Hotel defends staff over 'terrorist poolside show' after complaints it reminds tourists of Tunisia attack
Hotel has said that 'nothing happened' to tourists during the show
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Your support makes all the difference.A Turkish hotel has defended an event labelled “disgusting” by British tourists who claimed it reminded them of the Tunisia massacre.
Holidaymakers staying at the Grand Yazici Mares hotel, Icmeler, said they were shocked when men apparently carrying large guns and cans of fuel appeared at the side of the pool and accosted sunbathing holidaymakers.
However, a hotel spokesperson told The Independent that “nothing happened” to the holidaymakers during a “Hollywood themed show” they said also featured an “Arab Knight and Rambo, as well as cowboys.”
Jason Phythian, from Fallowfield, Greater Manchester, had claimed hotel staff “thought it was funny to run around the pool dressed as terrorists”.
Jet2Holidays, who Mr Phythian’s family booked their holiday with, apologised for the family’s negative experience but told The Independent they had not received a single complaint from their customers over the incident.
“The hotel management now understands that some of the costumes may have caused offence and they will no longer use these in their shows,” they said in a statement to The Independent.
Mr Phythian described the incident which saw one hotel worker pour ‘fuel’ over his body before flicking a lighter and said: “I looked around and saw Arab-looking guys stalking around and above the pool carrying big guns.
“Other holiday makers really panicked. It was completely out of control,” the 43-year-old electrician, on holiday with his family, told The Sun.
Holidaymakers – among them Mr Phythian – were told the stunt, which took place last month, was a “joke” and part of a “Hollywood-themed poolside show” staged every year by management.
Mr Phythian claimed “it was an absolutely disgusting to try and make light of Tunisia in that way,” and that his sister Dawn Sutton, who had worried about a similar-style Tunisian attack, was terrified throughout.
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