst holiday
destinations. The firm has also seen a significant rise in
enquiries from people who have fallen ill on all-inclusive cruises
in recent years.
Over 15 years, Irwin Mitchell has helped thousands of
holidaymakers who have suffered problems on First Choice all
inclusive holidays at resorts including the notorious Holiday
Village Turkey in Sarigerme. More than 1,200 holidaymakers have
asked the travel law team for help following widespread illness and
poor standards at this one hotel alone.
Clive Garner, Partner and head of the Travel Law team at Irwin
Mitchell, said: "We have seen first-hand that some of the hotels
used by First Choice for all inclusive holidays have had a poor
track record at when it comes to food hygiene standards.
"First Choice may feel they are offering major benefits to
holidaymakers by letting them 'leave their wallets at home', but it
is vital that they and the staff and management of the hotels that
they use work hard to ensure the same people don't come home with a
serious illness."
The most common complaints received by Irwin Mitchell involve
hotels serving buffets where food is undercooked or is served at
the incorrect temperature.
Reports of left over food being served at later meals are also
common.
Behind the scenes at some of the hotels used by First Choice,
Irwin Mitchell and their experts have discovered serious breaches
of internationally recognised food hygiene standards. At the Hotel
Soviva in Tunisia for instance there was a catalogue of problems
discovered including meat being repeatedly delivered to and stored
at the hotel kitchens at incorrect temperatures, while washing and
toilet facilities for food handling staff were found to be
'primitive' and inadequate increasing the risk of food becoming
contaminated with bacteria.
"What we have seen in the past is a focus on quantity rather
than quality when it comes to food at some all inclusive resorts.
But when things go wrong there can be dreadful and sometimes life
changing consequences. Many of our clients go on to suffer long
term and all too often permanent illness following food poisoning
on all inclusive holidays abroad," Garner continued.
"This isn't just a problem that we see with First Choice, other
tour operators also often say that they have strict hygiene
policies in place to protect guests, but regrettably we regularly
see outbreaks of illness at hotels around the World due to failures
to follow hygiene guidelines that most of us would consider as
basic common sense.
"It is the tour operator's responsibility to make sure hygiene
standards are maintained. If hotels aren't up to scratch then they
should take action or stop sending guests there."
Irwin Mitchell recently secured a landmark victory following a
ten-day trial against TUI UK Ltd (owner of both First Choice and
Thomson) in relation to how tour operators protect the health and
safety of holidaymakers.
The ruling set a legal precedent which means that holiday
companies have a duty to warn actual and potential guests about
potential health risks at hotels that they use. This is seen by
many as a major step forward in protecting the rights of
holidaymakers.