In Europe, there are at least four destinations where tourists most often “catch” certain diseases characteristic of vacations: poisoning, eating disorders, etc. According to the Forbes study, with which Schengenvisainfo got acquainted, these are popular locations among vacationers – two in Spain, one in Bulgaria, and one in France.
The data was compiled based on an analysis of 2.4 million messages in online forums where problems such as salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, intestinal infection, and food poisoning were discussed. So, which resorts made it to the anti-rating?
Two famous Spanish resorts – Benidorm and Tenerife – rose high on the list. So, Benidorm took 17th place in the ranking, with 2,323 reports from tourists who fell ill while on vacation. This is due to some risks that may arise when visiting this Spanish destination. The morbidity index was 3.17%. Water from the water supply in Benidorm is considered unsuitable for drinking, so vacationers are not advised to drink it, so as not to spoil their vacation.
“Gastroenteritis may not seem so dangerous, but if you’ve been waiting for a vacation all year, it’s a pity to spend it alone in a hotel room. In addition, a terrible feeling of well-being that does not let go of a tourist for a long time can be devastating,” said Forbes travel expert Kevin Pratt.
As for the island of Tenerife, it has a lower rating in the Travel Bug Index – only 19.3. The morbidity index is 3.17%, and experts processed 1,700 messages from people who rest there. Tap water in Tenerife is safe to drink, but it is better to be safe and only drink bottled water. This destination ranks 25th in the world ranking, behind Dubai and Paris.
Another destination where tourists are prone to gastro-diseases is Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. In total, about 470 messages about various ailments were found on popular forums, which is approximately 3.03% of the total number of messages. Sunny Beach takes 22nd place in the rating (21.5 points). Water from the tap at the resort is unsafe to drink, so you need to drink only proven water from bottles.
The French capital Paris, a favorite place for romantic trips to Europe, also got into the anti-rating. Paris took an honorable place in the list of destinations where tourists often get sick. It is estimated that tourists left 4,182 messages about their health-related problems during their stay in this city, which is about 2.75% of the total. Water in the city is safe to drink, but experts advise not to risk drinking it. The rating for Paris is 19.4 points.