The CEO of a hotel chain in the Dominican Republic has suggested 'different water' is to blame for Americans falling ill abroad, after the mysterious deaths of 13 tourists on the island - including two at his resort.
Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen was speaking to CNBC's Squawk Box Friday when he claimed 'the reality is that when people travel abroad people get sick simply many times by just drinking water'.
Two tourists - David Harrison and Robert Bell Wallace - have died while on vacation at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana.
Asked if illegal alcohol could be to blame for the deaths the businessman added: 'I think its frankly its part of today's media cycle. The reality is that when people travel abroad people get sick simply many times by just drinking water that's different here than what we are used to in the United States.
'There have been seven deaths over the last year and a half and certainly they will be investigated. We have to wait for the Dominican to come back with specifics on all of those unfortunate passings.'
His comments come as it was revealed the families of three of whose died while on vacation there plan to carry out their own autopsies.
The family of Cynthia Ann Day and Nathaniel Edward Holmes, who were found dead in their hotel room at the Bahia Principe Hotel, La Romana on May 30, 'want to know the truth' their attorney said.
Steven Bullock said: 'They don't want investigations to be skewed. I'm not suggesting that would be the case, but they simply want to take no chances.'
The family of Miranda Schaup-Werner, who died within hours of consuming a drink from a resort minibar at the same hotel, are also waiting for the results of an independent investigation in the United States, their attorney Joseph Cullen said.
Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen has suggested 'different water' is to blame for Americans falling ill abroad, after the mysterious deaths of 13 tourists on the island
CEO Allen was speaking just days after a Denver father-of-two became the 13th American tourist to die on the island in a year.
Khalid Adkins, 46, who had been vacationing with his daughter, was expected to fly back to the U.S. on Sunday but suffered kidney failure before takeoff and had to be rushed to a hospital, where he died on Wednesday.
The death is another devastating blow for the country's crumbing reputation as a tourist paradise, after Delta Air Lines announced it would allow passengers to re-book or cancel their flights to the Dominican Republic without charge.
Allen admits market bookings are down an 'understandable' 20 per cent in the wake of the deaths.
He said: 'The market bookings are down in excess of 20 per cent and certainly that's understandable.
'I think this is the classic case of how important it is to make sure accurate information is reported to the general public.
'But also it's one of the challenges of being in a country like the Dominican.
'Their ministry of tourism has come out, made some public statements last week. When you really study the numbers, and it's important to understand what numbers are factual and which ones are being exaggerated.
'But clearly there is a concern to make sure that people are safe in any foreign country.
'We operate in 75 different countries, we definitely have seen an impact to bookings and we are hopeful we are able to move forward.
'Most importantly is does not appear that there is some individual that is deliberately poisoning people which was initially first reported.'
David Harrison died while on vacation at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana to celebrate his wedding anniversary. Robert Bell Wallace, 67, of California, became ill almost immediately after drinking an alcoholic beverage from his in-room minibar at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino resort in Punta Cana. He died in hospital on April 14
Adkins was hospitalized in the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo, and his family has now set up a GoFundMe account to help cover costly funeral expenses
Adkins is pictured above with his other daughter. A GoFundMe page reads: 'We just want to get his body home to hopefully get some answers and help these two young adults at age 20 and 24 and have lived with only their dad since age 7 and now he is gone'
Amid a spate of unexplained illnesses on the island, 13 Americans have now lost their lives while visiting the Dominican Republic.
David Harrison died in July 2018 during a trip to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana with his wife, Dawn McCoy, and their 12-year-old son, David Jr.
Robert Bell Wallace, 67, of California died of septic shock, pneumonia and multi-organ failure on April 12.
Vittorio Caruso, 56, of Glen Cove, died on June 17 from respiratory and heart failure.
Jerry Curran, 78, passed away on Jan. 26, three days after arriving in the country with his wife Janet while staying at the Dreams
