ABTA has said it supports calls for stricter European-wide safety standards following the deaths of two young holidaymakers in Corfu.
The deaths of Bobby and Christi Shepherd caused by carbon monoxide poisoning in their holiday villa in the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel in Gouvia during a half term holiday with Thomas Cook has sent shock waves through the travel industry.
This week, launching CO awareness week, the children’s parents and step parents called for tour operators to insist corgi-registered engineers carry out checks on gas boilers in holiday resorts and for carbon monoxide detectors to be made available.
ABTA Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer, said: “We fully support today’s move to introduce EU-wide standards to ensure consistent protection for holidaymakers in European destinations on a range of safety and security issues.
“Indeed, ABTA has been working in Europe to develop hotel fire safety standards for many years. The frustration is that safety standards are not high on the EU agenda.”
However, Tanzer warned what ever measures are put in place there is a limit to what can be achieved. “While it would be heartening to believe that the UK industry could dictate to overseas accommodation providers that they must meet UK standards this would not be a practical way forward.
“Tourism is a global industry with tourists visiting countries with a range of standards and requirements on many occasions higher than in their own home country.
“Even in the UK with it’s own robust regulations, carbon monoxide is the most common cause of fatal poisoning today. On average over the last 10 years in the UK this gas has caused the accidental deaths of 200 people each year and a much larger number of non-lethal poisonings.”
Last week, ABTA announced it was setting up its own health and safety database to give members access to independent audits.
Tanzer added: “The most important measure at present, and the one that is required under UK law, is for operators to ensure that local safety standards in the destination are met.
“The robust procedures and checks tour operators have in place are designed to ensure not only compliance with local standards but that they are exceeded where possible. Whether abroad or at home it can never be a risk free world and tragic accidents will always happen from time to time, no matter what rules and regulations are in place.
“However, we are not complacent and we have already been in discussions with Government about how we can best protect UK citizens abroad.”