English in Madrid

Source: Photo by Maksim Ivanov on Unsplash Spain's hotels fight back against fake food poisoning claims from Brits  Spanish hotels are turning to private detectives and the courts to repel a surge   in fake food poisoning claims by British holidaymakers that has already cost them millions of euros. The number of food sickness claims soared   to more than 10,000 during the 2016-17 tourist season, from around just 600 in 2015-16, said the head of Spain's hotel confederation CEHAT, Ramon Estalella. It estimates that more than 90 percent of the claims - usually made through small-claims management companies that promise payouts of several thousand pounds - are bogus . For years Britons have been the biggest group of tourists to Spain by nationality. Estalella said they are responsible for virtually all of the fake illness claims. The problem has arisen because British consumer law does not require claimants to produce any medical evidence of illness, and...

  Source: Federico Giampieri on Unsplash Brits accused of TERRORISM in Spain as hotel bed numbers slashed and tourists intimidated SPANISH activists have accused Brits of terrorism in Spain as the Balearic government brings in plans to curb the thousands of UK citizens spending MILLIONS in the region. Holiday hotspots like Mallorca and Ibiza are set to limit the number of holidaymakers to the islands as locals clash with visitors. The number of beds sold to tourists will now be CAPPED at a combined 623,624 on the popular islands of Mallorca and Ibiza as boozy British groups are accused of causing mayhem around coastal towns. New plans will cut that number to 120,000 over the next few years and 70% of the beds assigned will be in Mallorca. Anyone breaking the laws will be fined up to €400,000. Tourism minister Álvaro Nadal has said he is urging lawmakers to protect visitors from “those who perpetrate and instigate acts against tourism”. He said: “R...