Over the Christmas and New Year period we have been dealing with several group actions of very unhappy holidaymakers.  One such group had been to a hotel in Turkey several weeks previously.  When they arrived at their hotel they found that the conditions did not meet the standards that had been promised in the brochure.  Such complaints included, dimly lit hallways, light switches hanging off the walls, dirty rooms, foul smells, angry staff, the non-delivery of all-inclusive facilities, birds, flies and cockroaches landing/walking/eating the food on the ‘buffet’ and plates, and little in the way of inedible food.  Many people became ill.

Understandably the holidaymakers decided that they would complain to the Tour Operators Representative.  The complaints were clearly addressed to the hotel management by the Representative.  Holidaymakers became concerned for their safety because of the attitude of the staff and many stayed in their rooms. 

There are many on the outside of the consumer debate who consider that HolidayTravelWatch simply throws ‘brickbats’ at members of the Travel Industry, that is not so.  Our debate rests mainly with a corporate mentality that seeks to shortcut consumer protections and standards and those that carry out their bidding. 

In this case and to the complete credit of this Tour Operator’s Representative, he decided that the holidaymakers under his care should be moved to another hotel given the range and depth of the complaints.

The evening before the ‘evacuation’ the Representative advised the holidaymakers to pack as they were going to be transferred the next morning.  We understand that a very short time later the Representative was taken into a back room in the hotel and assaulted.  We have been told by other holidaymakers that they tried to get into the room to rescue him, but it was blocked and all they could hear was the cries of the Representative.  We understand that moments later vehicles containing other men (it is not clear whether they were police or ’supporters’ of the hotel) arrived outside.  The situation became very tense and holidaymakers felt that they were under threat.  

We have been told that the Representative was taken to hospital for treatment on his injuries.

The following morning holidaymakers were approached by staff at the hotel and were pleaded with to stay at the hotel; they would make their stay better!  The holidaymakers refused and at that stage they became concerned for their safety.  Fortunately the coach arrived and a desperate scene developed with one pensioner convulsing and others being physically threatened.  Again the holidaymakers were ‘rescued’ by the coach driver who took the brunt of the fists that were flying from this hotel’s staff members.

I am not surprised to hear a story like this, each one we hear appears to be worse than the one previously!

I would however like to commend this Travel Representative for his bravery in what must have been a terrfying situation for him. 

I would also like to commend the Turkish coach driver for placing himself in the line of fire. 

Commendations must also be given to all the holidaymakers on this trip and their determination to confront failures in their holiday contracts – they should remember that there are certain quarter’s in this country who do not believe that there is any detriment suffered by holidaymakers!

This is the fifth in a series of ‘blogs’ on how holidaymakers are leaned on simply because they have the ’temerity’ to complain about their holiday - the Travel Industry and National Authorities should take heed and deal with this issue as a matter of urgency, before someone suffers a serious injury, or worse!

They say that ‘Turkey Welcomes You’; after the events of 2008 we are beginning to wonder if this is true!  As I have said previously, I am certain that the vast majority of Turkish people are decent people, who would be horrified to read that ‘guests’ to their country are being treated like this!  Perhaps the Turkish Authorities will do more to put right what has gone wrong in 2008 and stamp out illegal behaviour in whatever form it takes, so that holidaymakers of whatever nationality are better protected?

If you have been affected by any holiday complaints, please contact us at HolidayTravelWatch

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Tags: Bullying Holidaymakers

This entry was posted on Friday, January 23rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm and is filed under The Crows Nest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.