A British tourist has died in a blaze at a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic, prompting urgent questions over the safety standards of package holidays sold by UK travel companies. The fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday at a five-star hotel in Punta Cana, a popular destination for British holidaymakers. Local authorities confirmed the death of a 62-year-old man from Manchester, who was trapped in his room as flames spread through a wing of the complex. Three other tourists were treated for smoke inhalation.
Thomas Cook and TUI, two of Britain’s largest travel operators, both sell package deals to the resort in question. Neither company has yet commented on whether they conducted independent safety audits of the property, which is run by a Spanish hotel group. The Foreign Office has issued a statement expressing condolences and confirming that consular staff are assisting the family.
This tragedy comes amid growing scrutiny of the holiday industry’s safety record. In 2022, a report by the consumer group Which? found that one in five British tourists had experienced a safety issue abroad, from faulty wiring to inadequate fire escapes. The report highlighted that many resorts are not subject to the same rigorous fire safety regulations as hotels in the UK. Campaigners have long called for mandatory third-party inspections of all hotels sold by British travel firms.
“The industry talks a lot about value for money, but what about value for life?” said Margaret Ackroyd, a retired nurse from Leeds whose son died in a balcony collapse at a Spanish resort in 2019. “These companies make millions selling dreams, but when the nightmare happens, they hide behind local laws. It’s not good enough.”
Travel trade body ABTA said its members adhere to a code of conduct that includes safety checks, but acknowledged that inspections are not always carried out by independent auditors. In a statement, ABTA said: “The safety of our customers is our highest priority. Our members are required to ensure that the hotels they use meet local regulatory requirements. We are awaiting further details on this tragic incident and will cooperate fully with the investigation.”
The Dominican Republic tourism board has promised a full inquiry. But for the family of the man who died, and for the thousands of British holidaymakers currently in the Caribbean, the question remains: how safe is that all-inclusive package you just booked? As one travel agent in Bolton told me this morning, “People are scared. They think if you pay enough, you’re safe. But fires don’t care about your star rating.”
