Major Concern for Holiday Sickness Hotels in Egypt

Since the beginning of 2008, and in particular over the last few weeks and days, HolidayTravelWatch has been contacted by a very large number of individual and family holidaymakers, who have been struck down by holiday sickness at popular Egyptian Hotels and Resorts.

We have reported previously our concerns as to this destination, particularly where confirmed diagnoses of Salmonella and E Coli are given. Such is the serious extent of our concern, we have posed the question, ’Is Egypt the New Dominican Republic for Holiday Illness?’ and coupled our concern with a press release ’Serious Concerns Raised Over Egyptian Holiday Sickness Hotels’.

The growing number of complaints against Egyptian hotels can be seen in the dramatic rise of complaints within our ’Call to Arms’ section.

In our last press release we set out the range of complaints experienced by holidaymakers; the same complaints are echoed by this latest group of sick holidaymakers. In addition to the current crop of complaints, they also advise of:

Large numbers of holidaymakers being sick;

Sewage smelling water used to water the garden areas outside their rooms;

Poor food quality;

Resort Representatives providing medication to holidaymakers;

Resort Representatives denying health and safety deficits in resort;

Complaining holidaymakers subjected to the attentions of security staff (reported earlier in our blog article) entitled, ’The Cure for Holiday Sickness and Compliants? Bring in the Heavies"

Frank Brehany, the Senior Consumer Advocate for HolidayTravelWatch states;

“This latest large group gives me real cause for concern. The range of sicknesses, the manner in which resort reps dealt with their problems, and the real deficits in health and safety, are a real indication that something is wrong down there”

He adds:

“We are now working to advise all these holidaymakers as to their rights under The Package Travel Regulations. We also advise holidaymakers intending to visit Egypt to seek the medical advices of their GP’s and to bring with them our action plan - ’The 12 Golden Rules of Travel’, which provides guidance on how to deal with your holiday complaints. Relatives who are aware that loved one’s are affected at this time in resort should contact HolidayTravelWatch without delay for free advices”.

“If like some holidaymakers we have spoken to, you are subject to the unwarranted attentions of security staff, simply because you have made a complaint, then I would additionally advise that you are perfectly entitled to make a legitimate holiday complaint in resort. I would also suggest that whilst you are in a foreign jurisdiction, you are also entitled to speak with other holidaymakers, take lawful photographs, in order to gather evidence for any claim that you believe you may have. I would hope that any jurisdiction, which supports democratic principles, would support any holidaymaker who is lawfully and peacefully accessing that evidence, and deal swiftly with any hotelier who promotes the odious practice of security ’shadowing’. If the holiday product is ’fit for purpose’, then no hotelier or tour operator would surely object to the legitimate actions of any holidaymaker, or would they? If the Travel Industry do object to holidaymakers accessing that evidence, then perhaps the time has now come for hoteliers and tour operators to speak up and state their case?”

He further adds:

"Any holidaymaker finding themselves in this situation, should take the following action over and above the advices within the 12 Golden Rules of Travel:

1. Take extra vigilence and care over your own personal security;

2. If you find yourself being ’shadowed’ by security staff, then contact HolidayTravelWatch without delay;

3. Inform the local British Consul what is happening to you, and express your concerns for personal safety and seek their advice and assistance;

4. Hold all evidence gathered on you at all times; do not leave such items in suitacases, hotel rooms or in a hotel room safe"

He concludes:

“I regret to say to any returning holidaymaker, given the lack of acknowledgement by tour companies and hoteliers of the current difficulties in Egyptian Resorts, there is only one way to resolve these complaints, and that is within a group action. Holidaymakers affected by holiday sickness in Egypt should contact us without delay for free advice and assistance”

“I once again call upon the Egyptian Health Authorities to take urgent action to deal with this serious problem, before a British holidaymaker dies as a result of so called holiday sickness, and certainly before the Egyptian Tourist Authorities bitterly complain how their Industry has been badly affected by adverse publicity!”

Contact Information

Frank Brehany

Senior Consumer Advocate

HolidayTravelWatch

Contact via E-mail