Serious Concerns Raised Over Egyptian Holiday Sickness Hotels

The latest Holiday from Hell story, featured by GMTV on 3 July 2008, confirms the worst fears of the travel consumer organisation, HolidayTravelWatch.

Since 2007, HolidayTravelWatch is concerned by the regular reports it has received of illness and poor standards in Egyptian hotel and resorts.

HolidayTravelWatch operates a ’Call to Arms’ feature (found on its website), within which, holidaymakers can identify fellow travellers who may have been affected by the same holiday illness and/or complaints. It provides the opportunity for holidaymakers to join together to fight for fair and just compensation.

In 2007, HolidayTravelWatch recorded 9 ’Call to Arms’ for Egyptian hotels, cruises and resorts.

Of some concern is the fact that since the beginning of 2008, HolidayTravelWatch has recorded 11 ’Call to Arms’ for Egyptian hotels, cruises and resorts - 5 of which currently relate to the Sharm el Sheik area.

The range of holiday illness reports include:

Salmonella;
E Coli, and
Holidaymakers suffering with illness for up to 4 weeks, some report continuing effects.

The range of holiday complaints and hygiene issues include:

Rats, birds, toads and fly infestations;
Animal or insects invading dining areas;
Flies crawling over food;
Uncovered food;
Food not kept at the correct temperature;
Water supplies which are either brown, orange or yellow in colour;
Sewage smells;
Undercooked food
Toilets blocked;
Flooding from bathrooms;
Dirty dining areas;
Salads left open for hours;
Between 80 - 90% guests in some complexes reportedly suffering with illness;
Last minute changes to accommodation booked;
Denial of illnesses;
Holidaymakers advised that they will suffer from the ’Pharoahs Revenge’;
Anti-Diarrhoeal preparations for sale in hotel shops;
Reports of cuts to hotel budgets.

Frank Brehany, the Senior Consumer Advocate for HolidayTravelWatch states:

“I am dismayed to hear that holidaymakers are being affected by poor standards, disinformation and holiday illness. I have heard how holidaymakers should expect to become ill if they travel to Egypt, with resort representatives apparently citing obscene phrases such as ’Pharoahs Revenge’, which presumably seeks to mask the extent of a hotel or resort problem”.

He adds,

“This is not just appalling behaviour toward British Holidaymakers, but it is also insulting toward the Egyptian people. I suspect that most Egyptians would be horrified to see how their ’guests’ are being treated”.

“The argument follows that the problems exist because holidaymakers are visiting a third world country, and that facilities are therefore not up to Western European standards. At best this is a condescending view, and patronising in the extreme. The sole reason why such problems exist, is clearly due to shabby health and safety practices, nothing else, which in some cases is clearly pared back in the pursuit of some financial agenda”.

He concludes:

“I call on all holidaymakers affected by these current issues, to contact us to seek the free urgent advices they truely deserve”.

If you are about to travel to Egypt, then you should Prepare for Health (feature found on our website) before you go, and consider seeking advices from their GP or NHS Direct Helpline either before you go or whilst you are there. If you encounter problems whilst there, use your own medicines, keep hydrated, seek independent medical assistance; if in doubt, seek the views of your GP or NHS Direct from the resort".

“Given the issues currently being faced by holidaymakers, you should also prepare for evidence by using our 12 Golden Rules of Travel (featured on our website) - this will help you to seek the just compensation you deserve!”.

“I call upon the Egyptian Authorities to act now, to protect holidaymakers from the worst practices and failures in hotel and resort standards”.

Contact Information

Frank Brehany

Senior Consumer Advocate

HolidayTravelWatch

Contact via E-mail