Brits face ban from Spanish resorts after sharp spike in number of fake sickness claims
Hotels' association says there have been as many as 10,000 fraudulent claims in 2016 alone
BRITISH holidaymakers are facing a ban from some hotels in Spain - after a reported rise in the number of people making fake sickness claims.
According to the organisation which represents hotels and businesses in the country, there has been a massive rise in the number of Brits making false claims that they suffered from sickness or diarrhoea while staying in resorts abroad.
Last year alone more than nine MILLION British people flocked to Spain - meaning that if we were to be banned the Spanish economy would lose out to the tune of €60million (£51million) every year.
But the Hoteliers' Association HOSBEC, which unites businesses in Spain, won't budge.
Nuria Montes, HOSBEC general secretary, told the paper: "The number of claims has increased significantly since the start of this year, when the 'claims farm' started their campaign to attract British tourists coming through tour operators.
“This is not happening only in Spain, similar situations are being produced in other European destinations such as Greece and Cyprus, and also in the Caribbean.
“We estimate that during 2016 the number of claims may be around 10,000, reflecting a very significant increase compared to previous years.
“We have estimated that the economic impact on the Spanish hotel industry will be around €60million, in case the hotel industry has to bear the full cost.”
The fake compensation trend also has airlines and tour operators worried as if could lead to prices for holidays to Spain increasing.
Jet2Holidays is understood to have written to companies specialising in holiday sickness claims this month to warn them that their fraudulent practices are unacceptable.
The firm alleged that some dodgy companies even trespass on hotels in Spain and at other popular tourist destinations to hand out flyers to tourists encouraging them to claim.
Richard Conroy, founder of travel illness company SickHoliday.com, is concerned these bogus firms will undermine legitimate and deserving investigations.
He told the Daily Star: "Fraudulent holiday sickness claims are on the rise — we turn down four or five cases we feel are bogus each week ourselves.
"The only thing this trend is going to do is push up the cost of holidays by roughly 10% while punishing those who have genuine grievances with tour operators.
"We estimate there are around 25,000 fraudulent claims for holiday sickness per year.
"Criminal charges need to be brought. Until that happens, we all suffer."
Last month The Sun reported that dozens of families had been brought down by a genuine violent sickness and diarrhoea bug while staying at the Liberty Lykia hotel in Turkey, with many planning on taking legal action over how Thomas Cook handled the outbreak.
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