Holidaymakers Called to Action on The Holiday Village in Sarigerme, Turkey

HolidayTravelWatch has noted that one Travel Industry newspaper, Travel Weekly, has reported our call to the Turkish Ambassador, to bring to the attention of the Turkish Health Authorities, the growing number of complaints concerning The Holiday Village (formerly The Pegasus Palace & The Pegasus Tropical) in Sarigerme in Turkey.

Within the Travel Weekly article (27/8/09) it was reported that, ’A First Choice spokeswoman said the operator had no reports of confirmed salmonella cases’.

HolidayTravelWatch has now received over 150 calls for assistance on this issue. The Organisation has surveyed the first 100 holidaymakers they have assisted and found that within that group of 100 holidaymakers, the following confirmed notifiable diseases have been detected:

11 cases of Cryptosporidium;

22 cases of Salmonella;

2 cases of Campylobacter.

Those confirmed cases with that sample group of 100, does not include those suffering with reported serious gastric illness and ear infections. The Organisation reports that they are closely monitoring this group and that the tally of confirmed illnesses appears to be increasing each day. The Organisation also notes that some holidaymakers report that they provided stool samples in resort!

HolidayTravelWatch would point to the actions of returning holidaymakers, which would appear to contradict the First Choice statement that they ’had no reports of confirmed salmonella cases’:

Mrs D advised that they visited this complex between 3/8/09 & 14/8/09. Upon their return, they telephoned their local travel agents who provided them with the contact details of First Choice Legal Services. Mrs D advises that they informed the tour operator’s Legal Services on 18/8/09 that their son and daughter had both contracted Salmonella and Cryptosporidium. (9580)

Mrs L advised that they visited this complex between 27/7/09 & 10/8/09. Upon their return they were tested and confirmed to First Choice by e mail on 18/8/09, that their child had been confirmed as suffering with Campylobacter. (9655)

Mr S advised that they visited the resort between 11/7/09 & 25/7/09. Upon his return he was tested psoitive for Salmonella. Mr S advises that he informed First Choice of his positive test and also provided his travel agent with a copy of the test result. Mr S reports that he has received an acknowledgement of receipt of his information from First Choice. (9518)

Mrs G advised that they travelled to this resort between 20/7/09 & 27/7/09. When they returned to the UK, they were stool sample tested and in early August, Mrs G advised First Choice that her son was diagnosed with Salmonella. When her daughter was also diagnosed with the same disease, she again informed First Choice and she received an acknowledgement of receipt of that information from the tour operator. (9522)

HolidayTravelWatch calls for clarity on this issue and has again called for the Turkish Ambassador to respond to the concerns of returning British Holidaymakers.

Frank Brehany, the Senior Consumer Advocate for HolidayTravelWatch states;

“I am sure that holidaymakers, like me, must feel that they are living in some kind of alternative reality! How much longer must this continue? It is clear that there are many holidaymakers with genuine complaints; when are executives of tour companies going respond intelligently and constructively to this ’annual-fest’ of complaints from this or indeed any other resort?”

He concludes,

“I am concerned that this serious situation is not being given the attention it richly deserves; holidaymakers, no matter how long they may have suffered any illness, should seek urgent stool sample testing. Whilst those tests are being carried out, they should contact HolidayTravelwatch, whether they have a confirmed notifiable disease or not and receive clear guidance as to how to deal with their holiday complaints - our helpline number is 08450179229 or you can e mail us at information@holidaytravelwatch.com ”

Contact Information

Frank Brehany

Senior Consumer Advocate

HolidayTravelWatch

Contact via E-mail