Also distributed in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
1.50€ at newsagents.
THE INDEPENDENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FRIDAY 16th JUNE TO THURSDAY 29th JUNE 2017 TV GUIDE
MOVIES AT ...
PAGES 25 -32
EDITION 578 FORTNIGHTLY SUPPLEMENT F
property p
PAGES 49 -56
guide
Spain begins tough new stance on false food poisoning claims TOURISTS ARE WARNED OF PROSECUTION
T
WO Brits have been arrested in Mallorca on suspicion of encouraging false food poisoning claims as Spain begins its tough crackdown on the massive fraud. These are the first arrests made but more are expected, not just in the Balearics but elsewhere in Spain. Until now, hoteliers have been paying out as much as 5,000 pounds a time to settle claims out of court because to challenge them would be too costly and time-consuming. But amidst fears that bogus claims could soar through the roof this summer, hotel chiefs warned they would no longer tolerate any lies and will prosecute any tourist found cheating, as well as the organisers behind the scam. Spanish police say the two
Brits were arrested in Alcudia on suspicion of coercing holidaymakers to claim they had contracted food poisoning whilst staying at a Mallorca hotel. The pair are thought to be representatives of so-called “claim lawyers” who stand outside Spanish hotels and encourage British tourists to make the claims simply by signing a form. Police say there is an “organised structure” behind the claims which has already cost the Spanish hotel industry 60 million euros and use a legal loophole in UK law.
It is estimated that more than 90 per cent of the food poisoning claims received by tour operators are fraudulent . “If all these cases were really true, an epidemic would have been declared across Spain,” said a spokesman for the the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Lodgings following a meeting with ABTA. “We will no longer be a soft touch!” Secretary general of the Spanish confederation, Ramon Estalella confirmed: “All
defrauders will be brought before the Spanish courts.” The fraud has been hitting all parts of Spain, including Madrid, the Canary Islands, the Balearics, Costa del Sol, Benidorm and the Costa Blanca. The “claim farmers” have been encouraging British tourists to collect “false evidence” such as pictures of
full dustbins, receipts from chemists or even going along to the doctor complaining of gastroenteritis, even though they are not ill. The hoteliers say other measures implemented, such as information and warning campaigns, have failed to work which is why the tough new stance is being adopted. “The false claims continue
to come in like a relentness drip,” they say. Until now, hoteliers in Spain have regarded paying out as the cheaper option. “We just cannot wait any longer for long-term measures,” said Ramon Estalella. “The message is clear. The Spanish hotel industry wants a solution and wants it now.”
Tenerife aims to be “more than an island”
T
ENERIFE has presented its new tourism strat egy based on the shared management of the destination.
The model proposes, through ten measuees, different lines of work to achieve a quality, competitive and better prepared destination. Looking ahead to the year 2030, Tenerife Cabildo president, Carlos Alonso said they wanted a more competitive island, with greater capabilities, more autonomous, connected and “more open to the outside”.
“To achieve that goal, we have to work to be an island, with less of ‘island’,” he said. Tourism councillor, Alberto Bernabé said 140 people within 13 groups had participated in drawing up the plans but stressed: “It is not the strategy of Tourism of Tenerife but the strategy of the island of Tenerife.” President of Ashotel, Jorge Marichal, pointed out that “one in four people work in Tenerife
in the tourism sector.” Sustainable tourism develop-
ment is high on the agenda, with the overall aim being to “advance a destination of quality, competitive and better prepared to satisfy an increasingly experienced tourist.” However, the plan also wants to provide a better quality of life for those who live here. The Cabildo says it is very confident Tenerife can adapt with the times as it is already a great success story and is capable of coping with the challenges which lie ahead.