Speaking at Abta’s Travel Law Seminar in London last week, Maria Pittordis, head of marine, trade and energy at law firm Hill Dickinson, said when claims “first started coming”, companies would settle them because they were relatively small.

She said it would “take time” for the industry to stem the flow of claims but suggested fighting some by carrying out investigations, including paying £500-£600 for companies’ own “short” microbiologist reports.

“If you resist a couple of the claims – it’s the same lawyers over and over, so if you set a precedent, they will be less likely to pursue more claims against you,” she added.

Pittordis told delegates that some resorts were making guests complete a check-in questionnaire about whether they had been ill.

“Cruise ships did this by making everybody sign saying they have not had any gastric illness symptoms,” she said.

Abta is to launch a holiday sickness fraud campaign after the general election “to ensure a united industry voice on this issue to maximise impact”.