Nearly half of UK tourists buy fake goods

Almost half of UK holidaymakers buy counterfeit goods when abroad, often after being duped into believing they were saving money on branded handbags, clothes and other items, according to a new report.

Research by online shopping comparison website Kelkoo showed that Spain, Turkey, Thailand, Greece and China were the most popular destinations for travellers to buy fakes.

A study of almost 4,000 adults revealed that handbags were the most popular counterfeit item bought, followed by designer clothing, sunglasses, watches and jewellery.

Retailers in the UK were missing out on billions of pounds worth of sales because of the trend, said Kelkoo.

Two thirds of those questioned said they knew they were buying fake goods, but a third believed they were buying a genuine product at a fraction of the original price.

A third of those polled said buying fake goods abroad was “harmless”, even though the practice is illegal, leading to possible prosecution in the UK and confiscation of counterfeit items by customs officers.

Chris Nixon, managing director of Kelkoo Travel, said: “It’s clear from our research that two out of three holidaymakers are keen to take advantage of cheap counterfeit goods.

“However, people must remember that you get what you pay for and more often than not, the quality and durability of these products is pretty poor. Also, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to spot counterfeit items, which is why a third of people are duped into thinking that they are buying the genuine article when they are, in fact, buying a fake.

“Consumers should understand there are serious implications of returning home with a case full of counterfeit goods. If they are stopped at Customs they could face the humiliation of having these items seized and face possible prosecution.”