The deaths of six young tourists – two Australians, two Danes, an American, and an Australian – as a result of drinking methanol-lace alcohol in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos has drawn a strong reaction from the travel trade in Australia.
“An absolute tragedy. A heinous crime, probably by an individual who should now be relentlessly pursued by the authorities in Laos,” said Dean Long, chief executive of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA).
But Long said incidents of this kind happened all over the world. “Not just in Laos, not just in Asia, but in many other countries.”
He said young travellers were always at risk – particularly single female travellers – and his advice would be for travellers to apply the same level of caution when overseas as they do at home.
“If something seems to good to be true, it probably is. If you’re offered a shot of Johnnie Walker for $1, you can be sure it’s not the real thing,” Long said.
A British woman who is among several young tourists recovering in hospital in Laos from suspected methanol poisoning, posted on Facebook, “Urgent – please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.
“Just avoid them as [they are] so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”