Spanish hoteliers have warned that the surge in bogus food poisoning claims by British holidaymakers could lead to a ban on all-inclusive packages for UK tourists. Miguel, a hotelier in Mallorca who wished to remain anonymous, said his hotel was hit by around 200 claims last year, all from British guests, despite not a single complaint from German or Dutch visitors.
British claims management companies are encouraging tourists to allege illness after returning home, often without any medical evidence. The practice has cost hotels on the Balearic island an estimated €50m, with cases rising 700% since 2015, according to Inma Benito, president of the Federation of Mallorca Hotel Businesses.
The problem extends beyond Spain. In Cyprus, hoteliers say fraudulent claims have cost £5m, with Zacharias Ioannides, head of the island’s association of hoteliers, describing the practice as “organised crime” and an exclusively British phenomenon. He noted that claims can be filed up to three years after a holiday.
Tour operators have warned that the epidemic could spell the end of all-inclusive holidays, as hoteliers consider barring British tourists. The authorities are taking action: earlier this month, Spanish police arrested one Briton and questioned another in Alcudia as part of an investigation into fraudulent claims.
