Hoteliers from Benidorm, the Costa Blanca and Valencia regions say there has been a “huge increase” in claims for alleged ailments this summer “for which there is often no evidence”. They say the UK is “unique” in pursuing claims in this manner.

The hoteliers’ association Hosbec has now vowed to fight back. In a statement, Hosbec said hoteliers “have decided to take a stand against any suspected fraudulent claims, of which they feel are the majority. Hosbec puts the estimated cost at over €60 million.

Hoteliers lay the blame at the UK’s “compensation claims industry”, saying that specialist claims management companies, which once focused on vehicle accident injury and PPI claims, “are now increasingly targeting holidaymakers with aggressive marketing campaigns to encourage the filing of thousands of unfounded complaints”.

According to Hosbec, some claims companies “are even dressing up as tour operators at hotels to reel in customers”, while others are using resort-based salespeople.

Hoteliers warn that the Spanish industry simply cannot afford these claims and that they will ultimately impact on the cost of holidays.

Hosbec general secretary Nuria Montes said: “We feel the British complaints procedure which allows claims to be processed when there is no evidence of truth creates a grossly unfair and disproportionate system.

“It unreasonably inflates the cost for the hotelier by adding fat profits for lawyer firms who bill for 90% of the total amount of the claim, while only 10% of the amount is allocated to offsetting the alleged damages to the tourist. This system is completely contrary to the Spanish one, whereby the claimant must prove the accuracy of what they are claiming.”

Hosbec members have begun implementing “short term” measures that include tracing when and where guests dined and what they ate and drank. Hosbec says this will allow hotels to check that the bulk of complaints, which feature gastrointestinal illnesses, are genuine.

Hotels will also warn guests about pursuing bogus claims, while Hosbec is also urging Abta and UK operators to lobby for changes to claims procedures.