The FCO updated travel advice for Portugal yesterday, telling travellers: “There have been reports of an increase in holidaymakers being encouraged to submit a claim for personal injury if they have experienced gastric illness during their stay.”
The FCO urged British holidaymakers to “only consider pursuing a complaint or claim if you have genuinely suffered from injury or illness."
It further warned: “If you make a false or fraudulent claim, you may face legal proceedings in the UK or Portugal.”
The move follows Jet2holidays enlisting private detectives to help in the fight against false holiday sickness claims.
The issue was highlighted on ITV News last night during which footage filmed by investigators working for Jet2holidays showed a man explaining how to make a bogus claim to tourists.
The spate of fraudulent claims over the last 12 months has led to increased reports of Spanish hoteliers considering increasing all-inclusive prices or pulling out of the sector for the UK market.
Gastric illness claims by British holidaymakers in the Balearic Islands are alleged to have increased by 700% in the past year.
