Danger for Turkey’s tourism sector: Some British tourists file fake compensation claims against hotels

The number of British tourists who come with the attitude of having a vacation for free by suing the hotel where they are vacationing or even trying to make money, is increasing as far as Antalya destination is concerned. Due to the increase in the number of British guests in Antalya, hotels in Turkey may often face compensation lawsuits filed in the UK.

For example, news that “a large number of British tourists suffered from food poisoning, in a hotel belonging to the Rixos Group inn April and May and that these people would sue TUI, the organizer of the holidays” was widely covered in the British press. However, the management of Rixos, who made a statement to media on the subject, stated that there were no negative situations related to the hotel during the inspections conducted by both themselves and the expert team brought by TUI and the Ministry of Health, but the families who claimed to have been poisoned at the hotel were determined to file a lawsuit.

The hotel mentioned in the example above said that despite all the checks and tests performed, there were no negative findings that could cause people to be poisoned. The hotel also said that they had hosted 18 thousand guests since March 15, and only 51 of them had gone to the doctor with complaints such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain.

It seems that the number of British tourists coming to Turkey or even Antalya will increase. They will now be in the top 3. For this reason, such cases may become an increasingly important issue for Antalya and for Turkey. Experts recommend that preventive measures be taken in this regard.

For example, it is necessary to carefully follow news such as “Turkey has a hygiene problem, its buffets are problematic, the buffets are open to some bacteria and viruses, etc and react to such news immediately.

SO WHAT SHOULD HOTELS DO WHEN A FAKE LAWSUIT IS FILED AGAINST THEM?

The organization of the British Ministry of Health, which follows these issues announced that statements such as there was a hygiene problem in Turkey, that the buffets were problematic, that they were not sufficiently inspected, that new dishes were added to the finished dishes, and that the cutlery was not clean enough, as solid observations. This statement covering Turkey is not the correct explanation. Even if such things happen exceptionally in some places, it only concerns that place.

TURKEY IS NOT A COUNTRY WHERE ONE CAN HOLIDAY FOR FREE USING UNFAIR / DISHONEST CLAIMS

Experts point out that wronged hotels can be defended more powerfully in the UK if there are strong defense tools at hand, adding “We need to place the image that Turkey is not a country where one can easily get thousands of pounds in compensation by taking a vacation until the last day of the vacation and making a claim same person is sick on the last day of the vacation.”

In cases of similar disputes, the relevant tourist facilities should have specialist lawyers follow up these cases in the UK by bearing more expenses. In case of unjust accusation, it should be spread on British social media and in British society that the person who does said unjust accusation may face a penalty or sanction. It is considered essential that the British authorities are also adequately enlightened and informed on this issue.