Brits could be BANNED from Med holiday resorts as greedy scammers’ fake food poisoning cons cost local firms £52million a year

BAN-IDORM

Travel firms warn ambulance-chasing lawyers are egging on holidaymakers to rinse compo from fed-up hotels

BRITS could be banned from holiday resorts amid a scam food poisoning epidemic.

A huge surge in false illness claims made by greedy tourists being spurred on by claims sharks has seen holiday companies pay out thousands.

Getty Images

Brits hoping to go on all inclusive trips could be banned by some hotels over false food poisoning claims

Getty Images

Holiday firm Thomson has warned hotels in popular tourist spots like Spain could ban Brits

Industry representatives have urged for government action after the number of claims — which can see payouts up to £5,000 — rocketed in recent months.

TUI, which runs Thomson and First Choice holidays, said there had been 15 TIMES more sickness claims since spring last year.

And the rate of claims is rising, despite warnings that tourists making false food poisoning reports could face prosecution.

NAIL BOMBER NAMED First photo of Brussels terrorist killed screaming Allahu Akbar during botched attack

MISS SEX RAP Married female teacher, 27, quits after being accused of repeatedly romping with an underage pupil

MISS-EDUCATION Married teacher, 27, appears in court 'for raping an underage male student'... as husband STANDS BY HER

A SECOND KILLER? JFK conspiracy theory in overdrive as surgeon's sketch suggests there were TWO gunmen involved in his assassination

fAKE MY DAY Clint Eastwood death report proven to be FALSE - as cruel hoax about the Hollywood legend, 87, goes viral

WRATH OF THE MOB Furious protestors turn on cops after schoolgirl 'is raped in intensive care unit by hospital worker'

The scandal cost the industry over £52million last year — and it is set to far exceed that figure in 2017.

Nick Longman, UK managing director of TUI, said: "There's a distinct risk that if this carries on as it is unabated, the hoteliers will say to us either 'We don't want to work with the British market at all' or 'We're not going to offer you all-inclusive'.

"I think that would be a terrible thing for the British customer. It's just going to reduce the choice in terms of destinations and the type of holiday."

Alamy

Holidaymakers have made 15 TIMES more illness claims against Thomson and First Choice since spring last year

Alamy

Ambulance-chasing lawyers are spurring on Brits to make false illness claims, according to holiday firms

In Mallorca, where claims rose by more than 700 per cent last year, hoteliers have already said they are considering banning Brits from all-inclusive stays on the island.

Inmaculada Benito, head of The Hotel Business Federation of Mallorca, said: "The only way to address this once and for all is by taking drastic measures".

Abta, which represents British holiday firms, warned that a legal loophole is encouraging ambulance-chasing lawyers to encourage holidaymakers to say they got ill at a hotel even when they were not.

Laws hoping to put an end to fake whiplash claims have pushed claims companies to target tourists, the body argues.

Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: "The legal loophole that is allowing firms to unduly profit from these claims must be closed.

"This would allow people with genuine claims access to justice but make this area less attractive to claims firms."

The Sun has contacted the trade body for claims management firms for comment.

P od hotel gives guests a futuristic themed holiday experience

Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

Source: Brits could be BANNED from Med holiday resorts as greedy scammers' fake food poisoning cons cost local firms £52million a year