Tour operators are unfairly embroiled in coverage about ‘problem’ resorts such as Zante, according to the industry.
Despite negative publicity this summer over drunken and lewd behaviour by Brits in resort and reports of rape, problems are overblown and do not generally involve operators’ clients, said the Federation of Tour Operators.
FTO director-general Andy Cooper said members, including the big four, go to great lengths to look after clients in resort, and not all of the 350,000 people travelling to Zante go with operators. He said: “If people travel independently, there is little we can do.”
The comments come as latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office figures, exclusive to Travel Weekly, show Greece had the most British sexual assault/ rape cases this summer with 39 incidents reported.
Club 18-30 overseas director Paul Little said the furore over Zante was an example of the press exaggerating a story in the quiet news month of August.
He said problems on the island had been confined to one bar, Baywatch, which its clients did not use.
Little met the mayor of Faliraki last week who is desperate for the youth market to return following bad publicity in 2003. Little said police and hoteliers have improved their spoken English and the way clients are treated, but the resort remains quiet. He said: “Faliraki has the best infrastructure and nightlife. It’s a shame to see it like that.”
He said the biggest problem in any resort remains spiked drinks – as much a problem in the UK as it is abroad. The FCO figures, covering April 1 to August 31, showed Spain experienced 37 cases of sexual assault and rape; Turkey 24 cases and Cyprus 10.