Tour firm 'burying head in sand' over holiday illnesses

Irwin Mitchell has filed papers at court in a legal battle on behalf of 337 holidaymakers, including 45 from Yorkshire, who claim their holidays at the First Choice-owned Holiday Village Turkey resort were ruined by illness in 2008.

Since 2005 there have been repeated outbreaks of gastric illnesses at the 500-room hotel in Sarigerme.

Although First Choice has paid out over 100,000 to 34 claimants who stayed at the hotel in 2005 and 2007, solicitors say it has "refused to accept responsibility" over more recent cases.

They include claims from seven adults and 12 children who contracted salmonella and a couple who were getting married there who fell ill along with 24 guests.

Clive Garner, head of the travel law team at Irwin Mitchell, said: "Obviously lessons are not being learnt.

"Each summer since 2005 we have received calls from holidaymakers who have suffered very serious illness at the Holiday Village Hotel, many of whom are still suffering as a result of their symptoms even now, and the complaints about food, hygiene and cleanliness are consistent year after year. The number of people who have called on us for help now exceeds 1,200."

First Choice said they were in negotiations with the law firm to resolve the issue amicably and couldn't comment further.

However a statement added: "First Choice would like to take this opportunity to assure all its customers that we closely audit all the resorts to which we operate, including the Holiday Village Turkey, to ensure that health, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained.

"Reports of sickness in 2010 were minimal; in particular, out of the 46,000 customers who have stayed there this year, only 0.42 per cent have reported minor ailments such as a mild stomach upset.

"This figure is extremely low, and has been substantiated by the Health Protection Agency, who have confirmed that they have received no reports of infection at the property this year.

"We are confident that those customers due to travel to the resort in the future will enjoy the excellent levels of quality and standards they would expect from a First Choice property."